James Overton

I believe that with time, support and effort, anyone can learn anything. Playing an instrument is no exception. I teach my students to build a positive relationship with their instrument. I always begin with what a student is already passionate about. We learn the basics of the instrument by dissecting their favorite songs.

My first students were my younger brothers during lockdown. They had always wanted to learn guitar, but had never really had the time or opportunity. Teaching them not only helped them become musicians, it brought us even closer together. To this day, they rarely go anywhere without a guitar nearby. Later, I worked with a man whose sole goal was to learn enough guitar to play “In Your Eyes” for his wife at their wedding. Watching him use music to express something so personal and meaningful reminded me that music lessons are never just about learning chords or scales — they’re about connection. I also taught a six-year-old student who made it very clear she had absolutely no interest in learning an instrument and was only humoring me because her parents insisted. Once we started learning songs from her favorite Disney movies, everything changed. Soon she was coming to lessons with songs she had written herself about her weekends and playdates. A few years later, she was performing in school talent shows and winning local songwriting competitions. No matter why you or your child may be seeking lessons, I believe there is a fundamental human need for music and creative expression. My goal as a teacher is not only to help students reach their musical goals, but to help them build confidence, curiosity, discipline, and a lifelong relationship with music. Every student learns differently, and I strive to make lessons engaging, supportive, and tailored to the individual — whether that means preparing for performances, learning favorite songs, developing songwriting skills, or simply discovering the joy of playing for the first time. “One of the nicest parts about teaching music is that you can literally hear the students learning. When that happens, it takes your breath away.” — Joe Pera Talks With You