Chris Makes Music

05/30/2026

ChrisMakesMusic.com to sign up - dm and mention this ad for a $5 off early bird ticket before June 17th.

05/28/2026

This workshop will be Interactive, not complicated, and you will improve your loops (or learn for the first time). A nice relaxing workshop with lots of information to take home. ChrisMakesMusic.com to sign up. DM for a $5 off offer before June 17th.

05/26/2026

04/14/2026

Approach is really important, and taking your ego out as a teacher is part of it. If something is not working the way you've been doing it, it's time to change it up. The goal for me is to find something that connects with the student and then allow that to be the spark that fuels the lessons, otherwise it's just a chore to add to the list. If they are inspired, they will want to practice, that's my working theory at least!

04/09/2026

Little ones (under 7 or 8) can sometimes be "harder" to teach. That's because an adult mind is used to being able to sit still, follow directions (even simple ones), and concentrate on a topic for 30 minutes or more. In my experience littles are motivated by curiosity, as my friend Todd told me wisely years ago you need to light a SPARK in the kids so they WANT to practice. My dad Jim also has taught me over and over that it is a messy process, and on the outside it may look like goofing around, well that's because it pretty much is that. In goofing around, you are searching for what lights them up. I will grab a drum, put on a song they like, and just start hitting it -- call and response, find the beat, clap your hands, look in their eyes see what makes them laugh. In that process I find something they latch on to, and I go toward it. This is something you really won't find at "big box" music stores where the teaching is either cookie cutter, too classical in nature, or even worse not at ALL regulated (you should hear the horror stories that I've heard). So if this interests you, sign up for a free 30 min. session with no obligation to sign up and see if it sticks.

01/08/2026

I think a lot about muscle memory. Instrument learning is a LOT of muscle memory especially guitar. I have been teaching a ton of guitar and one thing a lot of students struggle with is getting those first 10 or so chords learned and memorized...memorized not only in hand shape, in sound, but in muscle memory. I would say mostly across the board people want to look at their left hand and ensure they are playing the chord correctly but the sooner they trust their own body (and muscle memory) they will learn a LOT faster. I asked a young student if they had been to the bathroom in the middle of the night and had to turn on a light switch without seeing it, well that's muscle memory - your body knew where it was without looking. She then told me she sleep walks into her moms room at night, and I was like "woah, now THAT is muscle memory". Kids will teach me a new way to explain something almost every time.

11/15/2025

No pressure to sign up for more lessons, try out a new skill December 1st, hit me up in the dms or check out ChrisMakesMusic.com to sign up.

11/14/2025

Gift your child (or yourself) a free lesson see if they like it and maybe we can do more lessons, no pressure! Dm me and we will find a time that works on December 1st.

11/13/2025

What is a free lesson day? It's a chance to try out a lesson with no obligation to sign up! I teach violin, guitar, songwriting, voice, and drums. Instead of going with a military old school discipline route, I focus on the creativity and joy of music to inspire you to want to practice at home. I can't wait to meet you and see if we gel together to possibly do more lessons. Sign up for your 30 minute session today. ChrisMakesMusic.com

11/12/2025

I had a lot of requests from people that missed the first looping class. No need to bring anything just an inquisitive mind. Try looping in real time, watch live demonstrations, see my set up, and take home a packet to study at home with easy looping tips. $50 sign up at ChrisMakesMusic.com

drumming Photo Dan Mitchell, Violin photo Pete Vogel, Singing photo Bobby Leonard, Violin Tiera Suggs other photos Chris Shaw | Powered by Squarespace

11/11/2025

Back in September we gathered at Reliable on High and talked all looping. What is looping? Well it's playing music with a looping pedal - you play a passage of music (let's say a chord progression on the guitar) and then you press record on the pedal. That passage then "loops" playing back on your speakers and you can layer over top of it. I will walk you thru the entire process if you've never touched a pedal or if you are looking for tips on leveling up your looping game. November 17th 6:30p-8:30p Reliable on High. Please purchase a ticket to save your spot. Sign up at ChrisMakesMusic.com