Andrew Wheeler Guitar Lessons
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Introduction: Hello Guitarist (or future guitarist!) I am a guitar teacher in Albany, NY and I offer online lessons, and in-person lessons if you live near me.
Your needs come first! I don't feel successful unless you do. I'm a Berklee College of Music instructor who avoids the cookie-cutter approach. Also, If you need help picking out your first (or next) guitar, let me know. I'm glad to share my insight and help you shop.
Many students come to me who have had bad/discouraging lessons with other teachers before. I want to assist you in reaching success through identifying (and then breaking through) the barriers and obstacles that cause most learners to stop. I work with all ages and skill levels.
Vision + Goals = Success.
I am patient, professional and consistent and want you to feel welcome in the learning environment.
Helping you unlock the key to YOUR inner voice. I enjoy seeing when the students connect the music they love to play or want to learn with the guitar, and you almost literally see the guitar fretboard light up in the minds. It's amazing. That "Aha!" moment for the student is the reason I work in this field. It's important to enjoy those moments so that when the practice might seem too challenging from time to time, you remember those breakthroughs and they inspire and motivate to keep going.
Overview
Hired 14 times
Background checked
1 employee
8 years in business
Payment methods
Cash, Credit card, PayPal, Venmo
Specialties
Interested musical styles
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Reviews
Customers rated this pro highly for responsiveness, punctuality, and work quality.
Exceptional 5.0
17 reviews
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Read reviews that mention:
Michael D.
Guitar Lessons
Great teacher. Patience is essential to providing clear instruction and Andrew does a great job. Be prepared to have a lot of "Wow, I can actually play the guitar moments!"
Andrew Wheeler Guitar Lessons's reply
Thanks so much, Michael. It's great to be working with you.
Aug 15, 2019
·Verified
Thumbtack Customer
I am a baseball player for the Tri City Valley Cats in the Astros organization and I have been getting guitar lessons from Andrew for a month and a half now and it has been awesome! He is very flexible and accommodates to your schedule needs. I started from not knowing a single thing about guitar playing to already learning hammers, slides, and various chords to play different songs. He does a phenomenal job at teaching guitar, and certainly will help you achieve the goals you wish to reach at playing guitar. I recommend everyone to get lessons from Andrew! I look forward to having more lessons from him.
Andrew Wheeler Guitar Lessons's reply
Thanks, Derek! It's been a pleasure to assist you in getting started on guitar. You're learning so quickly, you'll have a full set of music under your fingers quite soon!
Aug 2, 2019
·Review from Google
Thumbtack Customer
As a 59 year old picking up the guitar for the first time, I wasn't sure what to expect from any teacher. Andrew has turned out to be so much better than I expected. He is not intimidating, he is friendly, he is super talented, and has the knack for giving me a lot to work on without overwhelming me. I thought I would be a project for any teacher, but thanks to Andrew I feel I am making steady progress. I would highly recommend Andrew as a teacher.
Andrew Wheeler Guitar Lessons's reply
Thank you so much! It is a pleasure to work with you and so rewarding to see and hear your development.
Jul 29, 2019
·Review from Google
Thumbtack Customer
Since my first lesson with Andrew, he's done nothing but help me improve every aspect of my playing. He has helped me improve my theory, musical vocabulary, technique, and expanded my taste in various genres of music. He has turned me from a mindless shredder to a guitarist who knows when to take a backseat and play less bombastic. I have nothing but praise for what I learned with Andrew and I'm thankful to have a teacher who helped me grow so much as not only a musician, but a person as well.
Andrew Wheeler Guitar Lessons's reply
Trent, it has been so awesome to work with you. Your guitar journey has been amazing, and I'm glad to have been able to assist. You have a wonderful life of professional guitar playing ahead of you!
Jul 3, 2019
·Review from Google
Thumbtack Customer
When I began searching for a guitar teacher for my 9 year old son, I knew I was going to have an uphill battle - my son has the attention span of a typical 4th grader, and we have been having difficulty identifying activities/hobbies that he likes and that will engage him enough to stick with. After speaking with several guitar teachers all around the Albany/Saratoga areas, I found Andrew, and I must say it was a breath of fresh air. I spoke with Andrew over the phone and described my son, and what I wanted to get out of introducing him to the guitar - and he got it. He explained the methods he uses to engage such a young student, and how his teaching will grow to encompass music theory and more formal instruction as my son becomes comfortable and competent with basic skills - all while making sure it stays fun for him (understanding that if it looks/feels like homework or a chore, my son likely will shy away from it). Our first lesson with Andrew was at his home in Albany, and suffice it to say it was a huge success with my son. Having never picked up a guitar before (except mine from when I took lessons as a kid), within minutes my son was learning how to play simple notes and bridge them together. As he began to play the notes on his own, I could see an immediate shift in my son, from someone that was "trying guitar lessons for Dad" to someone that actually liked it for himself - and this can be attributed directly to Andrew's ability to tap into him and read him. Andrew has a great way to balance easing students into the lessons with jokes and funny ways to remember hand positions, notes, etc with making sure they understand the concepts and actually LEARN the lesson before they move on. By the end of the 30 minute intro lesson, my son was playing Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit, which to a Dad who grew up on that music, was a big moment. When we finished the lesson and left, my son asked to hear Nirvana's version on the way home, and was talking me through how he thinks his and Andrew's version were more simple, but "way better" (he was using 2 strings I'll add...). So clearly he caught the guitar bug - so much so we stopped at Guitar Center on the way home and he plugged right in and played in front of everyone. This practice continued all weekend - much to our happiness. We've been back to Andrew since, and each time they reviewed the week's previous lessons, and added new "practice lessons" for my son to work on at home. I know this is a long-winded post, but I wanted to give an honest review on our experience with Andrew so far. I can honestly say that we have seen a different side to our son, who has struggled with finding things to hold his interest/be passionate about (and not video games)- and for us, these lessons have been just what we were looking for. I would recommend Andrew as a guitar instructor to anyone looking for a easy going, non-judgmental and highly skilled professional - for any age group and with any learning obstacle. My son and I have enjoyed going so much, I'm considering picking up lessons again for myself so we can one day play together...and start a band...(still on my bucket list...).
Andrew Wheeler Guitar Lessons's reply
Thanks so much, Kevin! It is absolutely my pleasure to assist and your son has made amazing progress in just a few lessons.
Nov 19, 2018
·Review from Google
Credentials
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Andrew Wheeler
FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
I offer a free phone consult followed by a buy one half hour, get one half hour free first lesson(s). Further pricing depends on the location, with cheapest being online (SKYPE, Facetime, or Google+) or in my home studio ($20/half hour, $35/hour). I also work out of two studios, the Cady School of Music in Albany and the Guilderland Music Academy in Guilderland, NY. Several times a year I will run some group lessons, as well, which are quite affordable and convenient for learners in the same skill group.
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
I always want to know more about the potential client's goals to ensure we are a good fit. What does success look like to you? So, typically, we will talk on the phone or email about your goals and make a time to meet at the studio or over SKYPE for a free first lesson/assessment and talk about a game plan.
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Certified Professional Guitarist - Berklee College of Music. Certified Specialist in Guitar - Berklee College of Music. Additional Undergraduate Music credits (Bachelor-level) earned at the College of Saint Rose. Voted 2015-16 best solo performer and 2016-17 best band performance in the blues competition run by the Capital Region Blues Network (International Blues Challenge Qualifying Round).