Great musicianship begins with great instruction, and Ryan is a perfect example of just that. A passionate guitar and bass instructor at School of Rock Doylestown, Ryan encourages students to explore their creativity and understand how performance, songwriting, and recording intersect in real-world music making.
Ryan's musical roots are grounded in classic rock, with a broad range of influences that inform his work as a songwriter, performer, and recording artist. He is an alumnus of Penn State University and a graduate of the Berklee Music Production program, where he developed a strong foundation in music theory, recording, and production techniques. This academic background, combined with hands-on creative work, shapes his inspiring approach to teaching.
We chatted with Ryan about his influences, experiences, and advice for student musicians.
Was there a particular song, artist, or performance that made you want to learn the guitar?
There were many hard rock bands and guitarists that inspired me to learn the guitar. But the true catalyst was probably the game Guitar Hero 3, which features Slash. That introduced me to incredible rock music that was fun to listen to and play along with and I wanted to try the real thing soon after.
If you could go back and give your younger self one piece of advice when you first started playing, what would it be?
My younger self was so determined to learn his favorite songs and master the guitar that there’s not much I could have told him. I guess maybe to relax a bit and not worry about perfection to much.
If a student is nervous or has never played before, what would you tell them before their first lesson?
I’d tell new students that it’s understandable to be nervous, but at the end of the day playing music is just for fun. Don’t worry about impressing people or even yourself. Just treat the learning process like a fun puzzle and know it gets easier over time.
What is the biggest mistake people make when learning the guitar?
The biggest mistake people make when learning the guitar is not focusing on building good form habits early on. The way you hold the guitar, fret and pick strings is really import for tone. Bonus tip is to make sure your guitar is set up right. Can’t tell you how many kids have brought in a guitar with junky old strings that are too high and wonder why they can’t get better. Make sure the gear is set up right!
What's the most rewarding part of teaching at School of Rock Doylestown?
The most rewarding part of teaching at SOR Doylestown is seeing the growth in students after a while of lessons. You get a moment of realization that they all of a sudden aren’t struggling anymore and can truly have fun with their instrument. It’s also really cool to see the kids rock in their performance group when they master a song together.
If you could have every student master one skill beyond music, what would it be?
One skill each student should master beyond music would probably be social skills. It’s important to interact with others positively and to be able to communicate lightheartedly. Life’s more fun when you can fit in with many different types of people.
What do you hope students take away from their time with you at School of Rock?
What I hope my students take away from working with me is a true appreciation for music and the process of learning and improving your skills. I hope I inspire my students to keep doing what they are passionate about even outside of music.