Beginning, intermediate, and advanced guitar lessons
Austin helps students with a wide range of music topics and styles based on their interests and goals:
Austin Weyand offers guitar instruction to BEGINNING, INTERMEDIATE, and ADVANCED level students of all ages and has been teaching for over 30 years. He relies on a wide variety of teaching methods and experiences to help students with their goals. Along with his private studio he has also taught beginning to advanced group lessons in communities, public schools, online, and at the collegiate level. He is an adjunct professor of guitar at Utah State University in Logan, UT.
Austin earned a bachelors degree in guitar from Utah State University studying with Michael Christiansen and a masters degree in guitar from Northern Illinois University studying with Fareed Haque. He was a graduate assistant at Northern Illinois University where he taught advanced guitar classes and coached ensembles for 2 years. He has also taught beginning, intermediate and advanced guitar at Utah State University, both private and group. At USU he is the instructor for the blues and bluegrass guitar courses as well as coach for the USU Acoustic Guitar Ensemble. Austin has also taught at various camps, including the Blue Sky Music Camp at Westminster College and the Music Theater and Arts (MAT) camp in Evanston WY. He has been a guest clinician in public schools and has been a guitar instructor for Harmony Educational Services at Da Vinci Academy in Ogden UT and Aspire Performance Academy in Brigham City, UT.
Austin's Experience with Guitar Styles - Along with beginning guitar skills and other important fundamentals, students often come to lessons with specific style choices in mind. Austin's experience with various styles gives him "real world" perspective, insight, and knowledge to help students with their goals. Some of Austin's experience with different styles include:
Fingerstyle Guitar:
-Recorded 2 solo albums of own compositions and arrangements.
-Winner of State of Wyoming Fingerstyle Guitar Competition in 2008, 2014, and 2018
-Winner of State of Utah Fingerstyle Guitar Competition 2012
-Has performed for countless private events as a guitar soloist for weddings, corporate, restaurant and resort gigs.
-Performances of repertoire by Merle Travis, Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed, Leo Kottke, Tommy Emmanuel, Doyle Dykes, Andy McKee, Don Ross, Andrew York, etc. as well as arrangements of popular music (including Austin's arrangements and others).
Classical:
-Performances of repertoire that includes baroque, classical, romantic, and modern works
-Performances of guitar concertos with college, high school, and community orchestras.
-Masterclasses or lessons with various artists including: David Russell, The LA Guitar Quartet, Benjamin Verdery, Manuel Barrueco, David Tanenbaum, David Leisner, Denis Azabagic, Goran Ivanovic, etc.
-Attendance and participation in various classical guitar festivals including, Guitar Foundation of America, Northwest guitar Festival, Utah Classical Guitar Festival.
-Has performed for countless private events as a guitar soloist for weddings, corporate, restaurant, and resort gigs.
-Director of USU Acoustic Guitar Ensemble since 2013. Coaching group and arranging many pieces for performance.
Spanish Guitar/Flamenco:
-Performing guitarist in 2 month run of the U.S. Premiere of “Zorro the Musical” at the Hale Centre Theater.
-Multiple performances in "Man of La Mancha" with the Utah Opera
-Performances of repertoire by Paco Pena, Juan Serrano, Vicente Amigo, Gipsy Kings, Rodrigo y Gabriela, etc..
-Masterclasses or lessons with artists Grisha Goryachev, Antonio Andrade Duo, Ruben Diaz, David Buckingham
-Developed a band project called "Duskess" that involves Austin's arrangements of spanish guitar and flamenco music for an ensemble.
Rock/Pop/Blues:
-4 year stint as guitarist for "Troubadour 77" with Nashville award winning singer-songwriters Monty Powell and Anna Wilson. Performed nationally, including at the 2017 BottleRock Napa Valley festival that featured Tom Petty, Maroon 5, and the Foo Fighters.
-Cover Bands - Corporate, Weddings, Concerts. Performances on KSL television, Hale Centre Theatre, and throughout the Intermountain West.
-Teaches blues guitar course at Utah State University.
Jazz:
-Performances with jazz combos, big bands, jam sessions, accompanying jazz singers in a duo setting.
-Performances of Blues, Rhythm Changes, Standards
-Arranging for ensembles and solo guitar
-Corporate and wedding gigs
-Studied jazz guitar intensively as part of masters program at Northern Illinois University
Bluegrass/Celtic:
-Performances at festivals on a college tour in France and Spain
-Various performances with fiddle, mandolin, and banjo players in the U.S. Intermountain Region.
-Has performed for the Intermountain Acoustic Music Association, Ogden Music Festival and Bluegrass Saturday Night at the Gallivan Center Salt Lake City, UT
-Teaches bluegrass guitar course at Utah State University.
Freelance studio musician - Has recorded guitar tracks for various CD, video, radio and television projects including "Troubadour 77" KSL Television, Utah State University, and Thorell Guitars.
In addition to learning beginning guitar which involves chords, strumming, finger picking patterns, simple songs, and reading music, YOU MAY ALSO HAVE SOME OF THE FOLLOWING GOALS:
Learning all around basics of guitar playing (reading music, chords, strumming, fingerpicking, simple songs)
Accompaniment skills to back up singing. Play and sing around the campfire!
Song writing. Composing own music (pieces/songs).
Learning to play by Ear, transcription
Play lead/rhythm guitar in a rock or blues band.
Learning Bach and other music from composers of classical music.
Play lead/rhythm guitar in a bluegrass or celtic band.
Learn skills to play for your high school jazz band.
Prepare for auditions for college music departments in either classical or jazz guitar.
Play instrumental fingerstyle arrangements of songs. Similar to a pianist where melody and harmony are played at the same time. One man/woman band!
Austin is prepared to help students and families who are interested in learning. He teaches children as young as six and adults into their senior years. He believes in following, and expanding the interests and passions of the student while also teaching mastery of music fundamentals.
Austin holds recitals during the year. Participation is encouraged, but voluntary.
What should I bring to my lessons?
To be as productive as possible in our lessons please always bring the following:
Your Guitar
Flat picks (and thumb picks if applicable)
Capo
Electronic Tuner
Guitar manuscript books -standard notation and tablature (blank music paper for writing)
Blank Notebook
Binder for handouts. (After a while you will have a nice resource of materials)
Method Books or other materials/sheet music we are working on
phone to record me demonstrating concepts for your practice
Extra set of strings
Trimmed fingernails on your left hand (long left hand fingernails cause difficulty in playing)
A smile and great attitude
Beginner Materials
Regardless of your interests, if you’re starting as a beginner there are certain fundamentals I will cover with you to set a solid foundation for your journey with the instrument. These include basic concepts of rhythm, harmony, and melody. You will learn all basic strum patterns, finger picking patterns, chords, chord progressions, scales, note and tablature reading. I will take most beginners through my All Things Guitar Method Book to develop these skills. I will also give you handouts or email pdfs for many concepts. There are other books/materials I may ask you to purchase. Let’s talk to decide what materials will be best for you.
Austin is available to teach and mentor anywhere in the world with lessons on Zoom or other platforms. He shows students concepts in person through video-link and then shares written material to students as a PDF when applicable. Musical examples can also be shared as mp3s or video for the student to continue learning after lessons are finished. Contact Austin to discuss what topics you’re interested in covering.
For weekly scheduled instruction, in person lessons usually consist of four private lessons (1/2 hour or hour) per month. Occasionally a Master Class will be scheduled (usually before a recital) that will count for the lesson that week. Lessons are scheduled by the month. Advance payment reserves the day and time of your lessons.
One month’s payment is due upon scheduling (prorated if starting mid-month). Payment is non-refundable. Payment for lessons is due by the last day of each month to guarantee your lesson time for the next month’s schedule. No refunds, make-ups, or credit will be issued for missed or discontinued lessons after they are scheduled.
Payment is the same from month to month regardless of missed lessons, sick days, or vacations. You will not be charged however, for certain national holidays. These include Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Day, Thanksgiving, July 4th, Memorial Day, and Labor Day.
Makeups are not guaranteed and generally unavailable. They are available for dangerous weather and family emergencies.
In months June-August you do have the option to use two vacation days without being charged or losing your lesson time. These vacation days must be scheduled at the time of payment. Unscheduled missed lessons may not count for vacation days.
Because Austin also performs for private events and concerts, he will occasionally have to cancel lessons for these performances. Canceled lessons will either be rescheduled or you will be given a credit for the next month.
For payments, students may pay by cash, check, or online. Venmo is preferred for online payments.
