Today we’d like to introduce you to Aaron Kessler.
Hi Aaron, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Music has been the driving force of my life for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I had an upright piano in my bedroom, and as soon as I was tall enough to reach the keys, I was exploring sounds. By age five, I finally convinced my mom to let me take formal lessons, sparking a lifelong obsession with the craft. That passion eventually led me to Berklee College of Music, where being surrounded by so many talented peers pushed me to sharpen my skills on the guitar, production, and songwriting,
Today, my career is a dynamic blend of creation and mentorship. As a multi-instrumentalist, I lend my skills on guitar, bass, keys, mandolin, dobro, pedal steel, banjo and vocals to various projects. Working closely with artists as a producer and session musician to bring their records to life is incredibly rewarding, and my original music has been featured in global Coach commercials as well as major network shows on Netflix, Hulu, CBS, and Paramount+.
However, alongside my studio work, teaching is a massive piece of my identity. Since 2013, I’ve been sharing my love for the guitar with students of all levels. Because I’ve spent my entire life as a student of music, I know firsthand what works and what doesn’t in the classroom. I don’t just teach people how to play notes; I teach them how to make music. Whether I am helping an aspiring professional navigate the industry or guiding someone who simply wants to enjoy playing guitar as a rewarding hobby, my goal is the same: to keep the process engaging and fun. Balancing production work and session playing with teaching allows me to bring real-world experience directly to my students, empowering them to find fulfillment in their own musical journey.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has definitely not been a smooth road, and the challenges I faced were both professional and personal. On the business side, it took years of networking, teaching, and taking on session work to build a client base large enough to finally step away from part-time, non-music day jobs. Navigating the freelance music economy requires a lot of patience and consistency before it becomes sustainable.
Just as things were picking up momentum, I hit a massive physical setback. I had been playing with two different artists who both ended up signing with Sony, and I was mentally prepping to have to pick one of them to tour with. Instead, I had to undergo bilateral hip surgery. The physical toll and recovery pulled me out of Nashville for about six months, which led to me missing out on both of those major touring opportunities right when I wanted to be building on that momentum.
On top of those professional and physical setbacks, I also navigated the loss of my brother, my sister, and my father while trying to build this career. Navigating those personal challenges has been the toughest part of my journey, but that experience has ultimately come out in my music. A key part of that process was writing and producing my song, Losing You, which focuses on my sister. Continuing to show up and maintain my teaching schedule during those years was a heavy workload while dealing with that level of grief. Moving through all of these hurdles at once has ultimately required a lot of patience and the wearing of multiple hats, but going through it has given me a perspective few others have and a profound gratefulness for the position I am in today.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My work is divided into three main areas: songwriting, music production, and guitar lessons.
On the studio side, I am a writer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. Because I play guitar, bass, keys, mandolin, dobro, and pedal steel, I am able to act as a one-man session band for artists. I specialize in helping artists build their sonic landscape from the ground up, whether that means writing the track itself, tracking multiple instruments, or shaping the final production. My background includes writing and producing music for global commercial campaigns and television networks like Netflix, Hulu, CBS, and Paramount+.
On the educational side, I run a private teaching practice where I provide customized guitar lessons. Having spent my entire life as a student of music, including studying at Berklee College of Music, I have a deep understanding of what methods actually get results. I specialize in teaching students how to make music. I bring my real-world industry experience into every lesson to help students find their own creative voice, whether they are an aspiring professional musician or someone who just wants to learn to play guitar as a rewarding hobby.
What sets me apart from others is this multi-faceted perspective. I am not just a teacher reading from a textbook, and I am not just a producer behind a mixing desk. The patience and structure required to teach makes me a more focused songwriter and producer in the studio, and the real-world tracking experience from the studio allows me to give my students practical, actionable knowledge.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
My biggest piece of advice for anyone starting out in the music industry is to keep your head down, figure out what your next step is, and focus on that. This applies equally to guitar students trying to master the instrument and to anyone trying to build an independent music business. It is incredibly easy to become overwhelmed when you look up and see the mountain of work in front of you that needs to be dealt with to get where you want to be.
But regardless of whether you look at the mountain or you don’t, you still just need to focus on the next step. Keeping your head down and moving along one step at a time helps keep the focus exactly where it needs to be. Building a career takes time, and you will likely have to balance part-time jobs, physical setbacks, or personal hurdles along the way. Do not let the grand scale of your goals paralyze you. Break the work down, master the immediate task in front of you, and trust that those single steps are what ultimately move you forward.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.aaronkesslermusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aaronkesslermusic/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AaronKesslerMusic/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXzA1wHfSVLQ5TJHbz9_GKw
- Other: https://solo.to/aaronkessler
