STUDENTS OF THE MONTH 2001

SUPER good character traits and discipline make for a great guitarist!

All styles.  Chris is starting to work gig$ already and sounds GREAT!

I have high hopes for Chris.  Lots of potential here.

Dustin has been playing guitar for a little over a year and can play and sing

all kinds of music.  Very motivated student with great potential.  Dustin plays

guitar in his church group and has a rock band outside of church as well.

Fantastic vocalist and comfortable with all music styles.   Good Luck Dustin!

Bryan has been playing guitar for about one year and is sounding

very impressive.  A natural singer guitar player.  He can easily

play any song he puts his mind to.  Bryan wants to be a professional

musician,  and says he does not mind practicing 4 hours a day.

He just might make it.  Good luck Bryan!  We will be watching for you

Pat Hartwig has been playing guitar for about 4 months.  She

can play and sing all kinds of songs.  Pat is currently working on a song by

Eric Clapton.   I am VERY proud of this super student.

beautiful lady.   Pat is having a blast!   GO PAT GO!!!!

By the way,  Pat has a son that is doing well in show business.

David Hartwig and his dog Skidboot have been on both Leno and

Letterman.  Check them out at www.skidboot.com .

Chris Norwood gets the student of the month for September 2001 because

he shows more promise than any other student I have seen in a long

time.  Chris practices A LOT!  He actually learned Yankee Doodle Dixie  by

Chet Atkins in only one week!  YOU TRY IT!  Chris KNOWS his stuff.  He

enjoys all styles of music and is now mastering finger picking.  VERY

impressive guitarist.  We are very proud of Chris and wish him all the luck

Tim shows A LOT of promise! He plays in a WORKING band with his 4 brothers. The band is called 'Elam'. The 5 brothers range in age from 11 to 23. The Elam brothers are in the process of recording original material. Tim plays trumpet and marches in his High School Band, plays in the concert band, and plays with his high school jazz band. Great rhythm! A true groove bassman. We will be hearing more about Tim I am sure. We wish him and his brothers all the good luck in the world.

Justin has been playing guitar for one month and shows amazing progress. He practices A LOT! Justin has an uncanny sense of rhythm and can hear chord changes like a pro. He likes all kinds of music. I bet this guy goes far! Justin's Dad plays guitar so he has someone to jam with at home. Best wishes to Justin Smith!!

Bob started taking guitar lessons with me on 30 May 1997. He had never played guitar before. Now Bob can play any kind of music in any key AND he can sing better than me! GREAT voice. One of my best students. I would be willing to bet we see Bob on stage by the years end. A STAR is born! Go Bob! GO!

Pat has been playing guitar for about a year now and is sounding better and better every day! Pat likes all kinds of music from Hank Williams to Tom Petty. He can play it too! Pat is a good example of what a little determination can do! Keep up the good work Pat! Isn't it fun!!!!

The McFall Brothers are something else! Ryan McFall (11) plays 5 string bass and guitar. He has played upright bass in his schools' jazz band and has a rock band he is working in now with his brother Blake on drums. This guy has a SUPER ear for music! Very serious about his music! Check out their bands' website at officialrapage.homestead.com/rahome.html

Ross McFall (8) like his brother is well on his way to being a great musician. It is obvious! He likes all kinds of music. (If we can just get him over his shyness!) I bet they NEVER have to be told to practice.

The McFall Brothers have GREAT potential. I bet we hear from them in the future! Good Luck ya'll.

Taylor gets the Student of The Month Award this time for his total dedication to the guitar. He has only been taking lessons for one month and can play all his Major Chords. VERY focused young man. Strongest start I have EVER seen. Amazing progress. Taylor is only 6 years old, so he has some time to get really good! Keep up the good work Taylor, you are at the start of the coolest trip of your life (as a guitarist). Also I would like to thank Taylor's Dad and Mom for recognizing the potential and signing up for lessons.

Jonathan has been taking lessons with me for almost one year. He can play 5 string bass better than I can AND upright bass too! He plays in his church band, and he has a rock band he works with too that plays all original music. Jonathan can play all styles of music, and complicated bass riffs do not scare him a bit! Great natural musical feel, and a fantastic ear for hearing changes in ALL styles of music. Jonathan sings. Level headed person. This is the type student I would expect to do VERY well in the music industry. Continued success Jonathan!

Clay has been playing guitar for a little over a year. His goal was to be able to get on stage at a real gig and perform in front of a real audience. On December 20, 2000 at the famous Lone Star Cafe in Dallas he did just that. Clay flawlessly did his own rendition of Six Days on The Road, Thunderstorms and Neon Signs, and The Devils Daughter. Clay was accompanied by yours truly (his very proud guitar teacher!). The response was huge from the large crowd and was recorded. Now Clay has a wonderful memory of a fantastic night! Clay is an engineer, a Boy Scout Leader, and now a Country Western Singer! Way to go Clay!

UPDATE August 2003, Clay has just released his second CD of slide blues music. Not only has he become an accomplished musician, but he is also making his own resphonic guitars! Here Clay is on stage with his Tricone cutaway he designed and built from scratch!