Ottawa Guitar Studio

Mickey is the best guitar teacher I have ever had. He takes the time to watch exactly where your roadblocks are with every practice exercise. He notices the small details like your pick changing positions during rhythm strumming sessions, and helps you correct your bad habits through a documented practice schedule. Classes are organized based on fundamentals, and each week a new challenge is added. Really helps you progress.Only complaint is that he doesn't let his dog Blue wander around the practices long enough!

Mickey is an excellent instructor. I have taken a few lessons over the years from other places and had found that sometimes I was simply running through the tab of any song I'd suggest with an instructor for 1/2 an hour. This can be fun, but these days I find I can do that myself much more easily at home with just with a computer. Without a plan in place, I wasn't getting any better this way. With Mickey's classes there is always a lesson plan in place to work on techniques or theory to really understand the guitar and take it to the next level. You can tell he's interested not just in guitar but also in teaching. I find that I'm actually improving again after having been stuck in the same place for so long. I'm enthusiastic about learning again and always looking forward to whats coming next!

If you are looking to actually progress and learn to play the guitar well, look no further. Mickey is an exceptional teacher. He obviously loves to teach and that truth comes through every moment of every class. Every lesson, you will benefit from individual attention that challenges you. Mickey promised to push my limits, and he does that. Always just far enough, so I'm always stretching, never bored, but always getting a sense of accomplishment.Mickey makes a ton of resources available to his students, and is very timely in providing new content as he perceives it being required - without ever being asked. I'm fairly confident that anyone with an interest will get maximum benefit for their personal commitment of time and effort.Many guitar teachers will teach you to play songs...Mickey will teach you to play the guitar, which opens the door to you playing all of the songs. And it's a delightful learning experience, every lesson. Can't recommend highly enough.

I am a total newbie, with only a few months in to learning about the guitar, and in turn, how to create music with it. There is a lot to learn! That said, Mickey presents the fundamentals in a systematic and fun way, with loads of tools for independent practice. He is consistently available to answer questions & provide reassurance. I started with learning about the strings & chords, and now to rhythm & song. Mickey is passionate about his teaching role and your musical development. What more could anyone ask for?

I've been taking lessons with Mickey for about 6 months and have developed in so many ways. I had been playing for many years but still lacked confidence. Mickey had taken a personal approach to my development and has me working through scales, blues 12 barre, and practice methods to make me a better player. I've been through many teachers and wish I started with Mickey.

I've been taking lessons with Mickey for just over a year now. I came in with ZERO experience and now I'm playing full songs.Mickey is an excellent teacher. He does a good job of breaking things down. And he is able to give you exactly what you need to get to that next plateau and to keep you progressingHe brings a great charisma and positive energy to every class.If you are looking to add more music to your life it is never too late and I highly recommend Mickey as a teacher.

Really good stuff. I've been a student of Mickey for about 10 months now. Really great instructor and would highly recommend him to anyone looking to learn guitar in the Ottawa region. Makes lessons simple, loads of online content, really motivated to see his students excel. The group sessions are also great for seeing how other people process the lessons and for getting a band feel.

I have been taking lessons with Mickey for about 6 months. Not only is he an exceptional guitar but he is the best instructor of any kind I have ever worked with. He sets a high bar and pushes you to the limit while still making it fun. From my atonal and arrhythmic beginnings, he has me noodling all of the fretboard, jamming to 12 Bar Blues, fine tuning rhythm patterns and zipping between barre chords. I’m a long way from B.B. King, but getting better every day and loving it!

I have always dreamt of playing the guitar but lacked confidence and perseverance to learn this instrument throughout my youth and adulthood. Upon retirement being now in my mid 50’s, I decided to take up the journey to seriously learn how to play the guitar. I reached out to Mickey at the Ottawa Guitar Studio, meeting with him at an introductory session. I am not musically inclined, never learned to read music, and couldn’t even play a simple chord or string notes together. Kind of a blank slate if you will. To say that I was bit concerned was an understatement. Mickey quickly put me at ease during our introductory session outlining how he would teach me to play the guitar. When I left the session I felt motivated and positive to take on this challenge and signed up for sessions at his studio.Now 10 months on my knowledge and skill set playing the guitar through Mickey’s guidance and instruction have increased significantly! I am now capable of playing a multitude of chords, chord progressions, several songs competently, in proper time using correct strumming patterns. Mickey’s teaching techniques are very thorough and methodical in his approach to guitar fundamentals. His patient, encouraging, positive feedback instruction style ensures you grasp what is being taught and challenges you to leave your comfort zone to expand your skill set. Mickey is an upbeat, flexible, easygoing and motivational teacher whose class environment is structured, relaxed, and extremely fun! I would highly recommend The Ottawa Guitar Studio to anyone wishing to learn how to play the guitar.

I was struggling with trying to become a better at playing guitar until I found Ottawa Guitar Studio, owned and operated by Michael (Mickey) Magennis. He is by far the best teacher I have had and more important he knows how to teach everything you need to succeed at playing guitar. He is very passionate about helping you become a better guitar player and has programs and methods that are Taylor made to help you achieve success. If you put in the time and effort required and follow his program, you will become a guitar player. If you are interested in learning how to play guitar, you could not ask for a better instructor.