Music Lessons at Five Star Guitars
What makes learning music easier at Five Star Guitars?
Our instructors are not only skilled musicians with extensive performance experience, but they also bring decades of teaching expertise. They tailor the curriculum to fit your interests and learning style. Live student concerts provide the opportunity to showcase hard work and apply learning beyond the classroom by performing at real gigs in real venues that we book for them.
30 minutes lesson rate $40
60 minutes lesson rate $80
No setup, registration, or subscription fees!
Ben Jones
Tuesday & Wednesday
Specialties: 4, 5, & 6 String Electric Bass Guitar
Styles: Funk, R&B, Soul, Rock, Blues
Background: In 30 years of professional playing, Ben has shared the stage and recorded with a long list of artists, including: The Neville Brothers, Jeff Lorber, Frank McComb, Peter White, Rick Braun, Paul Brown (Grammy Winner), Darren Rahn, Jennifer Batten, Patrick Lamb (Gino Vanelli), Tommy Thayer (KISS), Oregon Symphony, Noel Pointer (Grammy Winner), James Carter, BB King, Robert Cray, Phyllis Hyman, Delbert McClinton, Walter 'Wolfman' Washington, Bernard Allison, Chris Cain, Lloyd Jones, Curtis Salgado, Liv Warfield, Les McCann and David Pack (Ambrosia). Ben has taught at Five Star Guitars since 2015.
Currently: Performing in the Northwest. Sponsored artist for Kiesel Basses, Gallien-Krueger, Dunlop Strings, MXR Effects,1964 Ears In Ear Monitors, LM Straps, and GruvGear Accessories
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Brian Richey
Friday, Saturday & Sunday
Specialties: Electric, Acoustic, and Classical Guitar, Bass Guitar, Beginner Ukulele, Music Theory & Harmonic Analysis, Improvising, and Composition. Working with beginners to establish a solid musical foundation.
Styles: Rock, Metal, Blues, Jazz, Pop, Fusion, Fingerstyle, Slide/open tunings, and more
Background: Bachelor of Arts in Music from Portland State University; studied with Bryan Johanson and Dan Balmer. With over a decade of experience in private guitar instruction, Brian has performed and recorded with a variety artists in the greater Portland area including the West Side Singers, Kenny Polson, Dr. John Savage, Arjay, The Karlton Coffin Band, and many more.
Currently: Composing original works for his next project and recording with area musicians.
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Dany Oakes
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday
Specialties: Songwriting, Composition
Styles: Classical, Rock, Blues, Funk, Jazz, Folk, Country, and more
Background: Author of beginner guitar book series. Studied music at PSU. Extensive songwriting and recording experience. Performs with numerous local artists. Dany has taught guitar at Five Star Guitars since 1998.
Currently: Performs around the Northwest as singer and guitarist.
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Geoff Metts
* Geoff's roster is currently full
Specialties: Guitar, Slide Guitar, Lap Steel, Ukulele, Songwriting, Composition & Theory
Styles: electric, steel string and nylon string acoustic, baritone and lap steel. Rock, blues, funk, soul, classical, folk, country, grunge, metal, pop, improvising, soloing, strumming, fundamentals, fingerpicking, solo guitar, applied theory, reading music for guitar, beginning through advanced slide
Background: Studied music at University of Idaho. Designed and taught beginner lesson course for U of I, Pullman, WA Parks & Rec and Hillsboro Parks & Rec/Camp Amp Program (2007-present). Extensive songwriting and recording experience. Lead singer/guitar player of Western Aerial. Geoff has taught at Five Star Guitars since 2001.
Currently: Performing in Ants In The Kitchen and MRC.
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Lee Alan Nolan
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday
Specialties: Piano, Vocal coaching, 5-string Banjo, Guitar, Theory & Composition
Styles: Piano & Voice: Classical and most other genres and levels Banjo: bluegrass finger-style Guitar: Beginner to intermediate pop & rock
Background: Master of Music from the San Francisco Conservatory; studied with Robert Helps, Peggy Salkind, and Mark Westcott; performed music tours of Switzerland, Germany, and Italy; has given premiére performances for San Francisco and the West Coast works by composers Robert Helps, David Del Tredici, William Susman, and many others. Has 30 years of experience teaching privately. Lee has taught at Five Star Guitars since 2018.
Currently: Arrived in Portland in 2018, and since then has taught, accompanied, musically coached, and performed organ and piano for church services. Additionally he is on Faculty as Professor of piano and theory studies, as well as on Staff as the choral accompanist at PCC Rock Creek.
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Mack Robertson
* Mack's roster is currently full
Specialties: Electric, Acoustic, Classical, & Jazz Guitar, Ukulele, Bass Guitar, Music Theory, Composition & Arranging, Improvisation, Music Reading, Working with young beginners
Styles: Rock, Blues, Funk, Jazz, Classical, Fingerstyle, Country, Folk, Fusion, and more
Background: Studied classical guitar at Chapman University, as well as jazz guitar and improvisation at Portland State University. Designed and taught music theory courses for the Portland Youth Philharmonic. Mack is a former student of the Five Star Guitars lesson program and has been teaching at Five Star since 2011.
Currently: Performs in the Portland area as a solo jazz and fingerstyle guitarist.
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Michael Callaway
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday
Specialties: Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Ukulele, Music Theory
Styles: Rock, Blues, Grunge, Classic rock, 70s-80s metal, jazz, folk, pop, improvising, reading music for guitar and more
Background: B.A. in music from Oregon State University, studying with Dana Reason, Sam Kincaid, Bob Brudvig, Angela Carlson, Russ Christensen. Studied jazz guitar with Neal Grandstaff. Has experience and has excelled teaching students of all ages. Michael is a former student of the Five Star Guitars lesson program and has been teaching at Five Star since 2016.
Currently: Performing as guitarist and vocalist for Portland rock band Al's Toy Barn.
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Ryan Goodyear
Sunday, Monday, Wednesday & Thursday
Specialties: Drum Set, Rudimental & Concert Percussion, Hand Drums
Styles: Rock, Funk, Swing, Latin, Afro-Cuban, Blues, and more
Background: Extensive performance experience with local bands, theater shows, and concert ensembles.
Currently: Performs with A La Mode. Teaches for Hillsboro Parks & Recreation’s Camp Amp and H.A.S programs (2006-present). Sponsored Artist with Evans Drum Heads. Ryan has taught at Five Star Guitars since 2010.
Book NowQuestions? Email us at lessons@fivestarguitars.com