Guitar with James H.

I am a professional musician for hire, composer/songwriter, and teacher who makes a living in West Michigan. My career in music started in my teens, playing in bands, recording original music, and touring. For college, I majored in Guitar Performance under Brian Morris and Andrew Bergeron at the GRCC Music Center; Carlos de la Barrera at Grand Valley State University. I also minored in upright bass studies with Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra bassist Michael Crawford and majored in composition with GVSU New Music Director Bill Ryan. I have made a career as a live backing musician, session player, composer, teacher, and business owner. Music is my life and I really enjoy helping people achieve their personal dreams and goals! I started my private teaching career when I moved to Grand Rapids, MI in 2005 while attending music school. My experience started with teaching lessons out of apartments I lived in, then on to most of the local are guitar stores (Firehouse Guitars, Rainbow Music, etc.), and then starting programs at local community institutions and hosting lessons at the colleges I attended. I now own Grand Rapid's highest rated extracurricular music school, Triumph Music Academy, established in 2011. I have been teaching online lessons for the past 4 years and have developed a cohesive and streamlined curriculum.