Arkansas Musicworks - Guitar Lessons

Guitar, Bass & Other Fretted Instrument Teachers
	Will Brand - Guitar Will got his first guitar on his eighteenth birthday and learned to play by taking lessons here in Northwest Arkansas. He studied Education and English at the University of Arkansas, but he also studied the guitar and learned "all the songs he used to sing growing up." After graduating in 2008, Will continued to focus on music and still performs multiple times per week. With 15 years under his belt and experience in genres such as Rock, Blues, R&B, Funk, and Country, his personal education is just getting started which makes instructing others all the more fun. Will focuses on technique and theory but especially enjoys celebrating the sense of pride and accomplishment that goes along with learning a new instrument.
	Jeanette Curry - Guitar / Banjo / Mandolin / flat-picking Jeanette Curry has given private lessons in 5-string banjo and guitar for over 30 years. She also teaches beginning mandolin. She played in various bluegrass bands for 8 years, performing at bluegrass festivals and state fairs in the Midwest, and at Silver Dollar City in Branson. She has taught at Brice Arts Academy, Peace Lutheran Music School, Fellowship Bible Church Fine Arts Acadamy, and has taught a class for Northwest Arkansas Community College's Beep program. She has also studied music at the Hutchinson Community Junior College in Hutchinson, Kansas. She is a certified Wernick Method bluegrass jamming teacher as well. She is currently the only teacher in the state of Arkansas with this certification.
	Brian Ellis - Guitar / UKULELE Bryan was born in Tulsa, OK but received his first guitar in Dallas, TX, so he claims to be from Texas. He plays every genre of music that he can get a hold of and brings that same passion into teaching. Bryan has played the guitar for nearly half of his life, studied music education at Evangel University, and traveled with several rock bands. His focus in lessons centers mainly around basic musicianship, music theory, and technique.
	Kay Fish - Piano / Voice / Guitar / Mandolin / Banjo / Dulcimer Kay Fish comes to Musicworks with 35 years of teaching experience. Ms. Fish began teaching private music lessons while attending graduate school at the University of Missouri in Columbia, after receiving her Bachelor's degree from Stephens College with a Major in Vocal Performance and a Minor in Piano. She was awarded a position with the Houston Grand Opera Studio program and moved to Houston, Texas after completing graduate school, where she began teaching music at The Awty International School. After twenty years teaching in the private school sector, Ms. Fish opened up The Kay Fish Music Studio in the Houston area, offering private music study in voice, piano, guitar, recorder, banjo, mandolin, dulcimer and percussion. Recently, Kay relocated to Northwest Arkansas to be near family, where she teaches private music lessons in Fayetteville and now, proudly, at Musicworks in Bentonville.
	Steve Kelsey – Guitar / Banjo / Mandolin / Bass / Uke/Dulcimer Steve Kelsey teaches banjo, guitar, mandolin, bass, ukulele, autoharp, dulcimer and almost any instrument with strings. After touring in rock and country bands through the 1970s he settled down to raise a family. Formal training at Phoenix College and Arizona State University led to teaching position at Phoenix College and Northland Pioneer College in Arizona. In 1988 Steve relocated with his wife and four children to begin working at the country music shows in Eureka Springs. His School Assemblies and Community Concerts are cosponsored by the Department of Arkansas Heritage "Arts on Tour" program. Mr. Kelsey comfortably bridges the gap between roots and rock. That means he can draw from his vast knowledge of family friendly folk, bluegrass, Irish, pop and country songs for your lessons, and you can learn to play the kind of music you like. Since 1999, Mr. Kelsey has taught at music stores, private studios, and NWACC.
	Collin Kidd – Guitar Collin Kidd is a guitarist, vocalist, bassist, mandolinist, percussionist and songwriter from Jonesboro, Arkansas. Born in 1996, he picked up his first and primary instrument (guitar) at the age of 11 and landed a guitar instructing job by the age of 16 at BackBeat Music. He also has further instructing experience from teaching music to young students as part of an outreach program at Arkansas State University. Collin plays several styles of music including rock, blues, folk, country, jazz, metal, bluegrass, reggae, pop, etc... For nearly half of his life he has been playing in bands, performing in venues, writing songs and recording albums. Collin has an intense passion for all things music and a strong belief that music can change lives!
	Jay Shepherd – Guitar Jay Shepherd, formerly adjunct professor at Arkansas State University, is excited to join the teaching faculty at Arkansas Musicworks. Jay is an Arkansas native and earned both his B.M. and M.M. degrees at Arkansas State University studying classical guitar under Dr. Timothy Crist. Working primarily as a performer and recording artist, Jay also works tirelessly as a music educator and clinician advocating for guitar education and jazz education in the public schools. He is also the correct webmaster and Director of Online Educational Content of Arkansas Jazz Educators, a member of the Guitar Foundation of America, as well as the founding president of the Arkansas State University Guitar Guild. In addition to playing classical guitar, Jay is an avid fan and performer of electric guitar music of many genres. He is equally at home in jazz, country, and rock genres playing with artists/bands such as Mr. Happy, The Weatherfolk, Dillan Cate, and even Jim Dandy of the legendary rock band, Black Oak Arkansas His solo instrumental electric guitar album, Gemini, continues to be a favorite of the instrumental guitar community. He is also a Bb Bass and co-founder of the Arkansas Music Works Brass Band.
	Jay Yates - Guitar / UKULELE To learn about Jay, please visit his website at: jayyates.net
	Allen Zirkle - Piano / Guitar Allen holds a Master of Music Degree in Piano Pedagogy and Performance from Arkansas State University. He also holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in Vocal Music Education and Piano from Arkansas Tech University. Allen is a NCTM (Nationally Certified Teacher of Music in Piano). He has four years of teaching experience, two of those years being at the collegiate level. Allen enjoys teaching guitar and piano lessons to students of all ages and skill levels. He has worked with several churches throughout Jonesboro and Russellville as a lead guitarist, pianist, and worship leader. He offers lessons in piano, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, and classical guitar. Allen specializes in classical music and church music (contemporary and traditional), but can teach any style that the student is interested in learning. Students studying with Allen can expect to receive well rounded instruction in music theory, musicianship, and performance skills.