The Guitarist

I’ve been taking classes with Rich Hawthorne of The Guitarist for a year and a half, and he is fabulous! He is an expert who clearly loves what he does and knows how to explain, demonstrate, and guide the class to perform increasingly complex tunes. I love the group class environment — it is really fun to play with others — and the continuous progression and improvement I am making. Rich is very flexible, allowing us to attend other classes in addition to our regular group, which is very helpful when I have to miss a regular class.

Took class with Rich. He is very friendly and approachable. I took a group class with him, 6 weeks. This is my first music class ever. I definitely enjoyed it. I rented a guitar from him. Now that my session is over, I decided to continue group classes with him. I went back and purchased a guitar from him. I highly recommend Rich if you are curious about guitar.

After attempting to play guitar for the last ten years with no real direction or plan, I finally broke down and decided I either have to take lessons or just give it up. I have to admit I was a little nervous signing up for lessons but that nervousness was completely unnecessary.
Bob Englund is an absolutely fantastic instructor. From the very first day he was engaging and teaching me very worthwhile things. I had heard about basic music theory here and there from friends or online research, but he presents it in a fun and engaging way that’s easy to understand and had me making up better melodies than I ever had on my own during the first lesson. He is never rushed or unwilling to answer a question. I am constantly asking questions and he always rolls right along as if it was all somehow part of his plan anyway.
It’s been a few months now and the lessons just keep on building. There really is so much to music and Bob is always willing to break it down and explain it to me again for the fifth time in a new way. He has a bunch of material he has created himself from his many years of music schooling and experience. The sheets he provides are easy to understand and very dense with information. He also provides a bunch of fun little exercises to learn things like different scales, octaves, intervals, etc. Now when I sit down to practice I never have to think of «what to do next». I have so many things to practice I usually run out of time instead of running out of ideas!
I remember as a kid I dreaded my lessons, but now I look forward to them all weekend! I actually look forward to Monday!
On another note, Bob has also been very professional. He is great about scheduling, helping me to find a time for lessons that worked for me, even working with other students who had been wanting to push their own lesson back so I can get mine earlier! He has also made himself available outside of lessons to answer questions, and not with with brief one line thoughtless answers but interesting material based on the topic I’m asking about.

I’ve been taking various private guitar lessons for 7 or 8 years. I moved to the Bay Area 4 years ago, and began searching for a guitar instructor. My criteria were simple; close proximity to my residence and someone who can help my playing improve. Little did I know that Rich Hawthorne, who I found online, would not only become my music teacher, but my supporter and friend.
Looking back, I’ve compiled thoughts on what’s made my musical journey with Rich successful, and I’ll share them with you.
One, patience is essential. We all want to be the next Kirk Hammett and play solos resulting in online followers. For most of us, know from the start that you will need to build and reinforce your fundamentals by working through the Hawthorne and McKenna guitar book.
Two, have an open mind. I started on acoustic and Rich exposed me to classical guitar. We would go on for years studying Classical Guitar Studies – one of the best things to happen. Had I narrowly sought to emulate Kirk Hammett, I would have missed out.
Finally, you’ll need to dedicate time. Taking lessons without practicing is unproductive. If time is unavailable, just come back when you have it.

We’ve been going to The Guitarist for close to 5 years with my younger son playing drums. At one point he was also taking guitar lessons from them, but decided to focus on the one instrument. Everyone is extremely nice and very professional, helpful and accommodating. Rich manages everything so well with his calm demeanor, so understanding of all the challenges. Bobby is my son’s drum instructor — and he is just THE BEST. Our little guy tends to be have EXCESS energy, yet Bobby manages and teaches him so well, very encouraging and embracing of the different types of music he wants to play — it’s fun to see my son’s development and growth, owed in no small part to the ability to just play for the love of making music which Bobby and The Guitarist allow him.

When I found Rich Hawthorne I had no musical ability — I still have no musical ability but I love the opportunity to play guitar and learn so much from Rich every week. He has musical ability and a real talent for teaching. He has taken someone like me with iron hands and helped me make this more than 10 year journey a learnng experience that has opened thought pathways experiences. I am so glad that I found Rich and the guitar — I started when I was already past 50 — so it is never too late to start to learn.

Richard is such a great instructor with kids! Richard managed to reinvigorate the love and joy my daughter has for playing guitar. The Buchser Jr High band teacher had just about crushed it to death by yelling at, and ridiculing her. Richard’s excellent demeanor, cool tone and patience brought a smile back to her face and she barely puts her guitar down now!

I started my beginner classes at Santa Clara Adult Education center with Richard and I am continuing ever since with him at The Guitarist. Amazing teacher who can breakdown any song to any level! You even get to take free workshops that he conducts for particular genres as his student. More so he is always open to help out and questions.

Rich is an outstanding instructor, and I have learned a lot in my lessons with him. I have taken lessons from several other instructors over the years, and I can recommend him above all others in my experience. Very patient, flexible with scheduling and a very gifted teacher. If you’re looking for a great place to learn to play, or advance your skills, The Guitarist is the place to go!

I took 3 private lessons in February 2012 with Rich to get up to speed and then joined a group lesson, which I have been doing for about 9 months. Rich’s teaching style is relaxed and really works. I’m amazed at how much I can play in class when we start something new. Rich really enjoys teaching and playing and that shows in the quality of his classes.

Rich is a great teacher! When i joined his class, i already had a little bit of experience having taught my self to learn basic chords, but for so many years, i was just doing very basic strumming. I thought before that, ok, that was it! That’s as far as i was going to get «playing guitar». After joining the classes at The Guitarist, i improved so much! I learned how to do correct plucking and different ways of strumming. It’s amazing how i can now listen to a song and figure out the correct strumming or plucking pattern. One is never too old to learn and improve skills with musical intruments, you just need an excellent teacher! I am no longer in the class since i moved to a different city, but to whoever is looking to really learn guitar playing in San Jose, this is the place to go!

This is not the place to learn guitar if you are a beginner. The instructors here do not cater to the individuals need and are only focused on getting through the lesson. Even the group classes are very fast paced and I would not recommend them at all. Please stay away from this place. If there were to be a 0 star I would have given Richard that for sure. There are enough options in Sunnyvale /​Santa Clara. Please don’t waste your $ like I did.

The Guitarist
1472 Los Padres Boulevard, Suite #204
Santa Clara, CA 95 050‑4472
(408) 247‑2684
March 10, 2012
Since the beginning of October of last 2010, I have been taking Bass Guitar Lessons from Ron Jamison at the Guitarist and I couldn’t be more pleased. He has me going in the right direction. His method is to have me playing –bass parts to Rock and Roll Songs. This approach has made a big difference for me. I have so much fun at my lessons that the time goes by so fast.
His patience is incredible. He never gets upset, but is always making constructive suggestions. He never misses a chance to complement when I do something well. He never «shows-​off.» He plays the same bass patterns he wants me to play. If I get lost in the music, he starts counting and prompting me to start playing, again.
Even though, Ron has been a touring musician since the 1960’s, he never takes time away from the lesson to talk about his experiences on the road. Currently, he is the Leader of Aja Vu (a Steely Dan Tribute Band).
Rich Hawthorne, the owner of The Guitarist Studio, where I take my lessons, is always very friendly to me. He is also an accomplished musician. He plays guitar in Bethel Church of San Jose Christmas Spectacular every year. My wife and I have seen him perform there six times. He’s a great player.
I would strongly recommend Ron Jamison, Rich Hawthorne, and The Guitarist Studio to bass players of all skill levels. Guitar and drum lessons are also available. In addition to private music lessons, The Guitarist Studio also offers Group Lessons.
Sincerely,
Gary Jonas, Santa Clara, CA

This review is for Rich’s group lessons, and they are simply amazing.
I started out with zero guitar background, took Rich’s intro class, and was able to play simple tunes after just one series. I’ve stayed with the class for about 1.5 years now, and we are playing some pretty advanced tunes already.
The group class moves a bit slow for the first few series, because people are on different levels. But as we move along, you’ll see the class size gets increasingly smaller. After about 9 – 12 months, the class is moving forward a lot faster, and we get more personal attention as well.
Rich is super flexible with the class material, if you have a song that you want to work on that’s suitable for the class level, you can request to learn it in class, and the vast majority of the requests are accommodated.
The series class is flexible on schedule as well, usually no classes around national holidays.
Pricing for the group classes is very competitive, especially considering how awesome Rich is as an instructor!

Rich is one of the best teachers I’ve had in my life. I’ve taken guitar lessons twice before and each time I was discouraged and sure I could never learn to play (too old, no talent, etc.). I’m now happy to practice and will take lessons from Rich as long as I possibly can.

I’ve been trying to learn guitar for a really long time, but life, work, relationships (insert whatever excuse) always seemed to get in the way.
When I was looking for places to learn, I stumbled onto The Guitarist. I had never taken private lessons before, but Richard was quick in emailing me back about any concerns that I had. He arranged for me to have private lessons from another member of the staff, Ian.
I just had my first lesson yesterday and I cannot recommend this place highly enough. I went in thinking that I was going to have a dry lesson from someone who didn’t really care that much about music and I was immediately proven wrong.
Ian’s passion and experience were clearly evident, and he spent a lot of time going over some the more abstract concepts of music theory, which in turn, helped me out when it came to actually practicing on the guitar. He’s very patient, easy-​going, and knowledgeable.
I learned more about theory and technique in the short lesson that we had than with any of the other beginner books I had been practicing with. I’m actually looking forward to practicing and doing the homework assigned.
Ian and Richard have both proven to me that The Guitarist is completely worthy of all the other five star reviews. It is an incredible resource and establishment that anyone looking to learn to play guitar should take advantage of.

Rich is an incredible guitar teacher! I’ve taken both group classes and individual classes with him, and in both contexts I’ve learned so much from him and had a great time in the process.
Rich simply cares about his students so much. He tailors each lesson to whatever I want to play, but also has plenty of great suggestions and ideas. He’s introduced me to plenty of awesome songs that I didn’t know, and taught me how to play plenty of songs that I’ve always loved – Jack Johnson, The Beatles, The Eagles, all the classics.
He’s so attentive to details and makes it easy to keep learning new things, regardless of personal style or preferences. Quite a few of my friends have taken classes with Rich, and all of them have been incredibly happy with their lessons.

I have taken both group and individual lessons from Rich Hawthorne over the last couple of years. I second every word of the two reviewers who preceeded me. Rich is a great teacher for so many reasons. I won’t repeat all the accolades that others have written, but a couple additional ones that come to mind are: fees for group and individual lessons are very reasonable, and Rich is a very punctual individual, always on schedule and never missing an appointment in my experience.
Rich seems equally comfortable with acoustic or electric, rock or classical, picking or not. As a 65-​year old retiree who had not played the guitar in 40+ years, I was comfortable in his classes and enjoyed all of his music selections. There is a wide range of ages and much diversity among his clients.
One final note: The Guitarist has a great supply of strings, picks, cases, electric and acoustic guitars, songbooks, and other guitar paraphernalia.

Rich is amazing. I cannot say enough good things about him, but I will try and summarize with a few of the highlights:

1. He is patient (way beyond what any normal human being should be capable of).
2. He tailors the lesson (both group and private) to the needs and desires of his students. (Jack Johnson, Pearl Jam, the Beattles, Tome Petty, Green Day — all the good stuff)
3. He genuinely cares about his students and it really shows in his interaction with each one.
4. He makes class an extremely therapeutic experience after a long work day.
5. Rich has a great sense of humor and is probably one of the most upbeat people that I have ever met.
6. This is a big one: He make learning fun — something that as an ‘adult’ I find that I need a little of in my life to keep my sanity.
I have taken lessons from Rich for over 5 years and am always learning new things — painlessly.
If anyone reading this has questions about ‘The Guitarist’ please send me an message and I’d be happy to tell you more — or better yet call Rich or visit his facebook page and schedule a lesson — you’ll be hooked.
Rich is the man.

I took guitar lessons here from the age of 13 up until I went off to college at 18, and I’ve come back a few times for a lesson here and there.
Rich is a phenomenal teacher who cares so much about his students. He doesn’t push any song or genre on you – something I really cared about as a young teenager into punk rock and emo, not classical – and lets you bring in whatever you want to learn. He has a great selection of books, guitars, and accessories for sale too. He taught me everything from the Beatles to the blues to R&B to beginning jazz to Dashboard Confessional… and everything in between. He helped me with songwriting techniques when I started writing my own music.
I also have a habit of coming early to things, so over the years I witnessed other people’s lessons many times, and no matter the person – whether it was a six year old just starting, a 14 year old goth, a middle aged guy getting back into guitar, or a twenty-​something hipster practicing his chops – Rich knew just how to approach that person’s learning style, personal music taste, and abilities to help them develop the skills that they wanted to develop. He is a seasoned teacher who really knows his stuff.
I’ve recommended so many friends here I’ve lost count. It’s now been seven years since I first started guitar lessons here and I have Rich to thank for how much I’ve learned and how much I love playing my instrument.
So, obviously, if you’re looking for a great guitar teacher, look no further. This is the place to go!