Student Reviews
Elijah & Abby-Grace
(North Carolina, USA)
We read about Gentle Guitar™ on a homeschool blog and have been taking lessons for two and a half years.
We were looking for something to give our son a great foundation and had heard great reviews about Gentle Guitar™.
The ease of online lessons is key! We have 5 children and I love not having to load them all up and then sit in the car during lessons with the other children.
I LOVE hearing our children playing music in the house. I love that it challenges them in new ways and that it is a beautiful way for them to praise God as well.
I appreciate the gentle method Inga has created. Both Inga and Lance have been so encouraging to our children and have made them feel so comfortable.
Give it a try! I was hesitant how well it would work without a teacher being physically present, but we have been so pleasantly surprised and it has been an amazing experience for our family!
Thank you for creating this wonderful way of teaching guitar in the comfort of our home!
— Jennifer T. (North Carolina, USA)
Isaac (New Zealand)
We found out about Gentle Guitar™ through Google Search and the tipping point for us was that Gentle Guitar™ offered Skype lessons. We originally enquired about direct lessons but decided to go with the Skype option. It provided the most practical option that fits with our busy schedule. It has been great.
I have been able to learn at the same time as my son because I can teach him directly when we do our homework. He also likes to make sure I have my notes sorted when it is my time to do the homework. We both enjoy the guessing game. The fact that I get to have some personal time with him is a bonus and my wife also gets the opportunity to have some personal time with our daughter while the guitar enthusiasts do their thing. The progression in learning is just right for us. I find that it also helps me in teaching my son when we are left to our own devices.
The best part is the time I get to spend with my son. I have always wanted to learn to play and now I have a great reason to achieve this and also bond with my boy. It feels like my son and I are in control and Gentle Guitar™ provides the guidance to keep us on track. I have a feeling that Isaac and I will be teaching my daughter when she is able get her hands on my sons current guitar.
— Beaufa Brown (Auckland, New Zealand)
Tiama (Finland)
I read an article about Gentle Guitar™ and it sounded like a great method to get inspired. The methodology of teaching children seemed different from just strumming chords.
We decided to try Skype lesson because of the convenience and the fact that we were struggling to find time for driving to a lesson. We’ve been pleased with the variety of activities and lessons. In spite of my skepticism, we have been fully converted. Skype lessons work amazingly well!
Tiama had been doing lessons at school for a year prior to us starting Gentle Guitar™. She enjoyed the guitar, but really did not like the lessons, she found them boring. Since starting with Gentle Guitar™, she has rediscovered her motivation and her skills have sky rocketed. Very pleased!
— Pia J. (Finland)
Aaron B. (Chicago, USA)
I first discovered Gentle Guitar™ through Pinterest, as I was researching options of adding guitar instruction to our homeschool curriculum.
I appreciated that with Gentle Guitar™ we can have the lessons at home and at a time convenient for our family and homeschool routine. I love that Aaron’s lesson is in the morning as part of our homeschool day. I value Gentle Guitar™ as a component of our overall homeschool curriculum, not just something “extra-curricular”.
We decided to try the online lessons because the cost of Gentle Guitar™ over Skype was essentially the same as what a local instructor would charge, yet much more convenient!
Guitar has been a wonderful outlet for Aaron’s musical expression. He’s learning not just music theory and guitar skills, but he’s growing in creativity, discipline, and perseverance. As a mom, I appreciate that Gentle Guitar™ lives up to the name and is truly gentle! The pace is individualized for the student, our teacher’s demeanor is very warm and encouraging.
People are amazed when they find out Aaron attends lessons through Skype, but it’s such a wonderful way for him to learn. And because I sit with Aaron through the lesson, I’m actually learning right along with him! If a family intends to pursue guitar instruction, there’s no reason not to give Gentle Guitar™ a try.
— Amy B. (Chicago, USA)
Raylan H. (Chicago, USA)
We first found out about Gentle Guitar™ from The Homeschool Sisters Podcast, and have been taking lessons for 2 years. The price is comparable to other musical options in our area and we enjoy the benefit of one-on-one lessons within our own home during a time that fits best for our family schedule.
As a homeschool family, we enjoy the ability to have a lesson with a professional without having to get up and get all the kids out the door to make a lesson on time or have to feel like the house needs to be ready for a guest to visit for an in-home lesson.
My other children can be busy with their schoolwork or playing while guitar lessons are taking place.
Raylan and his dad enjoy playing guitar together and playing guitar has given Raylan confidence to preform in front of others. Raylan is teaching his dad a few notes which just solidifies his comprehension. His little brother started showing interest in playing a musical instrument, too!
Gentle Guitar™ has given Raylan the opportunity to interact with adults from different areas of the world that he would not have had otherwise at his young age. The instructors are timely, kind, encouraging and engage in conversations that allow for both instructor and child to get to know each other.
I truly believe you will not be disappointed if you gave Gentle Guitar™ a try!
— Amy H. (Columbus, Ohio)
Gabriel V. (Tennessee, USA)
We first found out about Gentle Guitar™ through The Homeschool Sisters Podcast and have been taking lessons since March 2017. Our son loved it so much that after the free trial we decided to continue the lessons. We were skeptical at first, but after the first couple of lessons on Skype we quickly realized that this was an amazing way for our son to learn how to play guitar.
Our son is a perfectionist of the highest order. We have found that learning to play the guitar has offered him a way to learn how to deal with his perfectionism. Most people cannot simply sit down and play an instrument. It takes practice. This is something he is not used to having to do and it’s been great for him!
Inga and John have been fantastic at engaging our son with his guitar lessons while also providing him with patience and encouragement. I love how the instructors really get to know the child and then incorporate the interests of the child into the lessons making them more engaging. This is an amazing program especially for sensitive, intense and perfectionist type kiddos who may not do well in a regular lesson setting. Don’t hesitate! Give it a try and see for yourself!
— Erin V. (Tennessee, USA)
Madeleine (New Zealand)
We liked the emphasis on the ‘fun’ aspect of learning. Madeleine has many other extra curricular activities and we wanted to foster her love of music not make it a chore. In six short weeks Madeleine can look after, hold the instrument correctly and play E F and G. She loves to practice and do her music theory homework.
We appreciate that Madeleine’s teacher is flexible and can read the mood our five year old and subsequently shape/change the lesson to accommodate her as required. For example if Madeleine is tired her teacher changes tact, plays a game and is very patient and encouraging.
If you are looking for experience, professionalism as well as guarantee your child will be playing the guitar in a few weeks then these are the lessons for your child. Madeleine wrote her first song and played it today – lesson seven – she is very proud. The morning of her lesson Madeleine is awake extra early, enthusiastic to practice and attend her lesson later in the morning. It’s a pleasure to see her excited about learning guitar!
— Deborah G. (New Zealand)
Jessica (New Zealand)
We found Gentle Guitar™ via a google search and have been taking lessons for one term and now just booked for another. We could not get a physical lesson at a convenient time – I was a bit sceptical (about Skype) but decided to give it a go and now love the convenience without compromising on the quality of teaching.
Gentle Guitar™ is a more ‘traditional’ method that teaches children how to read music as well as how to play. Having all of the resources on tap and the clear, informative content has made lessons productive and practice much easier. Jessica loves playing the songs out of the songbook.
Skype is a very convenient method for lessons. The other positive is that the child has to take a bit more responsibility for their learning. They have to listen and watch what is being taught and then reproduce it themselves without any ‘physical’ intervention from the teacher. This has made Jessica learn very well and once she has grasped the technique it is quite solid. Inga is very good at explaining and demonstrating techniques via Skype.
Jessica is convinced that having lessons over Skype is more time effective. As a mother who has a limited musical background I can honestly say that Jessica practices more without being prompted and it is lovely having her play so regularly. The music definitely sounds better now!
— Robyn (New Zealand)
Olliver (New Zealand)
I always wanted my children exposed to learning music from a young age. At 5 1/2 Olliver was ready to have proper instruction and Gentle Guitar was a great way to get him started and interested in learning music.
We worked through the lessons with our instructor and Olliver was then able to carry on practicing at his own pace. He was so engaged he even started to teach his friends that came over for playdates. I love that Olliver was taught music in a simple, easy, effective manner without me rushing to get to a lesson. Skype works well and it is easy to learn with an excellent teacher. Thank you Gentle Guitar™ for starting off Olliver with music lessons. He is engaged, excited and loves to learn.
A fantastic programme, Skype lessons allowed me the ease of being on time every time without having to leave our home. The teaching was excellent and focused and a wonderful way to engage Olliver in learning. I would encourage it, it’s a wonderful way to expose a child to music in their own comfortable environment.
— Nikki (New Zealand)
Kyla (New Zealand)
We heard a parent from school mention Inga. We looked her up online and were impressed by everything we read and her style of teaching.
I liked that Inga was going to be teaching correct techniques and how to read music. Kyla had been learning in a group at school and didn’t seem to be progressing. Kyla was not being taught correct techniques or anything new from week to week. There was very little time actually working directly with the teacher. Kyla was very impressed that once she progressed with Inga she could start doing some songwriting. Kyla is now learning correct technique and also how to read music.
I would really recommend taking lessons with Inga. Kyla loves her lesson every week and has already learnt so much. She has fixed some bad habits that she had picked up from her previous lessons and made good progress with reading music. Inga expects the children to practise several times a week and Kyla now realises how important this is.
— Tara M. (New Zealand)
Jade (New Zealand)
We found about Inga and her classes through a friend who was highly impressed, and Jade has been now taking lessons for approximately 2 years.
We like Inga’s personality and her ability to relate to our daughter. We loved that Inga had so much to offer our daughter not just learning to play an instrument. Inga teaches our daughter to read music, write music, play an instrument, encourages our daughter to write her own songs and Inga helps her record her own music. Inga lives and breathes music, we loved her passion.
Inga’s life revolves around learning new things about music and teaching music of all types. Inga is so passionate about music and that is the type of teacher I want to have teaching my child, I highly recommend Gentle Guitar School to anyone whom is wanting to learn and love music.
— Kellie F. (New Zealand)
Elliot (New Zealand)
We found out about Gentle Guitar™ just by looking up a guitar coach on the internet and decided to go with Gentle Guitar because from the look of the website and what other students had said. It all seemed really positive. Gentle Guitar also was going to teach me some classical guitar which was what we were looking for.
I have been taking lessons with Inga for almost three years. I had guitar lessons with someone else before Inga but I stopped as I wanted to start learning more classical guitar. Gentle Guitar has improved my technique, my ear for music and my overall playing skills.
I enjoy Inga’s kind happy attitude that she always has and I would definitely encourage anyone looking for guitar lessons to take part in the course as it has so much to offer.
— Elliot (New Zealand)
Jesse (New Zealand)
We found the tuition by searching on the Internet and Jesse has been taking lessons ever since for exactly a year now. The method seemed thorough and structured, covering all important basics.
We decided to go for Skype tuition because it’s easy to attend the lessons as there is no travel which eases the load with the family. We are encouraged to practice the music together on our different instruments which makes it more motivating for Jesse. Gentle Guitar offers a free trial lesson so you have nothing to lose when trying it out. That is what we did and found it no different than being in the same room with a teacher.
— Shelley B. (New Zealand)
Luci (New Zealand)
We feel Luci has really progressed wonderfully. We are impressed that she can not only play songs, but read and write music. In Luci’s words she likes ‘learning new songs and being good at them’. I think this reflects the really good progression and attention Inga gives to her as a student. She knows how to balance the challenge and fun.
Inga is very passionate and professional and has made us feel very confident to have Luci learn with her. She relates really well to children.
— Samantha M. (New Zealand)
Amanda (New Zealand)
Amanda started with no experience playing the guitar. She now has good technique and is learning to read music. I like that Amanda gets a lot of encouragement from Inga. (I also like that Inga is going to get Amanda onto playing Taylor Swift music when she is ready as Amanda loves Taylor Swift 🙂
Gentle Guitar™ is a well rounded approach as students learn good techniques, and learn to read music along with a fun approach to practicing.
— Kylie F. (New Zealand)
Sarah (New Zealand)
By having one on one lessons with no distraction with anybody else makes it easier to learn guitar. Inga’s teaching has made me improve a lot, we go over things together which makes it easier for me to practice. I enjoy guitar with Inga because I play songs I enjoy and Inga is there to help me when I need her. I think that taking lessons with Inga will help anyone improve and reach higher levels to become one great guitar player.
— Sarah (Student)
Isabela (New Zealand)
Inga has a nice nature, is engaging with children, able to allow them to enjoy and learn simultaneously, and provides honest feedback on the children’s progress. I would recommend Gentle Guitar for private tuition for children especially as the teachers have a gentle manner and strike a great balance between learning and fun.
— Carmen V. (New Zealand)