Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Wurtz.
Hi Ryan, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I graduated from UMKC’s Conservatory of Music in 2003 with a degree in Jazz Guitar Performance. During my last year of school I started teaching professionally and fell in love with it. I love helping others develop their passion for music and the guitar in particular. I especially like learning about and engaging with people from all walks of live, whether professional adults, people who have recently retired and finally picking up that guitar they’ve been wanting to play for years, high school and college students, and also younger kiddos starting to play music for the first time.
I’ve taught all over the KC Metro area and around 2017 I became the owner of Brookside Guitars at 63d and Oak in KCMO. Our business has been thriving as a local community-based lessons studio and we also carry an eclectic mix of acoustic and electric guitars and accessories. We offer lessons for guitar, piano, voice, ukulele, bass and violin. A couple of years ago I decided to start a second location where we could continue our style of individualized lessons. We decided on a rapidly developing neighborhood in Downtown Shawnee KS. The primary differences in the two locations are that at the Shawnee spot, we only offer lessons. We don’t do any retail, just the students and teachers working to develop their skills!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road to where we are now has been a wonderful ride! Its been fantastic to get to know people of all walks of life in the neighborhood and to meet and work with the owners of a variety of businesses, not to mention developing relationships with local schools and teachers. The Shawnee Music Co. is our new venture, we’ve only been operating for about a year and a half. Like every other independent, small business, its been a struggle to get the word out but word is starting to spread and we are excited to have added two new instructors in the last couple of months!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
One thing I’m incredibly proud of is the eclectic variety of professional instructors we have. Our instructors aren’t just talented teachers, they are all professional performers and recording artists. We perform regularly in settings ranging from jazz clubs to rock venues. From National Blues Festivals to Opera Halls and with the Kansas City Symphony and Nationally touring corporate event groups. I cant emphasize enough how proud I am of each and every one of our instructors.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
As I kid I begged my parents to let me take guitar lessons. After enough pestering they relented. I was immediately hooked and was always so excited to get home to go grab my guitar and play. I still remember the first couple of times I saw live music in a small setting and being so excited to do that someday.
Pricing:
- $35 per private 30 minute session
- lessons held on a weekly basis
- we sell a variety of instruments and accessories a the Brookside location
Contact Info:
- Website: www.brooksideguitars.com and also www.shawneemusicco.com
