I have been working with Pascal for just over a year and I cannot speak highly enough of Pascal as a guitar instructor. He is not only an exceptionally skilled musician but also an excellent teacher who has transformed my playing in just a short matter of time. Pascal can easily and clearly explain material and concepts, often approaching things from multiple angles to ensure complete understanding. Whether we're working on lead guitar techniques, rhythm guitar fundamentals, or diving into music theory, he maintains a strong balance that keeps lessons engaging and comprehensive. His teaching style is also approachable and professional, which has helped create an environment where I feel comfortable asking questions and pushing myself to improve (something I was nervous about, having never played guitar previously). Although I was at first hesitant about the commitment of in-person lessons, I have also really grown to appreciate the fact that lessons are in-person. Pascal has an eye for detail and a very well-trained ear, which allows him to provide real-time adjustments on everything from basic technique to nuanced elements like the way in which the pick is being held, thumb position, hand placement, and arm angles, etc. I believe these types of corrections that would be difficult to identify on my own (again, having no prior experience), and would likely not come through in most online/recorded lessons. These small refinements have made a large difference in my playing ability, to the point where even minor adjustments (like a slight adjustment to wrist angle) allow me to play a chord or a progression that I was struggling to play on my own during practice. As others have commented, I would also recommend double lessons, which I find to give me a great amount of items to work on before my next lesson. On a personal note, I genuinely look forward to my lessons with Pascal. Pascal's enthusiasm and encouragement have motivated me to practice consistently and focus on development in ways I do not believe I would have if I were learning independently. I also do not feel pressured if I have a busy week and have not been able to dedicate as much time to the material (although that rarely happens, as I enjoy the material so much). My wife has even commented on how much progress I've made in such a short time (she likes listening to me now). As someone who firmly believes you get what you pay for, I can say without hesitation that Pascal is worth every penny. If you're looking for a guitar instructor who will genuinely invest in your growth as a musician, Pascal is an excellent choice. read more

If you want to be able to pick up a guitar and confidently turn the music in your head into reality, Pascal will get you there. He has the experience, skill, and patience to tailor each of his lessons to provide meaningful and rewarding progress towards your musical goals and, in my case, beyond what I thought I was capable of. I started playing guitar as an adult, and had little idea of what I wanted to get out of the hobby. After years of sporadically learning pieces of songs from online lessons, I came around to the conclusion that I enjoyed guitar enough to take it more seriously. Initially, structured online lessons yield great results, but I quickly started hitting skill plateaus that forced me to move in a different direction to feel like I was making progress. After diversions into music theory, gear acquisition, and some in-person instruction, my interest in guitar was stronger than ever, but I just wasn't getting that much better at playing the thing. Then I found Pascal's website and thought he sounded like someone I should reach out to. The first lesson I had with Pascal completely changed my view of what I could get out of guitar in such a positive way. Biased by my previous experiences learning other instruments, I went in thinking that learning could either be structured and chore-like, or relaxed and fun, but unproductive. I was wrong. Pascal immediately put me on a track that was both structured and personal, and made me enjoy playing so much more. I wish I had hours every day to devote to practicing, but I struggle to find even minutes most days. Even with that constraint, the progress was immediately tangible. One of Pascal's greatest strengths is explaining why he's teaching something and laying out realistic expectations for progression. I became much more aware of the small increments of progress I was making and my basic skills improved dramatically. As lessons progressed, the connections between the lessons became more and more clear. The fretboard transitioned from being intimidating to comfortable, and the fear of getting "lost" started going away. At no point did I have to sit down and memorize anything to get to that place; it happened naturally with the lessons. I waited to write a review for a couple years because I wanted my recommendation to be credible for someone like me: a person whose interest in playing guitar has exceeded their skill and is looking for a teacher to bridge that gap. If that sounds like you, I wholeheartedly recommend reaching out to Pascal! read more

Magic touch and outstanding teaching skills! Before meeting Pascal, I had taken a few lessons with a teacher back in California. The comparison was night and day! Pascal's level of professionalism and organization are superb... not to mention his guitar skills. I've been working with Pascal for over a year now and I am THRILLED with the progress I have made. Pascal creates a safe environment and always offers me a challenge. Lessons are clearly tailored to the unique needs/interests of each client. Not to mention, his level of patience is that of a saint. I've never felt rushed or judged, even when I show up with little practice time put in current material. (Those days are usually reserved for theory). It is uncommon to meet people with the level of passion and dedication Pascal has cultivated for himself. While Pascal is an expert at all topics guitar related... he is also a wonderful coach and friend. He always finds ways to keep me engaged in the material. Pascal is full of positive vibes and passion, being in his presence is always uplifting! On a personal note, I appreciate the balance guitar has brought to my life. Working in technology, I spend lots of my time in high-stress environments and staring at a screen. Unplugging my monitor and plugging into my guitar truly does wonders for the soul in providing a healthy and expressive outlet. It doesn't matter what level of player you are... show up... be patient with yourself and trust in Pascal. You will not be disappointed! read more

Seattle Guitar Teacher - Me at Pascal's studio! - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I highly recommend guitar lessons from Pascal Louvel of Seattle Guitar Teacher. I have had other teachers in the past, used apps and YouTube channels, but Pascal is in another league. He has not only studied guitar at a very high level, he has made a study of teaching guitar, developing his materials and techniques over years of providing lessons. He not only teaches guitar, but music really, from all angles: the relationship between keys, chords and scales, rhythm, timing, technique, embellishments. If you value your time as much as I do, Pascal will make the best use of it. He is always ready to provide more or slow down to maximize your understanding and progress. I had played in a band years ago, so starting back up I was not a beginner but I definitely had a lot to learn. Pascal was immediately able to assess my status and where I needed the most help to improve, then create a path for me to become a better musician. I have been taking lessons from Pascal for 14 months now and we make significant progress every week. In addition to improving how I play, I am learning music theory and how all the pieces fit together. I told Pascal about a bass line I had written long ago, which I had never developed into a song. He led me through breaking it down note by note, testing all possible keys and then figuring out which chords worked best, the voicings of those chords, and rhythm. The process was meticulous and inspired by making my song great, and along the way I was able to see how a song can be developed with theory and understanding applied. It made a lot of things "click" for me, because he was flexible enough to use my own material to illustrate a variety of musical concepts. It was something that a less experienced teacher would not have been able to do. There are a lot of ways to "learn" guitar these days, but none are anywhere near as effective as in-person lessons with a great teacher like Pascal. He will maximize your time, development and enjoyment. Whether you are a beginner, intermediate or advanced player, give him a call. read more

Seattle Guitar Teacher - a close up of a guitar - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Stellar teaching every time and the nicest guy to boot! Trust Pascal, he will save you YEARS! I have been playing the drums for more than 15 years but was always infatuated with the guitar (acoustic and electric). In my youth, I managed to figure out some basic campfire chords and riffs by my favourite bands but that was about it. 2 years ago I decided to get back to guitar, but did not make much progress trying to learn from online courses and Youtube. I was never able to adhere to a schedule or a lesson plan and I eventually found myself frustrated with practicing. I was always second guessing myself and unsure of my technique, which led to a drop in confidence. In addition, this attempt at self teaching led to MAJOR gaps in my fundamental music theory knowledge and did way more harm than good. But I still could not put out this desire to learn the guitar. I was lost and decided that I needed to completely reset. I started looking for a teacher who would be able to understand my situation. I wanted to find a teacher that would help me cultivate accountability, meet my expectations for regular progress and reach my musical potential. And I am so lucky to have found Pascal! In the first session itself, Pascal was able to assess my playing level, goals and recommended a path forward for me in my quest to get better! At every lesson, he knows exactly what to focus on so that practice stays fun while ensuring steady progress and while avoiding bad habits and detrimental shortcuts. Pascal provides detailed lesson handouts that I can refer to when practicing at home. The rhythmic notation and phrasing are always included. What really benefited me is that Pascal provides the fingerings along with the lesson tablature, this way I am able practice exactly how I should be and build the proper muscle memory in my fingers. I am finally learning guitar the right way! Pascal's philosophy is to understand 'why' and 'how' instead of memorizing notes and patterns. The knowledge he imparts will be useful and will stay with me for the rest of my guitar playing days. Fast forward a year under Pascal's tutelage I feel so much more confident and capable in my playing. I am now able to understand how the notes are mapped out on the guitar and how they are related to each other, it just makes sense now! Pascal is continuously helping me build a strong fundamental knowledge and technique base that I can build on. My lessons with Pascal are always fun and mentally stimulating as he actively challenges me and keeps me engaged as we tackle harmonized scales, chord building, triads and technique. I especially like how he shares his experiences and precious personal tips from his time at G.I.T (Guitar Institute of Technology) in Los Angeles! I absolutely believe that what I have learned from Pascal, I would have never learned anywhere online. There is a renewed and sustained feeling of excitement every time I pick up my guitar. I highly recommend Pascal to anyone who is looking to learn to play guitar well. I hope that others will find the same joy that I have found in learning to play guitar with Pascal at Seattle Guitar Teacher. read more

Seattle Guitar Teacher - Ibanez - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Seattle Guitar Teacher Pascal Louvel's teaching essentially delivers both the necessary Feedback Loop and the ultimate End-to-End solution. As such, it is both brilliantly effective and efficient. I have been going to Pascal for about 3 years now. Prior to that, for many years I tried to learn guitar using various online lessons, free and paid, and made practically zero progress. I am a Software engineer and at work I learnt the principle that any system without a feedback loop is an unstable system. I applied that to myself and decided to get a trainer for gym and then a teacher for guitar. It's the best decision I made. I made tremendous progress in the last 3 years. And I now regret wasting the previous 3 years in Seattle before I met Pascal. For the first time, the guitar lessons I saw were logical and not 'hope' based. They not only show you what to do, but also how to get there. Lessons are also fun, musical and have real world examples for application. Pascal's strong music education and playing experience provide a strong foundation. In addition, his personal teaching experience is very deep. Clearly, he has refined his lessons based on years of feedback loop with his students. Every exercise or song study has a purpose and is carefully crafted to make sure you learn completely and do not have any gaps. He is able to tweak and adapt based on how you progress and where you have difficulties. I was also pleasantly surprised that he turned out to be an End-to-End solution and was able to provide valuable insights and help in all aspects in guitar other than the playing part itself. As I grew beyond the intermediate level in both lead and rhythm guitar, I outgrew my Stratocaster guitar. Pascal helped me choose an exceptional guitar with superior intonation which in turn helped my ears. He researches and keeps up to date on guitar technology and also helped me choose the right tools and accessories to optimize my practice and ergonomics. Many of which are not something I would have found by googling. He also helped me expand my music taste and introduced me to great artists and genres and other cultures. Nowadays, I am a much better listener and I can appreciate and understand more music, particularly the role other instruments play rhythmically and harmonically in songs and how to anticipate and adapt my playing to fit. I should add that Pascal is definitely the most popular guitar instructor in town among discerning software engineers. I am one of them and I always look forward to my lesson with Pascal every week. read more

Seattle Guitar Teacher - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Pascal brought my playing to a new level in a very short period of time. I had been stuck and not making much progress with my improvisational skills for the better part of a year when I first started lessons with him. I was impressed by his ability to quickly analyze my playing and knowledge and suggest some focus areas. After working on various intervals, I began to feel a magnetic pull in my fingers when playing. The intervals enabled me to make the connection between the licks and lines in my head and the physical fret board on the fly during improvisational sessions. Pascal is extremely organized. He has filing cabinets full of exercises for every topic imaginable. His exercises are clearly written with specifics on how to effectively practice them, and they progress in an incremental and logical fashion. This level of organization allows you to get the most out of your time with Pascal. He can quickly retrieve exercises for a topic, without having to stop and think, or waste time on transcription. I have a demanding schedule which only allows me time for lessons once a month. Even at such a low frequency, I leave every lesson with more than enough material to keep me busy. Pascal has been very flexible working with me and changes that arise in my schedule. On top of all of this, Pascal is a genuinely pleasant person to spend time with and I really look forward to our time together. For me, I was an intermediate player looking to get to the next step. But I'm confident that Pascal could accelerate anyone's playing at any level. read more

Seattle Guitar Teacher - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I've taken lessons with Pascal a few months now and I've made more progress in that short time than in any period during my 25 years playing guitar. He's helped me tackle the biggest technique issues that were slowing me down, and greatly expanded my knowledge of the fretboard. These improvements are making me a more confident player. Now I look forward to playing live (post COVID-19!) and recording, whereas in the past I had a lot of anxiety about pressure situations. I look at the improvement I've made in such a short time and get excited about where I could take my playing in the time to come. Pascal is professional and dedicated to teaching: He provided me a practice binder that he fills with exercises as I progress, and it's clear a lot of thinking has gone into the order of exercises, the suggested fingerings (often with several alternatives), and the presentation. When asked about theory or technique issues related to the exercises, Pascal responds with clear explanations, so I'm confident he has deep knowledge of his subject. He's responsive over email between lessons when I have questions too. Also, if you're worried about in-person instruction during the pandemic like I was, Pascal is on top of it: He's got a medical grade air purifier with germicidal lamp in the studio where he gives lessons, and we always wash our hands and wear masks for lessons. While he's professional, Pascal's demeanor is very friendly and conversational, and there's a casual atmosphere at his studio. Further, if you're worried about a teacher forcing you to learn things you're not interested in, there's nothing to fear here. Pascal always checks in with me when presenting something new to make sure we're going in the direction I want. Thing is, I feel confident enough in Pascal, and had such great results, I tend to follow his suggestions to the letter. read more

Seattle Guitar Teacher - My band pre-pandemic, I'm on the right. - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Taking lessons with Pascal has certainly been one of my best decisions! I've always wanted to play the guitar, but I couldn't afford to start until I was 30. I tried learning on my own unsuccessfully using the internet. I had almost given up when I contacted Pascal on a whim, as a last ditch attempt. I have been taking lessons for a year and a few months now. Pascal's superpower is providing me with the right material at the right time. He is the rare combination of someone who is a great teacher in addition to being a great player (other reviewers have gone over his excellent credentials). He has spent decades focused on developing exercises and tips to teach people of all skill levels, and has handouts prepared for every scenario. Each class, he provides me with handouts carefully designed to be challenging enough to sustain my interest, without becoming overwhelmingly difficult. Each lesson builds on the lessons before it, so that I can make good progress while making the most efficient use of my practice time. Since the first lesson, Pascal has emphasized strong fundamentals and playing in time, and this makes practice engaging and fun! We began with how to play simple sequences of notes, and moved on to power chords, open and barre chords, simple rhythms and rhythmic notation, and pentatonic scales. After a few months there, we moved on to the major scale, more complex chords, and pop, rock and funk rhythms. Along the way, I also learned techniques like hammer-on, pull-off and bends, and example riffs from songs. Pascal is also familiar with the rhythmic tradition and scales from many styles and cultures, so at times we were able to apply several rhythmic and melodic concepts in both a Western context and an Indian (Carnatic/Hindustani) context, and have a lot of fun exploring bridges between cultures. Throughout, Pascal has remained very positive and encouraging. A little more than a year ago I thought it impossible that I could progress this much, starting from scratch as an adult, given my usual commitments. But thanks to Pascal, I have progressed far beyond my expectations. While I still have a very long way to go, I have now found a friend for life in the instrument, and I look forward to continuing my journey. read more

Seattle Guitar Teacher - Guitar inside Pascal's studio - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I have been meaning to write this review for a while. I have been coming to Pascal for lessons for about 6 months. I have tried on two occasions to learn guitar from other instructors but quickly became frustrated and gave up. My time with Pascal has been a completely different experience. He is a fantastic instructor and he focuses on building the fundamentals. Using a foreign language as an analogy, my other instructors started by just teaching me how to pronounce different phrases, without teaching what the individual words meant or how to modify the sentences. Pascal starts by teaching the vocabulary and how to construct any sentence you want. He is very patient, sends you home with excellent lessons to practice, and once you get to the point where you simply need time to improve technique before you can advance any further, he switches to teaching basic music theory, so that you can continue to learn while you wait for your hands to catch up with your brain. If you want to spend the least amount of money on guitar lessons, I would encourage you to go learn from some college kid, as you will spend $80 on one or two lessons and then just give up. If you want to actually learn how to play guitar, come see Pascal. read more

Seattle Guitar Teacher - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Pascal is an excellent guitar teacher. He's a very experienced and dedicated teacher that will no doubt improve your level of play. I recently relocated to Seattle after happily taking guitar lessons in CT (where I went from absolute beginner to campfire strummer). So the bar was set high for finding a new teacher and, like you, I started reading numerous reviews. Every one of Pascal's reviews were extremely positive from all levels of students. In addition, his experience (20+ years of teaching) and education (Guitar Institute) were top notch. So I decided to take a lesson with Pascal and couldn't be happier right now. From the first lesson Pascal was able to quickly assess where my level of play was and jump right in. Pascal focused on teaching good habits and guitar fundamentals, all while improving my timing. He is very organized, and has thousands of handouts right at his fingertips (so no time is wasted writing down your lesson). He is very encouraging as you tackle new material, and also reads you well to know just the amount of new material that will appropriately challenge you. He will also create as many additional handouts as necessary to bring you to that next level. And in a little over a year, Pascal has indeed brought my guitar playing to a new level. His exercises made it fun to learn scales and the guitar fretboard, and I'm now able to identify keys and understand the intervals of a chord. So when improvising to a chord progression, this allows me to make the changes (ie playing the most melodic notes to transition from one chord to the next). Pascal's teaching has also brought my rhythm and timing to a new level. I'm able to play more advanced rhythms with an even tighter timing. I'm quite pleased whenever I go back to an old song and see how much tighter the rhythm is now. I'm also very pleased how quickly I'm able to learn a new song or riff now (where some would have been too advanced for me only a year ago). His lessons will also improve your picking, ability to move up and down the guitar neck, hitting the desired strings and much more. In addition, Pascal if very nice and friendly, so it has been a pleasure to take lessons with him. I'm very excited to see where Pascal takes my guitar playing as I continue lessons with him, and highly recommend him to anyone looking for a guitar teacher. read more

Seattle Guitar Teacher - Thanks Pascal for all the awesome lessons! - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Kind, humble and remarkably effective teacher. Pascal Louvel is the ideal guitar teacher for a complete beginner. It can be hard to find a good teacher and a good guitar player on their own, Pascal is both. I was a complete beginner two years ago, having only picked up guitar for the first time a few weeks before my first lesson. Pascal's experience and teaching has been invaluable to guide me to become a proficient intermediate guitar player, leveling me up in all aspects of musicianship. I now have a solid understanding of basic music theory, rhythm guitar (chords, timing, songs) and lead guitar (scales, solos, improv), and the skill to play at a proficient intermediate level. Pascal's lessons are thoughtful and well designed. He is also a great listener, no matter what my questions or struggles are, Pascal has the experience from his own playing and teaching and has an answer. For example, I was experiencing wrist pain that was keeping me from practicing as a much as I'd like. Pascal helped with proper ergonomics both in playing guitar and at a work and wrist pain is a thing of the past. While I have taken music lessons for other instruments with other teachers none of them have progressed my skills as far as Pascal has in this amount of time. Guitar playing is now a part of my life and I have never gone this far with another instrument. I attribute much of this to Pascal's exceptional skills as a teacher and guitarist. read more

Seattle Guitar Teacher - Me at Pascal's Studio for a lesson. - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Sorry but I'm using my wife's account to post this review...but SERIOUSLY 5 stars!!In just a few short months, Pascal was able to systematically undo all my self-taught bad habits and incomplete YouTube tutorial learnings of the past and set me on the correct playing/learning path. A path I intend to stay on with Pascal for a long time. I've "played" guitar for many years (on and off) and it wasn't until my wife gave me a 4-lesson gift certificate with Pascal almost year ago that I REALLY started to learn the instrument I love. If you are contemplating starting your guitar journey, do not hesitate for a minute longer and contact Pascal to get started. He has a way of simplifying the concepts and providing the needed context to eliminate the "intimidation factor" of learning. Combined that with on-going encouragement, a plan customized to you and consistent positive reinforcement, Pascal is able to maximize your enthusiasm and motivation for learning...I only wish that I would have started years earlier. I'm having a blast, thanks to Pascal! read more

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Pascal Louvel is no doubt one of the most humble, approachable, and skillful guitar teacher you can find around Seattle.  I have been studying with Pascal for the past 3 and a half months.  Pascal was not the first music instructor I had.  He is however, the best one so far by a large margin.  Since the first lesson Pascal has been extremely professional and organized in his teaching methods.  He is able to quickly identify my strengths and weaknesses as a player, tailor his lessons to fit my capabilities, and help me improve in great effectiveness.   I took lessons once a week with Pascal, and every week I could see noticeable improvements because Pascal assigned me homework that was fun and challenging but never frustrating.  But beyond this, not only have I become a more skilled guitar player, through Pascal's help I was also able to apply a lot of the theoretical music knowledge in other aspects.  When I hear a piece of music, I find that I am slowly able to identify parts of the music, break it down into logical steps, and connect the music to the fretboard of the guitar. I am a college student with a busy schedule both on and off work, but with Pascal I was able to greatly improve nonetheless.  Thank you Pascal, I really look forward to coming back to Seattle and be your student again. read more

Seattle Guitar Teacher - Thanks Pascal for making practice a joy. - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I picked up the guitar a few of months ago and found a teacher in West Seattle; by the time I left I was very frustrated, but did not want to give up. I felt as though that teacher was throwing too many things at me all at once. I decided to try another teacher, and I am so glad I did. Pascal is a wonderful, talented and most all, patient teacher. My friends have commented on how much I have learned in such a short period of time. The nice thing about Pascal, is that he moves at a pace that he knows you can handle, and being from a family of musicians and teachers, I knew after my first lesson that he knew what he was doing. I practice everyday because he makes learning fun and easy for me. I would definitely recommend Pascal if you want to have fun learning the guitar. read more

Seattle Guitar Teacher - Pascal is such a great teacher, I practice everywhere...even in the airport! :-) - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Seattle, Washington

If you are ready to embark on the journey of mastering the guitar and learning to truly express yourself through music, you will not find a more dedicated, enthusiastic and organized teacher than Pascal Louvel. Pascal has devoted his life to the art and methodology of teaching the guitar to others. It's not about him and how well he can play or his personal aspirations to be musician. There is no intimidating showing off during lessons - only a sincere desire to be the best teacher he can be. I've always been self-conscious playing in front of great guitar players, but Pascal creates a safe environment for me to learn and grow as a player. Pascal's training at the Guitar Institute of Technology (now known as Musicians Institute) has given him true expertise and it shows in his ability to meet students exactly where they are at - no matter what their experience level. His years of teaching experience and vast, meticulously organized archive of personally-created handouts are perfect for whatever the moment calls for. That is a world of difference from one-size-fits all online materials I've struggled with in the past. Or, unprepared teachers who "wing it" each lesson. My window of opportunity to be a rock star closed many years ago, if I ever had one. While I am a dedicated guitar student, work and family come before practice and lessons. Pascal has been extremely accommodating in allowing me to take lessons as frequently or infrequently as my schedule allows. Yet, he always keeps me making progress and never lets me stall out or drift away from my commitment to learn. Great teachers are hard to find. I discovered Pascal through searching online and reading his Yelp reviews. After over 3 years of studying with him, I know I have a found a superb teacher and an inspiring musical mentor. Begin the journey! read more

Seattle Guitar Teacher - Play your truth - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Seattle, Washington

After having been a student of Pascal's for over a year now, I can earnestly say he is a quality instructor unlike any I've had before. He shapes each individual class specifically to what your guitar goals are, creating incredibly detailed and thorough handouts and exercises to help you get there. I am the type of student who learns best with a well-defined regime laid out clearly in front of me. His handouts are a perfect match for my learning style and you can tell the years of experience and knowledge that has gone into creating each one. He is also a very adaptive teacher helping me surpass some rhythm barriers in unique and creative ways. He had helped me gain a new appreciation and understanding for music theory and most importantly he helps keep it fun. read more

Seattle Guitar Teacher - Blackie - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Seattle, Washington

You would be hard-pressed to find an instructor as excellent as Pascal. With his help, I made an incredible amount of progress on guitar in a matter of months. His lessons are precise and organized, and I always left the lesson feeling like I learned a ton of new stuff. He strikes a great balance between requiring excellence as well as giving encouragement and making sure it's always fun. In a few months, I went from knowing close to nothing about music to being able to play my favorite songs from start to finish. As I have left the Seattle area, I will miss Pascal's lessons, but I'm thankful for getting him to start my journey into the world of music! read more

Seattle Guitar Teacher - Memorable and Meaningful - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Seattle, Washington

17 years ago when I lived in Seattle I took lessons from Pascal (maybe 4 or 5 at most due to moving out of state then as well). Fast forward to this year when I came back for a work contract and decided to give him a call. It just so happened that due to the COVID garbage the day I called him was the day he was starting to teach in person again. What great timing!!! Unfortunately I only had about 2.5 months of lessons from him this time, but I have learned so much in that short time. Pascal is by far the best guitar teacher I've ever had the pleasure of taking lessons from. The cost of the lessons are completely worth it in my opinion. His ability to break things down , his patience, and his willingness to ensure you have the understanding of the days subject is unparalleled. If I weren't moving out of Seattle I would 10000% continue going to him. Definitely do yourself a favor and see what he has to offer. read more

I have been working with Pascal for over a year now. I spent some time trying to learn guitar myself, from books and from online teachers, but was never able to make any real progress until I met Pascal. Immediately he was able to move me in the right direction through 1 on 1 tutoring and by providing me with the right materials to build my confidence and skills. As a person with a family and somewhat demanding job it's always tough to find the time to work on guitar practice, but Pascal works with me and paces everything well to build my skills while keeping it fun and challenging. It's always a delight to join Pascal for lessons - his studio is convenient (with easy free parking) and comfortable with nice natural light. I can't recommend Pascal highly enough - He's an absolute pleasure to work with. He's friendly, considerate, and an amazing guitar teacher. Since starting guitar lessons with Pascal my playing has risen to a new level and my enjoyment of guitar in general his increased exponentially. I find myself always looking forward to my lessons! read more

Do you see all of these 5-star reviews? Read on and BELIEVE THEM. Pascal is the best! I am a total beginner and started taking lessons from Pascal in the Fall of 2019. I am amazed at how much I have learned already! Not only is Pascal patient and kind, but he is very thorough and knows his stuff. He was destined to be a musician/teacher...and Seattle is so blessed to have him around! His teaching style is very organized and sequential and he explains things and gives examples so the concepts are easy to understand. He provides handouts during each lesson for you to take home and practice between sessions. I will add more to this review as time progresses. But for now, I just want to let all the beginners out there know that lessons from Pascal are totally worth your time and money. He makes learning fun and I look forward to our weekly sessions. Pascal is just a super cool dude. Don't waste your time trying to learn through YouTube videos- you will spend most of your time scrolling through videos that don't teach you proper technique, form, terminology, timing, concept, etc. If you are serious about learning how to play guitar, then Seattle Guitar Teacher is for you! read more

Pascal helped me crack the code and I'm learning and playing guitar with growing confidence. The lessons are challenging and fun and I'm inspired to practice on my own. Pascal's talent and experience as a guitarist, guitar teacher and performer come through in small things such as making sure your metronome is loud enough and with more important items like performance preparation strategies such as playing in front of a neighbor or co-worker. I only wish I had started lessons sooner! read more

Pascal Louvel is an excellent guitar teacher. I have been taking lessons from Pascal at his studio in North Seattle for several months now and I'm continually impressed with Pascal and very pleased with my progress on the guitar. Pascal has a relaxed and friendly attitude, but it's clear that he's exceptionally good at his trade. He has years of experience and teaching materials on hand, and I enjoy that Pascal customizes what he teaches to each student's skill level and goals. He has developed a very effective teaching method that works well for me. I've had plenty of music education previously in my life and Pascal quickly recognized that we could move quickly over the basics of reading music, rhythm notation, etc. and he's always prepared with an exercise or two for me to take home and practice to expand my skills further. I found Pascal via his web site and called him and he was very professional and courteous leading up to our first appointment. He's got his teaching down to a science and Pascal is very efficient with his administrative matters. I'm grateful for this because it leaves a lot more time for the guitar lesson itself. Pascal charges a reasonable fee for his service and I'm looking forward to learning from Pascal for a long time to come. read more

I started out trying to teach myself to play the guitar using beginner books and free online lessons. At first I was enthused to be taking the plunge and learning some chords. What was missing was an understanding of the structure behind what I was learning. For example, I didn't want to just learn the chords to popular songs but rather why those chords could be used together and why. I soon realized that trying to teach myself was going to be a long and potentially error prone process so I decided to seek out private instruction. I wanted to be able to ask "why" and get an answer and not have to guess or poke around in the dark and hope to stumble on understanding. I needed a guide. Having spent a fair amount of my adult life in various universities I knew that mileage can vary when it to comes to instruction. After spending some time looking over various local online search results I found Pascal's site. I was immediately struck by the difference in his presentation from the rest of the offerings. Instead of a bio and picture there was a complete presentation of his approach to guitar instruction. The emphasis on an understanding of harmony struck home with me and I gave him a call. I've been taking weekly one hour lessons with Pascal for four months. If I had to find another teacher it would be like having my world turned upside down. In the first few minutes of my first lesson, Pascal identified what was my biggest fear, rhythm and timing. Pascal immediately recognized that I didn't play to any particular tempo and how crucial that is to making music. I've come to expect Pascal's keen attention to how I am playing my exercises. There is no indifference or laziness here, he watches, assesses, then instructs. Pascal writes his own lessons, he doesn't borrow pages from books or other sources (each page has an idea or purpose that is clearly defined, each a building block of understanding) . His energy to embellish his own written material with written impromptu notes and clarifications are the norm for each lesson. My curiosity about music theory was met with much enthusiasm. Even though I have only been playing for a few months my understanding of harmony and how it relates to the guitar fingerboard still astonishes me. Granted, I ask a lot of questions and because of my math background I can absorb concepts quickly, but regardless, Pascal has the answers and you can sense his excitement when he shares ideas that open up your understanding about music and especially the guitar. Looking back at the last few months I realize I take Pascal's knowledge for granted, he never has to look something up in a book or get back to you on some idea. Some of my favorite lessons have been when my head was full of questions and getting access to Pascal for an hour. If there is a rhythm I just can't get down or an idea that is foggy for me Pascal has the patience and experience to present the material in a way that makes it seem easy. Pascal is great at sensing when something is shaky in my playing or my understanding and quickly focuses on solving the problem. He places a lot of emphasis on the importance of the fundamentals and how that will ultimately lead to real enjoyment as I grow as a guitarist. Pascal has made me aware of how important it is to learn something correctly the first time rather than trying to retrain yourself down the road (I honestly feel I will be saving countless wasted hours by learning material in an order that makes sense for my experience and by learning good technique from the start). I feel so fortunate that Pascal is available in this time and this place to take lessons from. I feel that Pascal has a real talent for teaching. I feel it is something he is both talented at and genuinely loves to do. I look forward to my lesson each week with excitement, knowing that I am steadily growing as a guitarist. I always leave my lessons with a smile on my face and looking forward to the days ahead with a guitar in my lap. read more

When my son moved to Seattle, he began playing guitar for the first time. His job kept him very busy, so he wanted to find a guitar instructor where his time would be well spent. Below is his review of Pascal. You would be hard-pressed to find an instructor as excellent as Pascal. With his help, I made an incredible amount of progress on guitar in a matter of months. His lessons are precise and organized, and I always left the lesson feeling like I learned a ton of new stuff. He strikes a great balance between requiring excellence as well as giving encouragement and making sure it's always fun. In a few months, I went from knowing close to nothing about music to being able to play my favorite songs from start to finish. As I have left the Seattle area, I will miss Pascal's lessons, but I'm thankful for getting him to start my journey into the world of music! read more

Pascal Louvel is a master guitar teacher. Every lesson I feel like he's sharing the shortcuts to playing how I want. I've been playing guitar and keyboards for many years, so I've been somewhat cautious about approaching a professional instructor to help me "get serious" about the guitar. Like other players, I've run into overly pedantic instructors who take every player back to the beginning and teach the "right" way to play the instrument, but also the loose instructors who have no structure and can't deeply answer theory or technique questions. Pascal has managed to build a rigorous teaching methodology while still being fun and really engaged in what the student wants to learn. He's has compiled drawers and drawers full of prepared exercises and explanations, but he's looking to help me find the most helpful topics to work on rather than disregard what I already know. I have a great time learning with Pascal, because he knows an amazing amount about music, the guitar, performance, and recording. I throw questions about him about frets, intonation, tuning, chord naming, pick angle, string gauges, fingering, chord voicing. He's consistently humble about his knowledge, and then tells me everything I could want to know on the subject. When I ask about players I like, he's completely familiar with how those players play. It seems like half the time he's had my favorite players as his own instructors. Best of all, Pascal really loves music. He's genuinely thrilled at my improvement, and is very respectful of what I already know and how I already play. I've been playing the guitar for a long time, but Pascal's got me excited about making music. read more

My husband says he loves his lessons with Pascal Louvel! I got him lessons for his 40th birthday, and he's been enjoying the classes so much. Says Pascal's teaching style works for him and is unlike anyone else's he's taken before. Glad we found Pascal! read more

I have been studying with Pascal for just about 2 months. But that's enough for me to say he is an awesome guitar teacher. I think his teaching experience and method is a huge advantage for people who need professional guidance. I was self-teaching for about a year before I came to Pascal. It worked out just fine. I learned something. But I started to get confused at a point where I don't know how to move forward. I like a very specific group of guitarist (mostly Japanese fingerstyle players). And I wanted to learn how to master songs from those guitarist. And there is no such website or book that would teach me how to do that. Most of the guitar books or websites either give out general informations or put all information together as a mess. Finally I decided to find a teacher. I found the lesson with Pascal pretty effective. He is an experienced teacher who knows what you need to learn in order to achieve your goal. He has plenty of handouts that really helps me practice. The most important thing I learned from him is the big picture of guitar learning. For example, I learned the connection between scales and chords, why/how to improvise with these, how to go from there to other relevant things, etc. When I look back over a year, I realize I have wasted some much time and effort trying to teach myself and wish it could have similar outcome as having a good teacher. Studying with Pascal saves me so much time and effort (because it's actually easier!) read more

If you're thinking about taking lessons from Pascal, do it. For years I thought I just couldn't play the guitar. I tried learning online, but nothing stuck. I even took a group class, which was better than trying to learn online, but I still wasn't satisfied. So, I decided to look into private lessons, even though I was nervous about the one-on-one dynamic. For years I have struggled with performance anxiety and was afraid that would prevent me from ever really learning the guitar and playing with other people. I discussed this with Pascal before and at my first lesson. I can't tell you how amazing it felt a few months later when we played a song together and I had no fear or anxiety. I credit this to the fun and relaxing atmosphere Pascal has created in his studio space which makes it easy to learn, ask questions and enjoy my lessons. He has a deep passion for music which is infectious. I leave every lesson feeling energized and excited to work on my new material. If you're interested in learning how to play the guitar or improve your skills, give Pascal a shot. You'll be so glad you did. Before, I thought I just couldn't learn how to play the guitar, now I'm looking forward to years of honing my skills, playing with friends and experiencing the joy of creating music. read more

I have been playing guitar for many years. And before I met Pascal, I worked with many teachers. However none of them had much of a systematic approach. Pascal does! And I have come to realize how important it is to study this instrument in the right sequence or something pretty close. The thing I appreciate the most is that Pascal has taught me musicality. He has taught me how to follow the chords when soloing. Prior to our lessons it was a daunting task for me. Now landing on the "pretty" notes has become very easy. It makes me so happy. I believe such experience is very precious. To me it's the charm of music! Pascal graduated from the famous Guitar Institute of Technology. He has solid, professional theoretical and practical skills. He is super organized. His explanations are very clear. In addition, he is funny so the process is very pleasant. Whether you are a beginner or an intermediate guitar player, I can guarantee that you can learn a lifetime of knowledge from him. read more

I have been taking lessons from Pascal for nearly a year now. Pascal is a fantastic guitar player, but more importantly to me he is an experienced and effective teacher. From the first lesson he has been clear, concise, encouraging, motivating and serious about my progress on the guitar. Pascal displays a strong passion for guitar playing and teaching and his in depth understanding of the subject comes across in his lessons. His lessons are very well thought out. Over weeks of teaching, you can look back and see that each lesson has clearly built on the last, and nearly every week I have been amazed at the things that I can play and how easy it has been by taking incremental steps to improve. The one on one time with Pascal has been a great help. He pays very close attention to every little thing I do to make sure I am doing things the right way all with the intention of making sure that I avoid any roadblocks or technical issues that can lead to plateaus. Pascal's clear gift for teaching and his amazing talent on guitar are a killer combination for a guitar teacher. I would highly recommend anyone who is serious about improving on guitar both technically and harmonically look to Pascal. You definitely get the impression that he can teach just about anything. read more

Pascal is a fantastic teacher, and not just for beginners but for experienced players as well! I've been playing guitar for about 20 years, but haven't taken any formal lessons in the past 15 of those. I felt like I was in a rut with my playing so I started taking lessons with Pascal a few months ago. He was able to immediately help me improve my technique and help me correct some inefficiencies that I didn't even notice I was doing. The word "inefficiencies" in the last sentence was chosen very deliberately because Pascal has a great way of showing that there are multiple ways to play the instrument and not one specific "right" and "wrong" way. I feel like I've made more progress in the last 4 months than I had in years. read more

I have been studying with Pascal for more than half a year now and it's been a great experience! Coming from wind instrument, my understanding of chords is seriously lacking. Pascal addressed all my questions step by step. He's patient and motivating! If you live in greater Seattle area and want to learn guitar, Pascal is your best friend and teacher! Update: Learning guitar, especially from Pascal, has been such a positive thing in my life! Ever since I started learning, it helps me to be more spiritual and I pay more attention in not only music but my thoughts. Guitar or any other instrument is just a tool to feel music, be part of it, and dive into it. Eventually it's how we appreciate music that's more important. Pascal made all the raining days in Seattle feel not so bad at all because quoting his own words: "You'd have to be a boring person mentally to rely so much on external stuff"(like the weather or environment around you.) I think I owe him a big thank you during Thanksgiving! So here I am, thanks Pascal! You're great! read more

Pascal has opened up the world of music to me. Before I started taking lessons with Pascal, music was simply something I enjoyed listening to, but was a bit of an abstraction. I had always wanted to learn an instrument, specifically the guitar, but had suffered an injury to my finger when I was a teenager and thought there was little point in trying with a significant handicap. Now at middle age I decided to try anyway. For two years I've been taking lessons with Pascal every week or two and have found a lifelong hobby. Pascal has been patient and understanding to my level of ability and has guided me to not only improve dramatically my level of playing, but also has taught me the basic fundamentals of music which makes me appreciate listening to and playing music more than I ever had. Pascal is a gifted teacher who can quickly uncover and fix fundamental problems with technique and builds lesson plans to teach one how to play the guitar as a musical instrument. I am so happy I found Pascal. He has given me a lifelong passion to improve my playing and a deeper understanding of the music I've loved my entire life. If you've ever thought about learning the guitar, do yourself a favor and see Pascal now. read more

Pascal never gives up and makes sure you understand the concept being taught. He introduced me to rhythm, playing in time, and proper picking techniques, which is often overlooked for those of us learning guitar by ourselves. His methods are effective and he is organized with handouts for everything. Of course long term weekly lessons are not cheap, but it is a fair price for someone with experience running their own business in Seattle. It ensures you are committed and practice at least one hour every week. Showing up with the energy needed to properly play guitar is essential, so schedule lessons when you feel it is most effective. With guitar as with any skill you get what you put in, the only way to progress is to practice as much as you can. read more

I started taking lessons with Pascal over 5 years ago as a wee beginner. Looking back at where I started, I'm surprised at how much progress I have made and have learned more than I ever expected to. You're probably reading this review because you're looking for a guitar teacher. At the time I was looking for a teacher, I was most impressed with Pascal's website, the content of which demonstrated a care and attention to detail that gave me the feeling that the person behind it would have a similar attitude towards teaching. If you don't have an instrument yet, don't worry, Pascal will give you all the advice you need on choosing the right one. It is obvious from the start that Pascal is not only an phenomenal guitar player, but also, and more importantly, displays a strong passion and dedication for teaching. Each lesson is carefully designed and structured to build off of techniques previously learned and Pascal has a knack for making even difficult concepts easy to digest. He imparts simple tips and tricks, mined from years of experience, that have helped me master techniques and avoid tedious memorization exercises which would have made the learning process agonizingly painful. Having one-on-one lessons also allows Pascal to give me the personal attention needed to provide feedback, positive and negative, and nip bad habits in the bud before they become ingrained. Additionally, each lesson comes with handouts which are handy to practice with and use as a reference (I have 400+ pages of material so it's important to keep it all organized). Pascal has a diverse set of musical tastes and a secondary benefit of taking lessons with him is that he's exposed me to a plethora of great music that I would not otherwise have discovered on my own. Whether you're a beginner, intermediate, advanced, or think you can rival Joe Satriani, there's something for you to learn from Pascal. Also, I've found that lessons are very motivating in terms of encouraging me to keep practice because, yes, I do get lazy sometimes. With Pascal, if you put in the time and effort, you will be rewarded greatly with the freedom to be as creative as your heart desires and you will have more fun playing the guitar than a mouse running loose in a cheese factory. Oh, and Pascal's a super cool guy too. read more

I work in a guitar store and get the chance to refer teachers to students regularly. I have been sending students to Pascal since the mid 90's. He Has an amazing system of teaching that really works. If you want to really learn to play and have fun at the same time then go to Pascal! read more

Pascal Louvel is incredible!! I could tell from day one he was going to make a huge difference in my guitar playing. His lessons are prepared in advance so very little time is spent penciling out lesson material. His recording/teaching studio is a very clean and professional, and his super well organized library of teaching materials allows us to maximize our learning time. I love playing his teaching material! None of the guys I took lessons from before had such an effective approach. I have so much fun with it! His lessons have introduced me to various pop, rock, country, metal, and jazz concepts from very popular musicians. He has a unique way of teaching rhythm that has helped me capture phrasing and keep songs in time. Recently I've started taking his harmony classes. These classes have given me the knowledge to confidently play with other musicians and create great music. I would highly recommend Pascal for anyone that desires to learn more about the guitar. I am moving back to Arizona for work (and sun!). I wish I could take him with me!! read more

Seattle Guitar Teacher - Playing live!!! Thanks for the help Pascal!!! - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I was fortunate enough to take lessons from Pascal for a number of months last summer. Unfortunately I wasn't able to continue due to personal reasons, but my experience with him was wonderful and very fruitful. I've been playing for a very long time, and sometimes in my position its hard to recognize your weaknesses and figure out where to make progress. Pascal was able to talk to me openly and honestly about where my deficiencies were without making me feel bad in any way. He was encouraging and had a plan! I was able to make immediate progress on some very fundamental aspects of guitar that had been holding me back for a long time. I don't think I've ever seen a more organized and efficient instructor, and it really helps in making incremental progress over the short term, and taking major strides over the long term. I'd highly recommend Pascal to anyone looking for guitar lessons with disciplined and well-thought-out lesson plans. His focus on technique and fundamentals can help anyone through any style. read more

This is the guy you are looking for. At 42 I finally got around to buying my first guitar (no musical background other than fan) and set about teaching myself with books and videos. 10 months later I realized that in spite of working at it every day I was going to get to the 1-year mark and not be able to play a single song all the way through (of the 70's and 80's hard rock that I love, I could play "Twinkle-Twinkle Little Star" pretty well). I was rapidly becoming "that guy" who can play sloppy intros to 300 songs, but nothing else. I looked around the web, and settled on Pascal because of his credentials and reviews, and I could not be happier with my choice. The thing that makes Pascal special is that he put as much effort into becoming a great guitar teacher as he did in becoming a great guitar player. There are a lot of musicians out there who think of teaching guitar as a way to supplement their music career, Pascal has made teaching the guitar his music career and it really shows. Every lesson is tailored exactly to my ability at that time. If ever I have had particular trouble with something Pascal is ready with additional material, alternate ways to learn it, different ways to explain it. No matter what the technique or concept, Pascal has seen this mistake before and knows just what to do. Some days I leave with many pages of material to master, and some days just one or two. It is all about how slowly or quickly I am picking up the new thing, and all about learning things the right way so that the foundation is solid when I am ready to advance to the next level. There is no schedule or competition (except with myself) and the only objective is to learn more and get better. To show examples in action Pascal routinely finds 70s and 80s hard rock for me (not every single note is from Guns-n-Roses of course, but if a particular concept relates to something in a familiar song from the genre, that's the one Pascal will pick for me to master). You do not have to learn jazz! (I mean if jazz is your thing I am certain that Pascal can teach you that.) I really doubt that there is a player at any level (or in any style) who would not learn a lot from Pascal (that is if you are prepared to be humble and possibly review some foundational material you think you know already... if you knew it, Pascal would not be teaching it to you... he can hear that your timing is off, or if you didn't hit all of the strings in that chord, and so can your audience). (Once, while I was performing an exercise from the previous lesson, Pascal had his back to me digging in his filing cabinet for my next materials and said "Did you play the fifth note with an upstroke?"... He heard that, it was supposed to be a down stroke and he heard a difference so slight I didn't even know I was doing it.) If you are a beginner as I was, my advice is to commit to four lessons with Pascal. By the end of that time you will hear that you are advancing, and more importantly you will understand where you were and where you are going. It might seem kind of basic at first (which is why I say to go with at least four) but it does not take very long to understand how much better you will be with strong fundamentals. If, instead, you learn to play badly, and you practice regularly, eventually your speed will improve... and then you will play badly fast which actually sounds worse than playing badly slow... all that work for less than nothing. I have been taking lessons for about a year and half. I can play some Lead Guitar now. And I can play some real songs now. Even those 300 intros are getting tight, that is to say I now play them with the right timing, technique, phrasing and feel! PS - If Pascal says "it's time for the Harmony Classes", do it! Like most things Pascal has taught me, I have resisted it in some way at first, and the harmony lessons are no different. Like everything Pascal has taught me, the harmony classes have immediately made me better at playing guitar, and have provided a foundation that makes the next thing and the next thing and the next thing easier, faster, and better. read more