Student Testimonials

Nick Carothers is an enthusiastic and talented guitar player and instructor. I've learned so much about guitar playing and music theory from Nick in the past year. He's patient, knowledgeable and creative in his approach to teaching students. As an adult student, taking up guitar later in life, I was floundering and making very little progress until Nick became my instructor.  He's been the perfect teacher to help me develop my guitar playing skills.

-- Randy E.

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I have taken lessons from Nick for over two years. Nick has a unique style of teaching that's hard to find in other teachers.  He teaches the essential components of theory and songwriting while still making it light and fun.  For example, instead of pounding out scale after scale, he lets you improvise with them while he plays a walking bass line or rhythm guitar. He gives you a chance to express your own creativity and ideas.  He has tailored the lessons to my rock style and interests but also introduced me to different genres like blues, jazz, and funk. 

Another great thing about his lessons is that you can bring in some of your own music and he will teach you to play it.  With the integration of backing tracks on the computer, you really feel like you're playing with a full band. I would recommend Nick Carothers to anyone wanting to pick up guitar.

 -- Jack P.    

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I was always interested in guitar and learning to play the guitar. As a kid, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton and the 70's and 80's guitar heroes amazed me with their abilities. As I got older, I discovered the Blues and other guitar virtuosos such as Stevie Ray Vaughan.  However, I felt I had little or no musical talent or skills and had no chance of ever learning to play guitar.

That all changed when I had a chance to start playing the guitar and taking lessons with Nick. Nick's outstanding guitar and musical knowledge helped me with rhythm, song structure and the basics of the guitar. His encouragement and patience with this beginner has helped me get through areas I had problems with. His ability to hang in there with me has led me to continue to pursue playing the guitar and stick with it.  I thoroughly enjoy taking guitar lessons with Nick and highly recommend him to anyone interested in the guitar!

-- Matt L.

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Nick is an amazing guitar player and teacher.  I have been taking lessons from Nick for 4 months and I have learned a lot already. Nick has made learning to play guitar fun and easy.  Nick truly knows how to make you the next SLASH.  Nick, in my opinion, is one of the best guitar teachers and I am confident that Nick will be able to teach you everything you would ever want to know about guitar.  Thank you, Nick, for all that you do!!!!

-- Logan C.

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Nick is an excellent guitar teacher. I've been taking lessons from him for 2 years, and I couldn't ask for a better mentor.  Besides the fact he is an amazing guitar and bass player, his musical outlook is one of maturity and experience.  He enjoys everything from classical to metal, jazz to rock, and incorporates these genres into his teachings. He's gotten me into so many bands and genres that I didn't even know existed before. He creates a warm atmosphere in lessons.  He knows the busy life most people have, and will accommodate your schedule.  He's understanding and patient if you're having trouble on a certain technique, and will work with you to improve on it.  I've never regretted having Nick for a guitar teacher, and I'm positive anyone who chooses him won't either.

-- Andrew N.

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Nick's teaching capabilities: For about 4 years, Nick has taught me anything I wanted to know. He has taught me anything from Led Zeppelin, or Iron Maiden to Metallica and Megadeth. He knows so many songs, from so many varieties of bands, he could show you 20 on the spot. He shows you all the correct ways to do things, and the perfect timings. He gives you the correct fingering, and anything a music sheet tab page might leave off the song. 

Besides teaching songs you want to know, or suggesting songs that he knows you'll like, he teaches a good amount of theory.  He teaches scales, speed, correct picking, timing, and fingering. Nick found several new ways to teach scales and patterns and jazz and blues and whatever else you can imagine! It's incredible what he does for his students learning abilities. He will teach you how to solo in different keys and create great ideas.  In the course of a month of him showing me cool ideas, telling me what was good and not so good, and just PRACTICING, I had a million ideas and it sounded GREAT!  It seems like he's up all day thinking of new ways to teach something or trying to learn a song for a student. And HE DOES!
 

Nick's Playing: As well as teaching, Nick knows how to PLAY!  His playing is amazing! He can play nice and soft, and then fast and heavy!  Anything! And not just playing it, but makes it sound good.  He can throw in other ideas into a song and improve the song.  Go look at his videos, and see for yourself. 
 

Summary: Nick is a fantastic teacher and strives to make his students great guitarists. He'll go any path YOU want to go with music teach you how to do it well. He's a cool guy too. The greatest guitar teacher on the face of the earth.

 -- Patrick B.

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Nick is a great teacher because he is very supportive of any style of guitar you want to learn, from jazz to metal, and he has simple effective methods for teaching guitar theory.  If you put in the work, you will be right at home on the neck in no time.

 -- Nathan J.

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I started with Nick knowing virtually nothing about the guitar and how much there was to playing it. Nick knows more about guitar than anyone I know.  His interests have influenced what I play and what style of music I listen to.  His knowledge of blues and jazz as well as classic rock have greatly influenced and increased my skill level.  He has opened a lot of different musical directions and given me the tools and inspiration required in order to reach my goals with the guitar.  Nick is always enthusiastic during lessons, and really makes sure he can teach all he can before time is up. Nick was everything I needed in a teacher. Even after all of the time I've spent being taught by him I still return with the guarantee of my money's worth of interesting musical direction.

-- John K.

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It's hard to find someone who is great at playing the guitar and who is a good teacher.  Nick is both. Nick is very nice and patient.  His methods of teaching are awesome too.  Since Nick started teaching me I have improved greatly and feel like I actually know what I am doing. Nick gives me great music to play. All in all Nick is a great guitar player and teacher and he is very good with people.

-- Allyson F.

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Nick has taught me a lot about both guitar and bass. I am now able to play many songs that I thought I wouldn't be able to. Also, the way he teaches is easy to follow and is very worthwhile. I am glad I have Nick as a guitar and bass teacher.

 -- Cameron K.

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Nick Carothers is one of the best guitar teachers around.  I love having him as my teacher.  He totally rocks at guitar and also makes lessons fun! He is so good...he rocks...!!!                                                          

-- Patrick K.