Ron Ireland

Certified Private Instructor

I've been playing guitar and saxophone for about 50 years. I spent my early professional life as a special education teacher, a second grade teacher, and an eighth grade teacher before leaving education for law enforcement. After retiring in 2011, I opened my teaching studio in Wytheville. I have a B.S. in Special Education/Elementary Education and an M.S. in Human Resource Management, with 18 hours of graduate study in Adult Education.

TEACHING STYLE

I believe in starting my students with basic chords and strumming in order to get early success and confidence. I introduce them to various styles of playing as they develop and encourage the students to choose what direction they wish to take. I introduce music theory and reading early in their education and continue it as long as they stay with me. Knowing theory and being able to read music allows a musician the flexibility to choose his or her own style and even move on to other instruments if they wish.