Check Out JP Presley’s Story

Today, we’d like to introduce you to JP Presley.

JP, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My dad was my first guitar teacher. He taught me to play Sweet Home Alabama when I was seven, and I fell in love with it! I got my start teaching the guitar in my high school music class. My teacher divided everyone between him and myself for guitar lessons as most people in the class were interested in learning how to play the guitar. It wasn’t long before I realized I could explain how to play the instrument in a way that clicked with people fairly well! Thus began my love for teaching.

Following high school, I continued pursuing my love for music at Belmont University. It was here that I learned how to play multiple styles of music, including country, rock, funk, R&B, and jazz. During my senior year, a friend referred someone to me who would become a 7+ year student of mine (this particular student is still taking lessons from me twice a week and is performing live on a regular basis. She’s killing it!). After graduating, I balanced my life as a guitar teacher and a touring musician, playing with various artists throughout the country and Canada. Teaching the guitar has since become my main profession, and I love it!

The next step for me is what I am calling Presley Guitar Studio (“PGS”). I will build a YouTube presence by offering quick pre-recorded guitar lessons for any skill set (beginner to advanced players). For the more serious students, I will be offering a subscription service with more in-depth guitar lessons on a variety of subjects. Stay tuned!

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’ve learned that everyone learns differently. Some students pick up on things better when I give them visuals on my whiteboard (yes, I have a nerdy whiteboard).

Others learn well when I give them a track of me demonstrating what we are working on, whether a song, exercise, or scale. That way, they can go home with something to practice. I enjoy the challenge of figuring out how to get the light bulbs to go off every time I work with someone new!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe you can tell us more about your work next?

The next step for me is diving head first into Presley Guitar Studio! For the time being, I will be releasing a new video guitar lesson (they will be FREE by the way!) every other Monday on my YouTube channel. My first lesson entitled “Your First Four Chords” is actually already published! Go check it out! I will be posting links to each new video on all of my social media accounts so people can stay up-to-date that way.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I would say to begin thinking about what you would like to do as a guitarist. Do you want to be an artist, singing your songs while playing them on the guitar? Do you want to be a “side guy” and play guitar for other artists? Do you want to teach?

Maybe you’re like me and enjoy singing background vocals for artists while playing. Begin searching for people who do these things well. Reach out to them. Ask them for coffee. Go see them perform. Take their masterclass. Follow them on social media. I’ve learned that most people are flattered to help others who want to do what they do!

Pricing:

• $40 per half-hour lesson
• $60 per hour lesson

Contact Info:

• Website: johnparkerpresley.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/presleyguitarstudio
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559550536326
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXRyguoel7JWo7_0qLmr0gw
• Email: presley@presleyguitarstudio.com

Image Credits
Annie Loughead