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What makes learning music easier at Five Star Guitars?

Our instructors are not only great players and working musicians but have decades of teaching experience, and will customize the curriculum to your interests and learning style. Live student concerts allow the students to apply their learning beyond the classroom and show off all of their hard work at a real gig in a real venue that we book for you. 

30 minutes lesson rate $39
60 minutes lesson rate $78
No setup, registration, or subscription fees!

Questions? Email us at lessons@fivestarguitars.com



Ben Jones
Ben Jones

  •  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).
  •  Currently:  Performing in the Northwest. Sponsored artist for Carvin Basses, TC Electronic Amps & Effects, Dunlop Strings, MXR Effects,1964 Ears In Ear Monitors, LM Straps, and GruvGear Accessories
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    In Store Lesson Hours:

    Tuesday: 4:00pm - 7:00pm
    Wednesday: 11:00am - 5:00pm

    Online Lesson Hours:

    Monday: 11:00am - 5:00pm
    Tuesday: 11:00am - 7:00pm
    Wednesday: 11:00am - 5:00pm
    Thursday: 11:00am - 5:00pm
    Friday: 11:00am - 5:00pm


    Connor Bruce
    Connor Bruce

  •  Specialties:  Electric Guitar, Classical Guitar, 7 & 8 String Guitar, Bass Guitar, Beginner Ukulele, Music Theory & Ear Training, Improvising, and Street Busking.
  •  Styles:  Rock, Metal, Classical, Pop, Jazz, and Chamber Music
  •  Background:  Bachelor Music Guitar Performance & Bachelor Music Composition from University of Idaho. Taught music for afterschool programs & private school classes in Beaverton and Portland. Performed at farmers markets and private events as a street busking artist in the inland Pacific Northwest, and taught guitar in Moscow, Idaho.
  •  Currently:  Playing bass and writing music for IgikoPop, and street performing during warmer weather months.
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    In Store and Online Lesson Hours:

    Saturday: 2:00pm - 7:00pm
    Sunday: 12:00pm - 7:00pm
    Monday: 3:00pm - 7:00pm


    Dany Oakes

    Dany Oakes

  •  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 for over 25 years.
  •  Currently:  Performs around the Northwest as singer and guitarist.
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    In-Store and Online Lesson Hours:

    Sunday: 11:00am - 7:00pm
    Monday: 1:30pm - 7:00pm
    Tuesday: 1:00pm - 7:00pm
    Wednesday: 3:30pm - 6:30pm
    Thursday: 11:00am - 7:00pm


    Geoff Metts
    Geoff Metts

  • Specialties:  Guitar, Slide Guitar, Lap Steel, Ukulele, Songwriting, Composition & Theory.
  • Styles:   Guitar: 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. Ukulele: Soprano, concert, tenor, baritone.
  •  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 music for over 20 years to all age groups.
  •  Currently:  Performing in Ants In The Kitchen and MRC.
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    In Store and Online Lesson Hours:

    Thursday: 3:30pm - 7:00pm


    Lee Alan Nolan
    Lee Alan Nolan

    Lee Alan Nolan Video Bio

    Lee Alan Nolan Video Bio at Five Star Guitars

     Lee Alan Nolan Beginner Piano Sample Video

    Lee Alan Nolan Beginner Piano Sample Video at Five Star Guitars

    Lee Alan Nolan Advanced Piano Sample Video

    Lee Alan Nolan Advanced Piano Sample Video at Five Star Guitars

     

  • 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.
  • 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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    In Store and Online Lesson Hours:

    Sunday: 2:00pm - 5:00pm
    Monday: 3:30pm - 7:00pm
    Tuesday: 4:00pm - 7:00pm
    Wednesday: 3:30pm - 7:00pm

    Mack Robertson
    Mack Robertson

  •  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.
  •  Currently:  Performs in the Portland area as a solo jazz and fingerstyle guitarist.
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    In Store and Online Lesson Hours:

    Monday: 2:30pm - 7:00pm
    Tuesday: 2:30pm - 7:00pm
    Wednesday: 3:00pm - 7:00pm
    Thursday: 3:30pm - 7:00pm


    Michael Callaway

  •  Specialties:  Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Ukulele, Music Theory
  • Styles:  Guitar: Rock, Blues, Grunge, Classic rock, 70s-80s metal, jazz, folk, pop, improvising, reading music for guitar and more. Ukulele: soprano, concert, tenor and baritone.
  •  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.
  •  Currently: Performing as guitarist and vocalist for Portland rock band Al's Toy Barn.
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    In Store and Online Lesson Hours:

    Monday: 2:30pm - 7:00pm
    Tuesday: 2:30pm - 7:00pm
    Wednesday: 2:30pm - 7:00pm
    Thursday: 2:30pm - 7:00pm
    Friday: 2:30pm - 7:00pm


    Ryan Goodyear
    Ryan Goodyear

  •  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
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    Online Lesson Hours:

    Sunday: 11:00am - 8:00pm
    Monday: 11:00am - 8:00pm
    Tuesday: 11:00am - 8:00pm
    Wednesday: 11:00am - 8:00pm
    Thursday: 11:00am - 8:00pm

    In Store Lesson Hours:

    Sunday: 11:00am - 4:00pm
    Monday: 11:00am - 7:00pm
    Wednesday:  11:00am - 7:00pm
    Thursday:  11:00am - 7:00pm

    Sam Durazzo
    Sam Durazzo

  •  Specialties:  Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Bass, Ukulele, Music Theory, Song Writing, Improvisation, Sight Reading.
  •  Styles:  Rock, Jazz, Blues, RnB, Gospel, Classical, Metal, Funk, and more
  •  Background:  : Studied Jazz Guitar at Loyola University New Orleans. Played with Key Lebaud, Tommy Tutone, Ms. Vee, and many cover bands in the pacific northwest. Member of the Cascade Blues association. Created music curriculum for Little Otters preschool.
  •  Currently:  Performing multiple gigs weekly in the house band at Fortune PDX, Abiding Place Fellowship, and more.
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    In Store and Online Lesson Hours:

    Friday: 3:00pm - 7:00pm
    Saturday: 11:00am - 7:00pm


    Jennifer Batten
    Jennifer Batten

    Jennifer Batten Introduction Video

    Jennifer Batten Introduction

     

    Jennifer Batten Advanced Guitar Lesson Sample Video

    Jennifer Batten Advanced Guitar Lesson Sample Video at Five Star Guitars

     

      Specialties: Tapping, improvising, transcribing, theory & prep for MI, Berklee or other pro schools

  •  Styles:   Rock, Funk, Pop, Metal, Fusion
  •  Background: Graduate of Musicians Institute in Hollywood, Performed with Michael Jackson for all of his solo world tours, and with British guitar icon Jeff Beck for 3 years and 2 CD’s, did a residency for Cirque Du Soleil in Las Vegas. Has released 4 CD’s and several instruction DVD’s
  •  Currently:  Launched a local dance band “Jennifer Batten & Full Steam” with Ben Jones (Five Star Guitars bass teacher), Pat Yadon, Kevin Burkhart, and Norm Whitehurst
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    Online Lesson Hours:

    We are proud to refer our friend and guitar virtuoso Jennifer Batten for private guitar lessons. Jennifer is handling all scheduling and payments herself. Please email her directly at mondocongo@earthlink.net for anything to do with taking lessons with her.