LESSONS ARE CURRENTLY PAUSED as of September 22. My studio is currently undergoing some renovations that will make for an even better learning experience. I anticipate being back up and running in mid-November (possibly sooner). Feel free to get in touch now, and I'll be happy to let you know when the new studio is open.
Not your typical guitar lesson experience
Hi, I'm Jeremy.
I'm here to help you unlock your musical potential. My lessons are all about making guitar fun, accessible, and centered around the music that inspires you.
Testimonials
"My son was so excited after his first guitar lesson and couldn't wait to go back." -Amy, mom of guitar student in Damascus
"Jeremy really helped advance my playing by designing personal lessons to use my strengths and target my weaknesses. Excellent teacher!" -Joe, adult guitar student in Germantown
"Jeremy is an excellent teacher who takes pride in helping his students. My 9 year old has been taking lessons with him for about a year and Jeremy has been a patient and kind teacher even when my child's attention runs thin." -Kirsten, mom of guitar student in Damascus
Me with some of my guitar students after our spring recital at Doc Waters Cidery’s outdoor stage. (I used to call my studio Maryland Guitar Academy. I feel less corporate now.)
Lessons
There is no standard lesson at Eikenberry Music Studio.
Weird, right?
During lessons, I encourage you to explore music organically rather than to take a one-size-fits-all approach.
Some of the things students like to work on in lessons:
- Learning your favorite songs by ear
- Making up silly songs together
- Improvising a guitar solo
- Seeing what random and strange sounds you can make come out of your guitar
- Writing your own music
- Experimenting with effects that make your guitar sound wildly different
- Recording music using digital tools
- Trying out other instruments, like piano and drums
- Listening deeply to the music you enjoy
My goal is for you to walk into your lessons excited to be here and walk out with a smile on your face.
Sometimes we joke around.
We go down rabbit holes.
We explore.
We ask questions.
Music isn't a linear path. It's a wide world we can explore together in any direction you want.
I want you to have fun in lessons and learn something along the way. When that happens, you are more motivated to pick up your instrument at home just because you want to.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Where are you located?
I have a Gaithersburg address, but in reality I'm much closer to Damascus, Clarksburg, and Germantown. I'm close to Doc Waters Cidery and Butlers Orchard.
What styles of music do you teach?
I have experience in a wide range of styles, including rock, pop, jazz, blues, country, worship music, and more.
I'm happy to explore your favorite music together. Students introduce me to great new music all the time that I never would have heard otherwise.
If you’re looking for specialized guitar techniques like those found in classical guitar or heavy metal shredding, I would recommend seeking out a teacher that specializes in those areas (aka I'm not the right teacher for those styles).
Will I learn how to read music?
Yes, you can learn to read music. But it's not required. And it is typically not the starting point.
I find that most students are able to play music intuitively at a more advanced level than their music reading ability allows.
Focusing on reading standard music notation right away actually slows down your ability to play the music you want to play.
There is a time and a place for reading music, but for guitar players in particular it makes the process both more complicated and more abstract.
That said, if you have a specific need for reading music, like playing in the school jazz band or the orchestra pit for a musical, I can definitely help get you ready for the gig.
What's your musical background?
I've been playing music pretty much my whole life. I took guitar lessons throughout most of my childhood, and continued to play guitar at the university level and beyond.
In school, I played guitar in jazz band, drums in marching band, tenor saxophone in concert band, and had fun figuring out how to play anything I could get my hands on, including trombone, trumpet, piano, harmonica, and just about everything in between.
I don't have a music degree, and for the students I work with, I believe that is an asset. My students typically don't come to me because they want to go to music school or play professionally. Students come to me because guitar looks like fun, and they stick around because it is fun.
Today, when I am making music on my own, it is typically songwriting.
I used to perform pretty frequently, but now with a wife and toddler, my priorities are elsewhere.
What kinds of students do you work with?
Many of my students are in middle school and high school, but I work with a mix of kids and adults, often starting at the beginner level.
I don't have age restrictions, so if you feel like you (or your child) is ready to have fun and learn, we can make that happen. I have worked with kids as young as 5 and adults in their 90s. So it's never too early or too late to start.
I also work with a lot of students who tried traditional music lessons and they didn't work for them.
What are your practice requirements?
None. Nada. Zip.
What? Why?
I remember being a kid in guitar lessons. I hated that guilty feeling walking into my lesson when I hadn't touched my guitar since the week before. Or the scramble to try to figure out what it was I was supposed to learn in the 5 minutes before my lesson started.
We're all too busy and life is too short for that kind of nonsense. Music is meant to be fun. That's why we play music and not work music.
There are no guilt trips if you didn't practice at home. No lectures about wasting your potential.
We can still have fun and make a lot of progress just during our lesson time in the studio.
In reality, most of my students pick up their guitars at home because they want to play, not because of a practice requirement. But there's no judgment if they don't.
Are there any students you won't teach?
I generally don't exclude people from my studio if they want to work with me.
That said, I recognize my approach to teaching is unconventional and might not be the right fit for everyone.
If you want a standard lesson experience that follows a specific curriculum or method book series, there are lots of qualified teachers out there who can give you that experience.
I also don't participate in music exams or competitions, so students looking for that experience should consider other teachers.
Do students get to play in recitals?
Yes! I host two recitals per year, one in the spring and another toward the end of the year.
Locations for our past recitals include the outdoor stage at Doc Waters Cidery and at the Clarksburg Tavern.
What is your teaching schedule?
I used to post specific days and times, but it’s not always exactly the same from week to week. That said lessons are typically after school hours on weekday afternoons and evenings.
How much are lessons?
$175/month.
Shoot me a message to check on available times.
Can I take a lesson to try things out?
Yes, and I would encourage it. I offer a discounted first lesson for new students for $25. If you decide to sign up for lessons, i will apply this toward your first month of lessons.
Want to try out a lesson before signing up?
Book your discounted intro lesson here.
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