Testimonials
“My daughter (8) was on her 2nd year of traditional lessons. She was having a great time, had a few recitals in front of crowds and loved playing in front of friends and family. However, over the almost 2 years of lessons she didn’t progress much in her style of play or understanding of the instrument. She was still plucking w/ one finger happily and missed a lot of potential upside to playing guitar.
After 6 months at DGA studying with Mike under the Suzuki program, she’s playing w/ almost all her fingers, on all the strings, can play along with music and with Mike during lessons and has really started to see what’s available for her w/ the guitar. I take individual lessons w/ Mike and sit in on my daughter’s lessons. Mike helps teach me the accompaniment tracks so that I can help her at home with lessons. We’re very happy with our move to DGA and look forward to her progression over the next few years. ” – Kyle R (2012)
Parents & Kids
“Mike is an outstanding guitar teacher! My son responds very well to his his teaching methods. Mike is patient, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable of best practices for teaching children how to play the guitar. Mike is passionate about helping his students reach their full potential and grow as musicians. ” – Becki H (2012)
“My son loves music and he asked for guitar lessons. We were lucky enough to have Mike as our instructor/coach. Mike is encouraging, loving and an over all great friend to the kids. He really works hard and makes it fun. As a parent you can see he loves what he does!” – Jen M (2012)“
Mike’s patience and professionalism have been crucial in the development of my son’s love of guitar and the continued improvement of his musical abilities. I’ve been incredibly impressed with Mike’s passion for teaching , his reliability and interest in cultivating teaching techniques that help his students perform to the best of their capabilities.” – Hilary H (2012)
Below is an essay written by my student Julia (only 10!). She was asked to write a piece about her favorite teacher and she picked me. I’m extremely humbled. (Though I have to say my house isn’t always messy!) Thanks to Julia and her family!
Favorite Teacher
Not many people have over ten guitars, but Mike, my guitar teacher, does. Every Wednesday I have the privilege of entering his house- filled with personality and music. His style of teaching inspires me to produce my best efforts. I never feel put down, just lifted up when I leave. I believe his expertise and education in music gives him tips and teaching skills that he eagerly passes on to me and his other students. As a guitarist that benefits from his background, I submit he is as finely tuned as any of his many guitars.
Mike always greets me on the doorstep to his small, yet cozy house. The living room is cluttered with pictures, books, amplifiers, sheet music that has long since been overplayed, broken guitar picks, and wafts of good smells drifting from the kitchen. Slowly, I guide my feet through the mess and find myself in the practice room. Only a few inches of bare space stand without a guitar component. The instruments cover the walls, allowing a three-hundred-sixty degree view of all his guitars. Small spinning stools sit in the center of the room, offering a comfortable place to sit. With all these components of his house, it really reflects his fun, unique personality.
Mike went to school for music and excels at teaching it. It only took a day for me to learn a week’s worth of skills. I could play three different scales after seeing him only four times! He shows complete dedication to teaching me when I am at his house. Sometimes the doorbell rings and he has the person wait until he wraps up teaching me. After only a couple questions of “I taught you this last week, right?” his mind is set on the pace that I learn. His brain overflows with knowledge about guitars. I have asked him many questions and each has received a straightforward answer. I know so much about the guitar already by simply listening at lessons.
With such a laid back teaching style, Mike isn’t afraid to show me things in unique ways. To show me how to keep my hand out in front of my guitar, he laid under his piano and played it like that with his hands in two different positions. He stays focused on my instruction and helps me get better. Rather than telling me what I am doing wrong, he suggests ways to do something differently. He seems to teach me like a kid would, kind of letting me figure it out on my own. I feel more connected to mike because he is comfortable to be around, and his teaching style reflects that.
Mike’s wonderful personality makes learning and playing my guitar magic. He knows when to push me and when to console me. He goes to extreme lengths to get his points across and to help me learn the why of things. I may not own many different guitars, but every time I pick mine up, I know I’ll feel gratitude towards the one who makes learning an instrument fun. – Julia (age 10)
Adult Students:
“Mike Hyland is a phenomenal guitar instructor. He has taught me how the fretboard is logically organized and, applying this logic, he has shown me the relationship among chords, scales and modes. Using his fretboard logic and applying the appropriate intervals, he has taught me how to construct chords and play scales over these chords. He has a uncanny knack at making guitar theory fun and easy to understand. In a nutshell, I am finally learning how to play the guitar.” – Mike M (2012)
“As an absolute beginner Mike has given me an amazing balance of supportive encouragement and direct feedback as well as interesting new exercises every week. His passion comes through in every lesson, no matter what level of technique or music theory he is discussing. With Mike I feel like I am learning the guitar in a way that will allow me to still progress and have fun with it twenty years from now!” – Daniel I (2012)
“Mike’s way of teaching guitar is completely different from traditional guitar teachers who show you a few chords and strums. With Mike’s method, you understand the entire fretboard, chord scales, cadences and moving around the neck vertically and horizontally. You’ll learn right hand techniques, strums and picking patterns. After studying with him, I feel I have a comprehensive understanding of the guitar, and understand shapes, as well as tone qualities in chords, inversions and voicings. Yes, it’s a commitment, but it’s worth it.” Jean (2011)
“After 20 years of dreaming about playing the guitar I finally took the plunge. My wife found Mike Hyland by interviewing several instructors and was convinced that Mike had the technique which would help me be successful in fulfilling my dream. She was right. I have been taking lessons a little over a year and the amount of knowledge I have gained is huge. Mike teaches learning about the guitar completely so that you know exactly where every note is and how the notes put together make music. It is a complete training not just a shortcut to play easy songs. What I appreciate most about my time as a student of Mike, is that even the times that I came to a lesson frustrated with my progress Mike found a way to uplift me and by the end of the lesson I was on top of the world ready for a new challenge in music. This is especially for the older than normal student. He gives you just the right pace in order for you to be a success. I thank him greatly for the gift I am receiving. ” – Jim W DVM (2012)
“Mike not only teaches guitar, he teaches music; a refreshing approach. He is genuinely interested in helping you to meet your goals and succeed in your musical aspirations, all while actually understanding what you are doing and why you are doing it. Look no further, hire Mike Hyland.” – Mary R (2011)
“Mike was great getting me started. I didn’t know anything at all and in a few months I felt like I really had a better understanding of not just the guitar but music in general. He’s a great teacher!” – Bethany (2010)
“Mike is a thoughtful and experienced teacher, he focuses on the basics which allows you to improve quickly and confidently. He’s not like the usual music store teacher, he really knows his stuff” – Jeff Smith (2008)
“I’ve heard the saying that guitar is the easiest instrument to learn the wrong way but didn’t fully understand what that meant until I took lessons with Mike. He really knows his stuff. I’ve learned a ton working with him in just a short while and can tell I’ve only scratched the surface of his knowledge. Just an all around cool guy; I really enjoy our lessons.”– Jonathan B (2012)
“Learning how to play an instrument as an adult, is as frustrating as trying to remember how to pat your head and rub your belly–while walking and chewing gum at the same time–like when you were a kid. Mike Hyland has an uncanny way of tapping into a person’s brain, to create an environment of learning something new and as seemingly complex–like how to play a musical instrument–so that it actually makes sense. His teaching style is down to Earth, and he’s a very patient person. He has an exceptional range of music knowledge–that through his examples, demonstrations, and relational way of teaching how to play the guitar–he has not only greatly impacted my ability to learn the guitar, but he has also sparked passion and desire to learn how to play other instruments. I find myself waking up every day now, with a passionate desire to share my new-found confidence and encourage everyone that I meet to learn how to play a musical instrument. Mike is very motivating and inspirational–I feel very indebted to him for his time and commitment to me as a student!” – T.S. (2010)
“I tried lots of other teachers before him, but Mike was the first one that really explained to me how to practice. He really thinks about the way your brain works and helps you learn.” – Michelle (2006)