Avalon Music

Kirk Lewellen

Kirk Lewellen has been playing guitar, teaching and performing for 45 years.  He has performed with, opened for, and co-written songs with Grammy Award nominees and winners, multiple platinum or gold album holders, and Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame members.

Kirk holds a valid for life California Community College Instructor Credential since June 24, 1996.  He is a guitar instructor for the Wenatchee Valley College Continuing Education Department, as well as teaching  private students at Avalon Music.

Kirks teaching methods have proven successful with individual students, groups and those with disabilities.  Kirk is open to most ages if the student has the drive, desire and maturity to develop and follow a learning plan that works for the student and instructor. 

I look forward helping you learn to play the guitar and have fun with it.

Contact Kirk at 509-884-7301 or 509-393-8498 to arrange lessons.

Dan Findlay

Dan Findlay is a local private music teacher in the Wenatchee valley. He has been playing guitar and bass for 15 years and also plays mandolin, resonator guitars, banjo, and some piano and harmonica. He has taught guitar and bass for over five years and also teaches beginning mandolin and banjo lessons. He teaches all ages and levels of guitar and bass players and greatly enjoys having a large variety of students. Dan played in many different bands in the Seattle area, cultivating an array of different styles. Dan is currently writing and recording solo guitar work and forming a new group.

Dan's Influences: Warren Haynes, Eric Clapton, Chet Atkins, Allman Brothers, Jimi Hendrix, and B.B. King  - just to name a few.

Dan's Teaching Goals: 

I love to teach.  Helping my students learn a new skill, or to enhance existing skills, is a blessing. To watch my students grow as musicians and see their musical knowledge, skill and artistry advance is truly wonderful and rewarding. 

I teach all different styles of guitar and introduce my students to new musical ideas and genres.  I teach theory and practical applications to give my students the ability to understand the musical expressions of others, as well as start development of their own individual style.

Dan accepts students of all ages and levels of ability.

Contact Dan by calling 679-7626 or email Dan at wenatcheeguitarlessons@yahoo.com.  Check out his website at www.wenatcheeguitarandbasslessons.webstarts.com.

Troy Carlson

Troy has been a figure in the local music scene since the early 1990’s. He has played guitar and bass in several groups with some of the valley’s finest musicians. Some would say that he was “born to perform”.  A true believer in continuing education, Troy’s motto is “grow or die”, which is why after thirty years of making music he still takes lessons as often as possible from several local and regional instructors.

Influences: Arthur Richwine, Al Caiola, Michael Schenker, Gary Moore, Genesis, Allman Brothers, Scorpions, all classic rock, southern rock, funk, hip-hop and r&b, from 1950 until current.

Teaching Goals:  I love to watch and help people learn. Nothing gets me more excited than to witness those light-bulb moments, when someone finally overcomes an obstacle and really gets it. My main goal is to equip my students with the ability to learn as many styles of music as possible, and to bring out as much of them musically as I can. I want to foster musical individuality as well as give you a solid base of music theory. I won’t teach you a guitar solo note for note from your favorite player, that’s not what I do. Instead I will give you the tools to do so on your own, and hopefully you’ll put your own twist on things.

Accepting students from beginner to advanced.

For price and availability call Avalon Music at 509-663-7300 .

Mike Schenck

Mike Schenck teaches at Avalon Music and has been playing, writing and recording music for almost 25 years, playing guitar, bass and drums.  From thrash guitar to Spanish classical, and all points in-between, music done well is his goal. 

Whether your needs are a basic “how to make it work” or "how do I get to the next level” to advanced theory and application, Mike will help you reach and expand your musical goals and abilities.  His teaching approach is tailored to each student’s unique optimum learning style.  Mike makes sure there is a proper foundation for each student's knowledge based on proper tuning, physical technique, instrument set-up,  music theory and application -  even set up of all amplification or recording effects and processing gear.

Mike is acceptng students from beginning to advanced.  His goal is to help every student let the music out!

Contact Mike Schenck at 884-2829 or via email to set up an appointment with him.

Kevin Jones

Kevin Jones is a music producer, guitar instructor, vocalist, and songwriter with expert level experience. He's produced four CD's of his original music to date. He owns and operates a professional recording studio which he incorporates in his instruction if desired by the student. Teaching focuses on giving students a foundation to grow upon while learning songs of their choice and performance tips. Online interactive teaching is also available.

One of Kevin's students perfectly describes Kevin's teaching:

"REALLY good teachers come from their heart and soul, not a book. That's the kind of teacher Kevin is. He lives and breathes music as a talented performer, sound engineer, song writer, etc, so his teaching comes from his Life. My experience taking lessons from him was, honestly, life changing. As a shy, under-accomplished guitar hobbyist, I feared at first I would be embarrassed and over my head learning from him. But Kevin has a unique gift for putting people at ease, identifying their strengths (and reinforcing them to the student in front of him), and determining the most appropriate next musical skill/challenge. In a few short months, the technique/style changes I gained have brought me endless hours of enjoyment. Did I mention he makes it fun? There's no drudgery involved. Kevin, I want to say thanks! The music in you helped bring out the music in me."

You can contact Kevin at (253) 886-4907 or by email.  Learn more about Kevin at his website: www.kevinjones.net.

Earl Calvert

Earl has played stringed instruments since childhood.  He is a long time member of Washington Old Time Fiddlers’ Association, the Northwest Western Swing Music Society and is the current Chairman for the Washington State Fiddlers’ Contest held in East Wenatchee each year.  His love for Western Swing and traditional music lead him on a lifetime pursuit to teach the various styles of fiddling.  He was initially trained in classical, and uses those techniques in teaching fiddle.  For the past 20 years, Earl has taught music in workshops, groups and private lessons.  He currently teaches the fiddle, mandolin, and acoustic guitar.  Students have ranged in age from 5 to 80 with any range of musical ability.  As long as the student is eager and willing to learn, Earl is willing to teach.

Contact Earl through Avalon Music or email to arrange your lessons.

Mark Burton

Mark Burton teaches guitar, focusing on the physical elements of playing. Mark accepts students of all levels and ages. He uses a very direct teaching method that helps your playing become natural and comfortable. Through streamlined scale and chord samples, improvisational playing is learned quickly. Mark does not teach music notation, but rather the do's and don'ts of playing technique to promote rapid development of playing skills.

Mark has been playing guitar for over 20 years. He also plays bass guitar and drums, and encourages students to learn some basic percussion as well to improve their sense of timing. Mark has a small music studio and is able to record individualized "projects" for students to play along with, which has proven to be a much quicker approach than just repetitious metronome practice.

Mark can be reached by calling 509-860-3370. You can find examples of Mark's playing style by visiting his MySpace site.