My 12-year-old daughter has been taking duo guitar lessons with Ryan, and we've had such a great experience. In just a couple of months, I've seen a huge boost in her confidence and comfort level playing guitar, which has been really exciting to watch as a parent. Ryan is patient, talented, and really great with kids, and the whole team has been so kind, responsive, and easy to communicate with. We've felt really supported and had a genuinely positive experience here. I would definitely recommend I.R. Guitar Lessons to any parent looking for a fun and encouraging place for their child to learn guitar. read more

This place is great in many ways! It is easy to sign up, offers flexibility and plenty of scheduling options, the teachers are excellent, the location is good, and it is always simple to get in touch for help. I highly recommend it! read more

As an adult learner with no prior experience playing guitar, I got a tremendous amount of support and guidance in learning. I haven't worked with many of the instructors but there's a teacher for every type of learner. Ian's got over a decade of experience and is an extremely capable instructor. Classes are well worth the money if you're looking to develop any of the awesome skills you can get through learning guitar. read more

We're only a few lessons into it, but our son really enjoys spending time with Ian. I could tell off the bat he's very patient with kids, and understands how to connect with them. Also is pretty straightforward, yet fun. As a parent who conducts very thorough research, I'm very happy to have met him. read more

We have had such a wonderful experience with Ian and his fellow teachers at I.R. Guitar! Our now 12-year-old son has been working with Ian for a few years and always comes out of his lessons excited about the music and excited about playing the guitar. Ian is patient and relaxed and has really instilled an appreciation for the music and guitar skills in our son. When Ian has a substitute teacher, they don't skip a beat and have all been great there. I would wholeheartedly recommend IR guitar without reservation and have referred a number of friends! read more

My daughter has Ian as her guitar teacher. She used to play acoustic guitar, and Ian helped her transition to electric guitar. She enjoys her lessons because Ian encourages her to pick songs that she's interested in. She learned a lot of new picking techniques this past year, and just recently started experimenting with pedal for different sound effects. Ian is a great teacher with a lot of experience and patience. read more

Great experience with IR Guitar. Ian the owner is very invested in making sure that the teacher is a good fit for the student. My son had lessons with Max and Ian and said both were kind and patient. Would definitely recommend. read more

I.R. Guitar Lessons is an amazing music school!! The instructors are knowledgeable, patient, and make learning fun. I always look forward to my lessons with Ian and recommend IR Guitar to everybody! read more

I've been taking private lessons from Ian Rowe for ~6 months, have nothing but positive things to say. I started with zero guitar experience, and it's been a wonderful and fulfilling journey. Ian is a natural teacher, and his passion for the guitar is infectious! I'm happy to support him, and his independent, small business. With free intro lessons and instrument rentals, what more could you ask for? read more

World-class instruction in a welcoming, personalized way. My tutor quickly pinpointed my strengths and areas to improve, then designed lessons that built skill and confidence fast. In just a few sessions, I saw remarkable progress--and had a great time along the way. Masters of the craft, but also personable and approachable! If you want to learn, this is where you want to be. read more

I've absolutely loved taking guitar lessons here! Ian is patient, knowledgeable, and really knows how to make learning fun and motivating. Each lesson is well-structured but still flexible enough to explore the styles and songs I enjoy. I've noticed huge improvements in my playing and confidence -- from basic chords to more advanced techniques, everything is explained clearly and at a comfortable pace. read more

My tween daughter wanted to try guitar lessons. I found I R Guitar Lessons online with great reviews. We had about 7 lessons with Ian and I cannot say enough good things. He made it so easy for my daughter to jump right in, communicated clearly, was encouraging & patient. The monthly payment system made it so easy for me. Best of all, my daughter is more motivated to learn. :) read more

I.R. Guitar is amazing. Ian is super responsive, amazingly understanding of all things scheduling related, and the instructors are more than you could ever hope for (even the substitute teachers!). We found I.R. Guitar about 6 months ago and I'm still pinching myself that we got so lucky to find such great teachers!!! It's impossible to put into words how deeply their kindness and availability imprints onto our kids (and ME!). For something that is associated with "practice" we are in awe of how I.R. Guitar manages to keep the entirety of the experience positive and an aspect of our life that we look forward to each and every week. My now 7 year old began lessons at age 6 and his teacher is so amazing that I convinced my now 15 year old to also start up guitar lessons with the same teacher. We have one playing acoustic guitar and one playing electric guitar. Our teenager had to bow out due to the riggers of Sophomore year and both the teacher and Ian have been so understanding; but, my teenager will return during the summer months (and he actually voices how much he misses the lessons pretty regularly). read more

I R Guitar Lessons - Saturday morning, grabbing the guitar while still in PJ's... loving this! - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Oakland, California

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I joined I.R.'s group classes over 2 months ago and I'm loving what I'm learning. The group classes are 30 minutes and have a casual format, which has been ideal for beginning something new. The classes are taught by Max, who knowledgable and patient! The small studio is tucked away on Grand Ave and is perfect for a neighborhood feel. The whole staff, including Ian, the owner have been helpful and welcoming. The price of the weekly group classes are reasonable and I recommend group classes as as a start if your'e curious! read more

I signed up for the free lesson earlier this year and was immediately hooked. I have never played an instrument before and didn't know much about reading music. I love rock en espanol and have always wanted to learn guitar. The founder Ian is passionate, supportive and down to earth. He makes the tough, initial learning processes manageable. We have covered so much in my first two months. I can read tabs, melodies and distinguish chords etc. I started right before the shelter in place ordinance was implemented in Oakland. We made a smooth transition to zoom lessons and have been rocking out. Ian has helped me learn Ranchera style Mexican music and popular rock songs in Spanish. He can do it all. I'm in my early thirties and have a busy work schedule. However, the lessons hold me accountable and I try to squeeze in practice time everyday. It's definitely a process and Ian's positive attitude and responsiveness keeps me going. He's accessible in between classes and has pointers to ease the process. The lessons are reasonably priced and the team works with you. I was able to serenade my girlfriend last week after two months of practice. The future is looking pretty bright. Guitar ain't easy but it's definitely doable. Although I'm stuck in doors because of COVID-19, these weekly lessons are keeping me positive. Thanks Ian! read more

I R Guitar Lessons - Getting ready to rock out. - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Oakland, California

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So, it's been a little over year and things keep getting better! My teenage son never wants to miss a lesson! A self defined 'metal head', my son is ecstatic to have a teacher like Greg, who teaches him fundamentals and advanced techniques of his chosen genre! To see a young man engaged and remain enthusiastic year over year is a testament to the efforts of Greg and everybody at IR Guitar Lessons. The studio is really cool! With a nod to the classic, it is also intimate without being intimidating! It has zero corporate vibe, but is professional and contemporary. Ian and Adrianna have done it right! Keep up the great work guys ... and thanks for feeding my kids stoke for the music! - a - a - a - a - a - Good things are happening here! Have a kid with a passion for music? Get them in here! Ian, Adrianna and their team are on point! read more

I R Guitar Lessons - Get some wings or killer pizza next door while your child has their lesson! - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Oakland, California

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We take lessons from Max and Emery. We look forward to them every week! They are both experienced and knowledgeable musicians but they are also patient, great at explaining technique and theory to people at all levels and ages. They adapt easily to teach whatever kind of music interests you. Ian makes scheduling and rescheduling easy. Angie star operation for sure. read more

My 12 year old has been taking guitar lessons with I.R. Guitar since this past summer and he loves it. He was taking lessons elsewhere (virtually) before and was making very slow progress. That teacher stopped teaching so on a friend's recommendation we tried I.R Guitar and my son progressed faster in just a few weeks than he had in months with the other teacher. He has also been excited about practicing and playing. I am so glad we took a chance and tried them out. Lessons aren't cheap, but that seems to be true for most high quality music lessons of any type in the Bay Area and it is worth every penny. They have been great about scheduling changes and makeups and the system is easy to use. I highly recommend you try the free lesson if you are looking for a good place to learn. We hope one day to actually meet our teacher in person and participate in live recitals. read more

My daughter (10) has been taking lessons with Ian for about six months and has made tremendous progress. Ian is so patient with all of her ups and downs in motivation, but at the same time sets very high standards for her playing. Both kiddo and parents are very happy with I.R. guitar! read more

I.R. Guitar Lessons is the best place to go if you are a beginner, intermediate or professional guitarist. Ian is an amazing teacher. He adapts his lessons based on whatever your goals are and your individual learning style. Not only that, he's also a super cool person in general. We're friends now! read more

We struggled to find a great ukulele teacher for my 8 year old daughter until we found Ian. Some were too strict and it wasn't fun, or were so fun that my daughter didn't learn anything. Ian has a great balance of being fun and engaging while also pushing her to learn new things. Ian clearly enjoys teaching and my daughter enjoys learning with him. He has delved deep into the Taylor Swift archive to support her interests and she has learned so much! His flexible online scheduling tool is also really helpful. read more

This studio is great. Ian, the owner was completely accommodating and kind. It was a really welcoming studio and our instructor, Brian, was great with my kids and myself. I'm just one lesson, my kids learned how to play Bob Marley's "three little birds". I can't recommend I.R. Guitar Lessons enough... sadly I can only give it 5 stars and not more read more

I was always curious about learning how to play guitar but never quite had the discipline to follow through. I.R. Guitar Lessons has been great with helping me get over the hump. My instructor is very patient, extremely knowledgeable but can also push me when needed. It's a great value for a hobby that I believe me a lifetime. If you are at all curious about the place, try the free lesson. You have nothing to lose. read more

Such an awesome space for people at at levels. Had never played the guitar before in my life and knew how to play Happy Birthday after my first lesson. All the staff were friendly, helpful, and the space is really clean. Would recommend for in-person or online lessons! read more

I.R. Guitar is great!! I entered the school as an adult beginner -- I was a little self-conscious to try something new in my thirties, but I always felt like the teachers at I.R. Guitar were encouraging and patient. They noticed the small improvements when I practiced, and they didn't judge if I had a busy week at work and couldn't practice so much. After every lesson, I left feeling happy and full of music -- a very nice break from the slog of the work week. The school also does a good job of fostering community, with parties and recitals and newsletters. I didn't get to know other students very well since I was taking private lessons, but it was fun to meet my fellow students here and there at recitals. Those recitals also gave me a goal to work toward, so I could focus my practicing and organize my time. I worked primarily with Stephan Kane, who is a great teacher. But occasionally I'd have substitute teachers if Stephan was out, and I never met a teacher I didn't like working with. I also found that my musical goals and interests expanded as I went to more and more lessons. I came in just wanting to learn to play a few 90s alt rock songs, and I ended up choosing to focus on other genres like classical guitar and bossa nova. The teachers' enthusiasm for their craft is palpable and infections and it got me interested in genres of music to which I don't normally gravitate. Great school, I highly recommend. read more

My four year old kept asking to learn how to play guitar and so I finally decided to give it a go. I wasn't sure how he would do with it, but the lessons have been amazing. Ian is enthusiastic and so good with kids. He never gets annoyed when my son is undoubtedly annoying. I'm so impressed with how much my son can play after a few short months and excited to watch him learn more. This place is a gem. Highly recommend. read more

I.R. is such a great studio! I started off with acoustic finger style lessons and my instructor was amazing, talented and super patient. Now I am taking electric guitar lessons with Ian, the owner, and he is so knowledgeable about WHY music sounds good. It really helps that he can break down something complex in its simplest way. Really shows his expertise. I'd recommend I.R. to anyone who us interested in learning more about music! Check em' out! read more

My darling niece has attended music lessons with the owner Ian and other fantastic teachers for a couple years now. A very comfy child friendly and welcoming spot in my old neighborhood. I really appreciate the way they work with kids so that my niece always looks forward to lessons. She started out with ukulele but recently decided to switch to guitar. I highly recommend this school and all the instructors are equally as good. Kids want to keep coming back! That says it all! read more

My daughter Sonia (10) has been Ian's student for more than 2 years. In the past 2 years she has learnt lots of new songs and has performed in few talent shows in her school. I can see her confidence level going up in playing guitar and she enjoys the class with Ian. She is currently preparing for the ABRSM test - and is getting better in doing site reading and playing scales with his help. Earlier I used to sit in most of the classes with her and was very impressed in his way of teaching, as i could tell he really enjoys teaching, which is a quality not every teacher has. Overall it has been a great experience and I would highly recommend anyone who is interested in learning guitar. read more

Solid music school with phenomenal teachers. I've been taking guitar lessons for over a year now and have grown very much after plateauing from my own solo years of playing. Every teacher here has their own specialty and style so it's nice to be able to get exposure to that. The group is building a nice community around teachers and students as well, which I hope will continue to flourish in the coming years. read more

I.R. guitar makes it so easy to start lessons! We signed my 7 year old up for a free guitar lesson back in September and she's really enjoying it! You can borrow a guitar from the school so it takes the trouble out of buying or renting an instrument which is so nice. Emery is a great teacher and makes it very fun for kids. He leans into her interests to help make it a really enjoyable experience. read more

It's a really cool place to have Guitar classes. Ian treats you very well, it's SUPER knowledgeable and really knows how to reach by giving direction and accountability too, pushing you just right and giving you confidence. Definitely recommended! read more

I was a total noob who couldn't tell the difference between an A minor and a treble clef. Now I'm jamming to my favorite songs, and appreciating music on a whole other level thanks to Ian. I tried using YouTube tutorials, but they just aren't as good as a respectable instructor like my guy here. Do yourself a favor if you wanna get good at playing guitar: make an appointment with these guys. You won't be disappointed read more

I really like this studio, it's quiet, in a cute part of town and there's usually street parking! I really have had an excellent experience with all the instructors and you really can't go wrong with anyone you get lessons from. Everyone is super nice and attentive and I recommend anyone who is trying to learn guitar because the lessons actually help!!!!! I'm on my way to becoming a rockstar ! read more

If you're undecided on where you want to take guitar lessons - just go ahead and sign-up with IR Guitar. You can book with confidence. Ian and Adrianna both have the skills and tremendously positive attitudes that make learning guitar fun and fulfilling. They also make an effort to build a great community through their studio by actually getting to know their students. I'm an adult student who hadn't picked up a guitar in almost a decade and taking lessons with Ian has been one of the best investments I've made in myself in a long time. Highly recommended. read more

I have been learning from Ian since the first time I picked up a guitar to play it a few months ago. In a few short months Ian has taught me technique, theory, reading music and, best of all, playing the guitar! I do private lessons and it is worth it to get off to a great start on immersion with the instrument. Ian is able to throw a lot of styles and artists at you to suit your tastes and get the initial riffs and strum patterns to access musical memory. Always pleasant and lingual, no worries with respect to the administrative side of getting in, getting out, and scheduling or rescheduling as necessary. Start with Ian and get rocking! read more

My two daughters have taken lessons with Ian and Adrianna for keiki ukulele and guitar and they've grown as musicians in the few months practicing with them. I love how attentive and patient both of them are with my daughters and how communicative they are with the parents. Ian is so hospitable when he sees us come in for a lesson, always asking if we need anything or would like some water. They are responsive to emails and class time requests and go above and beyond to accommodate our schedule. We are so happy here! read more

I can't say enough good things about my experience with I.R. Guitar! Ian is organized, flexible, encouraging, and engaging. He teaches what I'm interested in learning, but also incorporates the basic practices and drills needed in order to build a good foundation. I've attempted learning guitar solo, but Ian easily points out small things that make learning simple and straightforward--that I would otherwise never notice. On top of that, it really comes across that he cares about his craft and how lessons are conducted. He's able to explain technique in different ways so that I can't help but understand everything he's trying to convey. This guitar school is top of the line. Everyone here is seriously amazing. read more

I've been taking lessons here for a few year and still love everything about this place! I would give more than 5 stars if this was an option. No matter your age or level of expertise, you'll find the right teacher to meet/exceed your guitar-playing goals. Great location as well! And if you're on the fence about learning guitar, take the plunge and invest in yourself. It's fun, creative, meditative, and definitely relieves stress. read more

I started lessons with I.R. Guitar last June, so not quite a year ago. I highly recommend it for adult learners like myself. The instructors (I'm currently working with Garrett) are there to help you create and meet your own goals. Since one of my goals was to read music for guitar, they also introduced me to classical guitar which I love just as much as strumming along on my steel string. They also work to create a community through occasional events geared at adults. I was especially thankful for that when it was recital time, where I wanted to perform, but didn't really want to go after the super skilled kids and teens who also take lessons at I.R. Guitar. It has been a perfect fit for me, an adult who finally decided to start playing. read more