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About
IN LIGHT OF THE CORONAVIRUS, I AM NOW OFFERING ONLINE LESSONS FOR YOUR HEALTH AND SAFETY. I am teaching back at the store (Ernie Williamson Music) now, and will give people a choice to do lessons there or online.
I teach my students primarily by a well thought out methodical approach that I have developed over the years. One that I came up with by trial and error, that seems to work very well for the majority of students. At this time, I am in the process of writing my own method which in the future will be available online. This is the first of many to come! Besides teaching my students how to just play songs, I like to give them a complete in-depth understanding of the instrument and of music. I listen intently to what my student would like to be able to do or play on the guitar, bass or banjo, ukulele, or mandolin and do my very best to give them the skills in order to achieve their goals, whether it be certain songs (which are extremely motivating) or certain skills. I teach a lot of things I've never seen taught in books, videos or the internet. A lot of the secrets to being successful at playing proficiently and getting right to the meat of what will make you a good player, not just a so so player. I like to give them the tools to take what I teach them and be able to figure things out for themselves instead of them having to have a ridiculous amount of reference material and be at the mercy of just doing what they're told to do through books, videos and etc. Most all students that I have taken on that have been with other teachers have stated that they "learned more from me in one lesson than with many from their prior teacher". Theses aren't my words, but my student's. Many of my students have taken what I taught them and went on to successful careers in music as teachers, performers and even producers! It is very rewarding to me to see the fruit of my labor! I've had many students that I've taught from early childhood until they graduate High School, and some adults for as long as almost 20 years.
I am good at keeping my students motivated and engaged, giving them the flexibility to make decisions of what they would like to learn! My retention rate (ability to keep students) is approximately 97%!
I love that I'm able to do what I love to do for my living! I feel very fortunate to be able to do this! I started out teaching at my home back in late 1989 with a few students at first and was able to build up my student load to over 80 students a week and have stayed for the most part very steady for all these years. I now have over 100 students over the course of a week. I like to be a positive influence on my students helping to direct them into a very rewarding profession or just to do it for fun! I like to help them become the best possible player and to play as effortlessly as possible. I like to have a fun time, which helps it to be an enjoyable experience for my students!
Each season the store has a recital that a number of my students are very excited about being involved with! I am on cloud nine for much of the week following each recital! My students always do great! I am so proud of each one of them for putting the necessary amount of practice in to nail the material! I love to motivate them, and encourage them to become the kind of player I know they can be!!
Overview
Hired 228 times
Serves Shawnee, KS
Background checked
1 employee
37 years in business
Business hours
SunClosedMon1:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Payment methods
This pro accepts payments via Cash, Check, and Credit card.
Top Pro status
Top Pros are among the highest-rated, most popular professionals on Thumbtack.
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
Services offered
Musical style(s)
Bluegrass
Country
Folk
Pop
Work location
My customers travel to me
Projects and media
Projects and media
Reviews
Customers rated this pro highly for professionalism, responsiveness, and work quality.
Excellent 4.9
82 reviews
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93%
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Read reviews that mention:
Audrey H.
Jan 4, 2013
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Hired on Thumbtack
My husbands first lesson was last night, and he was very excited when he got finished. He said that Larry listened to want he wanted to learn, showed him a few things that he could do differently, and gave him a few things to work on for next week's lesson. I am so happy that I was able to find Larry and get my husband signed up for lessons with him!
Guitar Lessons
Tori H.
Oct 5, 2018
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Hired on Thumbtack
I have been working with Larry for about a month now, learning clawhammer-style banjo. He's been great! He's been able to help me learn what I'm interested in learning and helped me develop my theory knowledge as well! 10/10 would recommend!
Details: Adult (18 years or older) • No formal training; some self-taught experience • Yes, the student can read music • Folk • Yes, the student has an instrument • 30 minutes • I travel to the banjo teacher • The banjo teacher travels to me
Comprehensive Guitar, Bass and Banjo Instruction's reply
Thank you Tori for your kind words! I enjoy teaching you!!
Banjo Lessons
Bob L.
May 3, 2017
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Hired on Thumbtack
Still new, 4 lessons in but it has been very helpful starting to learn the fretboard and some of the theory. Looking forward to continuing!
Guitar Lessons (for adults)
Dinie B.
Dec 15, 2014
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Hired on Thumbtack
I am really having a great time learning with Larry. I had never even picked up a guitar before, so he started extremely basic with me! We've only had two lessons and I already feel so "accomplished" lol. He's really encouraging and thorough and I look forward to my lesson every week. :)
Guitar Lessons
Ron S.
Jun 24, 2016
•
Hired on Thumbtack
Larry Crabtree is an accomplished musician, yet has the patience and acumen to discern what "baby step" I needed to progress in my efforts to play the guitar. He has taught children to geriatric students, so has a vast experience base to taylor lessons to individual needs.
Guitar Lessons (for adults)
Credentials
Background Check
Paul Crabtree
FAQs
What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
Lessons for each instrument is one flat amount per 30 minute lesson for a regular lesson time each week. The majority of my lessons are given at Ernie Williamson Music in Shawnee, KS, 12244 Shawnee Mission Pkwy in 10 Quivera Plaza. Lessons there are $99.00 a month, regardless of whether you would receive the normal 4 lessons per month, or a 5th free lesson that would occur on 4 months during the year (when the day falls a certain way during the month in which we would meet 5 weeks). When you average out the price of lessons through the year, each lesson would come out to $22.85.
Lessons I do at peoples homes are negotiable, and are something I work out with the student, depending on their situation, the distance traveled and how often we meet. Most are approximately the same price as lessons at the store.
How did you get started doing this type of work?
I've always loved playing guitar! While I was growing up during my school years, I would practice anywhere from 1 to 4 hours a day during the school year, depending on how much homework I had (and was able to maintain straight A's as well). During the summers I averaged 8 hours of practice on a daily basis! During school, I couldn't wait to get home to practice! That was my reward for getting through the school day!
I started playing in bands early in my teenage years, and continued to play in numerous bands into my twenties. I played in numerous types of venues, including clubs, playing in very successful bands such as PMA and SOS in the late 80's.
I got burned out with the club scene, and decided to start teaching at that time. It was much more of a consistent income, and very rewarding!
What types of customers have you worked with?
My students are a mix of first time players, and players with some experience. Many have taken lessons from other teachers and have become dissatisfied with what they were learning. They felt they should have been much further along with the amount of time they had been taking lessons. Most all the students I have taken on told me the same thing. They usually tell me that they learned more from me in a very short amount of time than with many lessons with their previous teacher! This is very gratifying to me! I like to help my students grasp every area of playing! Many are very confused and frustrated by trying to learn online. The lack direction and a clear path to reach their goals! I have worked hard on coming up with that clear path through the years, and most of my students feel that I give them that clear path! When first meeting with new clients I take inventory of their level of experience, and find out what they would like to learn, and access the best plan of action in order to achieve their goals. I find that if you take them in the direction that they would like, and in which they agree sounds good, and stay on track, but also along the way giving them choices, they will remain engaged and motivated. My goal as an instructor is to get them to their goals as soon as possible. That includes also though, teaching them things along the way, maybe deviating a little sometimes if I feel something would be more benificial to them at the time in order to make them a more outstanding player if they so desire.
