Guitar Instructors
Curtis Barkley --> Click HERE for bio info
cbarkley@thefretshop.com
Bio Info Coming Soon…Joel Harper --> Click HERE for bio info
Joel Harper — Classic Rock & Blues
Joel Harper grew up 30 miles from the Mississippi line, cutting his teeth on the Blues and Classic Rock from the age of 7. He’s toured the Southeast extensively with such bands as Street Legal and the Lucky Strikes, honing his razor-sharp talents and becoming a seasoned vet of the stage. His approach to teaching is primarily focused on developing one’s ear and helping them discover their personal playing style. His straightforward, no-nonsense approach is perfect for beginners and intermediate players alike. He offers Saturday lessons, so feel free to contact him at 256-837-4629 to inquire about any available open slots.Brian Hudson --> Click HERE for bio info
Brian Hudson ( bhudson@thefretshop.com ) — Guitar Concepts and Theory
Brian Hudson received his first instrument, a Hilo ukelele, from the original Fret Shop location on Pratt Ave. in 1983. Mr. Hudson studied classical piano with Martha Sue Hutchens for 8 years while advancing his guitar studies largely on his own with his father’s encouragement. Due to his classical guitar studies with Mr. Phil Weaver while earning a music performance degree from Alabama A&M University, he is open and capable of teaching concepts of music theory along with songs and repertoire. His studies with Mr. Weaver allowed him to partake in master classes with Andrew York and William Kanengiser of the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, as well as Jason Vieaux and John Johns of Vanderbilt’s Blair School of Music. Mr. Hudson also studied briefly and worked alongside Eddie Alford in teaching after-school guitar lessons at West Huntsville Elementary school via The Valley Conservatory; he continues to enjoy performing for charity and benefit events, as well as all-age community events in which children can be exposed to live music. His experiences as a camp counselor for 3 years at Pine Hill Day Camp have motivated him in recent years to take on younger students, and in such a way that does not pressure those not ready or mature enough to take lessons regularly, so not to have a negative memory if they should return to the instrument, which can and has happened successfully during his career at The Fret Shop. Former Fret Shop technician and instructor Matthew Gibbs aided Mr. Hudson in his jazz studies. Mr. Hudson has an open-minded approach (in genre and technique, a la slide guitar, Travis-picking, etc.) in trying to cater to the student’s interests, goals, and needs.Ron Jeffreys --> Click HERE for bio info
rjeffreys@thefretshop.com
Bio Info Coming Soon…Blake Nix --> Click HERE for bio info
Blake Nix ( bnix@thefretshop.com ) — Guitar Fundamentals
Blake Nix is a Huntsville, AL-based singer, songwriter, guitarist, bassist and instructor. He has performed nationally and internationally, and enjoys many styles of music. Blake was exposed to music at an early age by his mother, a classically-trained pianist with previous experience as an instructor and choir director, and his father, a self-taught folk guitar player. Blake himself has been playing the guitar and bass for most of his life, and he has over 25 years of experience as a private music instructor. Blake welcomes students of all ages and experience levels, teaching them the fundamentals of music theory that provide a foundation for many styles. Blake’s teaching style encourages composition and improvisation as a means to understand music and musical expression.
For more information on Blake, visit his website at: BlakeNix.orgAntony Sharpe --> Click HERE for bio info
asharpe@thefretshop.com
Bio Info Coming Soon…Greg Staggs --> Click HERE for bio info
Greg Staggs ( gstaggs@thefretshop.com ) — Guitar and Bluegrass Studies
Greg was born here in Huntsville and has spent the better part of his life playing and teaching music. His father had a baritone ukulele in his hands by the age of four, playing songs in the living room with the family and joining his mom and dad on stage for hootenannys at the North Parkway VFW hall. Playing the guitar at five and receiving formal piano lessons at six, he was also introduced to mandolin by his uncle and learned claw-hammer banjo from his father at 12.
Greg has toured the southeast playing in rock, grateful dead, original music and bluegrass bands. While living in Los Angeles he was (and is) in a band called The F.O.C.K.R.s that played weekly at the Canter’s Kibitz Room. Fellow players included the current Bassist for Heart, Guitarist for Lou Reed, Guitarist for bands such as English Beat and various musicians who were back from touring. Currently here in Alabama you can find him playing bass for T.U.B., mandolin for 45 Surprise and banjo with the Tangled String Band, as well as solo gigs on guitar at various clubs and restaurants.
Though his father was a computer scientist for NASA and read music, he believed in playing by ear and was primarily interested in roots music. Greg has kept a similarly practical approach to music instruction while also using general theory concepts to simplify the learning of music and how to apply these ideas to any instrument. Specializing in beginning students, Greg will get you up to speed and have you playing the songs you love quickly on Guitar, Bass, Banjo or Mandolin.
Please contact him at (205) 345-7906 about available times and days.Phil Weaver --> Click HERE for bio info
Phil Weaver ( pweaver@thefretshop.com ) — Classical Acoustic Guitar
Classical guitarist Phil Weaver has been performing for over 30 years, in the United States and abroad. He was the first guitarist to be awarded an individual artist’s fellowship from the Alabama State Council on the Arts, and is one of the few classical musicians on the Music Achievers roster at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.
Phil is the founder and artistic director of the City Lights and Stars Series for Burritt Museum in Huntsville, an extremely popular outdoor concert series that presents nationally and regionally renowned artists. He is also Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Alabama in Huntsville*, where he directs the Guitar Ensemble, teaches Classical Guitar and a group Beginners Class for Acoustic Guitar. Phil has given lessons at The Fret Shop for 2+ decades.
For more information on Phil, visit his website at: PhilWeaverGuitar.com
( * – High school students may be eligible for college credit to study with Phil through UAH’s Dual Enrollment Program. If you plan to major in music with guitar as your emphasis, or you simply wish to study guitar at the university level, you may want to consider this option. Contact Phil by email for details. )
Check out Phil’s music video of Costa Rican composer Edin Solis’ guitar solo from Pasaje Abierto entitled, “Danza”, containing footage shot in ten locations by Jon Sawa and his crew from Prototype Multimedia.
Steve Weber --> Click HERE for bio info
Steve Weber ( sweber@thefretshop.com ) — Guitar Fundamentals
Steve Weber moved from Massachusetts to Huntsville in 1973, and has performed with many popular acts based in the North Alabama area including: the Nite Owls, Ground Level Sound and the Valley Cats. In 2001, he became involved in the church ministry (and currently still is), performing at services and concerts, as well as appearing on three of their recorded cd’s. Then in 2002, he branched out into solo performance playing at showcases and writer’s nights, as well as releasing his own recordings of Americana/Pop-flavored Folk Rock originals.
Steve studied Bass for a semester at the Berklee College Of Music, and has been teaching guitar and bass at The Fret Shop since 1985, thus providing income to further his musical pursuits while keeping up-to-date on the ever-evolving trends in music.
Click the links below to hear some examples of Steve’s playing, or for more information on Steve and his music, visit: Jango.com and SonicBids.com
Spring Flight – MP3
Angels We Have Heard On High – MP3
So Far Away From Home – MP3
(256) 430-4729
