Pyramid Agency

I have over 20 guitars that include builders such as Collings and custom builds

I am the proud owner of several guitar models. I perform the acoustic guitar as a touring singer songwriter professionally, not always with the Taylor instruments but the playability and sound quality is not why.

These guitars are great. They offer a great playing experience, a terrific tonal quality with impressive overtones. I love em'.

Taylor offers quite a few guitar models. One most likely has your name on it. I especially enjoy the Grand Pacific 517 builders edition. I can play it for a long time. I does what it does just so well.

A friend of a friend who has a few high end guitars and the budget for another very expensive instrument, contacted me to see if I'd go with him to McCabe's Guitar shop in Santa Monica, and assist him as he was deciding between several guitars in the $10,000+ price range.

He played a couple for me and they were okay. I asked if he had ever played or heard of the Taylor 517, and this was before I got my own. He hadn't. We located one, he put it in his lap played for a few minutes and bought it. It cost him $3100 at the time and he loves it.

He and his girlfriend took my wife and I out for a nice dinner and between the two of us, we couldn't stop talking about that guitar. I finally bought one several months later. I have a Taylor 12 and 3 other models.

The Taylor 12 string makes so much incredible music with so little effort, I feel as though it is on autopilot. So much fun and so much music!
I had the 12 string guitar "tweaked" by their service department while doing tour dates in San Diego. Talking about impressive. Just to watch what and how they work through the glass window was pretty amazing.

It was that visit when a service tech asked If I had a chance to demo the 517 Builders edition. He directed me to the showroom where all of their guitar models are displayed for people to play. I picked up the 517 and two hours later, i was sill playing it gaining quite a bit of attention while doing so.

I would not say that the guitar is better than my other guitars, but like each guitar, it expresses my music differently providing a different approach as to how the music lands and does it so well.

Andy Powers does a fine job of designing and engineering the construction of these guitars. If you have the opportunity, visit the Taylor factory in El Cajun California, located near San Diego. What a great experience that is.

So sorry to see the best national music chain close it's doors. Many of the full-time sales people have made life long careers there, unlike the Guitar Center chain of stores. Must be a reason why. They provided excellent consultation, excellent pricing and when you went back, you'd find the same people and got treated for the most part, like family.

The stores that offered lessons chose quality instructors many of whom were professionals, making a living at their craft and taught at Sam Ash on the side. There were some instructor who taught there about on a full-time basis even know they got paid by the lesson, not on salary.

Best regards to the many Sam Ash staff members who put decades of their lives bettering the experience for musicians of all experience levels! Much appreciated. Best of success in your future endeavors.

After checking out several auto body repair facilities in the Los Angeles area, I saw Euro Collision Center on the Internet. Heck, even though I don't have a loaner car on my insurance, they provided me one anyway at no charge. They also took care of my deductible!.

The service there is extraordinary. I mean the best. But what is as or more important, my Ford vehicle looked like it had just come out of the dealer showroom! I mean wow!. They did an amazing job.

I have since dropped another vehicle off for some body repair and experienced the same result. This place is the best in both service and quality of work. Truly impressive.

Folks, I can only speak from experience. If you are in the vicinity of Los Angeles and your vehicle is in need of body work for whatever reason, this is where you want to go. Truly.

Fortunately, I have not required automobile damage repair on the many vehicles I've owned through the years so starting out to find an honest reputable and quality facility was a new deal. Glad I put the time in and found Euro Collision Center!

All I can advise is watch out. As someone who has created a successful career in various aspects of the music industry, there is no way in the world that I would ever encourage anyone who teaches music to perhaps become rich through their coaching at the cost of over $10,000.

The advertising suggests that a music teacher can reach a 6 or even 7 figure income by teaching music and gain students who participate in group sessions at the students cost of over $4000? I am sure they must have small print disclaimers somewhere in order to avoid hearing from the FTC.

As part of their advertising to further lure you in to a Zoom meeting, they might share some first names of participants who have significantly increased their net-worth by enrolling themselves as music educators in this unique program.

The marketing strategy is called "Mastermind". You can look it up. It is utilized by several online educational marketing companies similar to this one. Rather than spell it out "School", They spell it "Skool" or something similar.

Perhaps there have been a few verifiable successes, but it is difficult to make a fair assessment with the information they provide and what I was able to learn on my own. During the zoom meeting, they only provide first names of people supposedly in the program who they tell you are making a lot of money, no contact phone numbers or emails as they do not divulge such information. (must be very secret I guess). Only first names? Really now. Heck, if their enrolled music teachers are making so much money, have such an amazing reputation though the success of students who spend thousands of dollars to participate in their group sessions, you'd think the instructor's names would be all over the Internet and there would be a line of students looking to accomplish their hopes of greatly improving their musicianship and skill by spending over 4K to join these group sessions.

I can not of course tell you what to do with your money. All I can do is provide advice that might save you some.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention that on the last Zoom meeting I had with a Paul the Trombonist recruiter which was a disaster, the guy thought that he had disconnected at the end of the call but he didn't and he talked to I guess his recruitment coach who unbeknown to me, was listening in and said some things regarding "folks like him" (meaning me), who (for darn good reasons), share similar skepticism. I had rightfully asked the recruiter if he was on a commission basis and he said that "Paul takes good care of me". The guy was obviously on commission and the woman he continued talking to after he thought we disconnected was providing him advice as to handling recruitment calls and said some negative things about "our types". Really now!. I heard it all! Shame on them.

Instead of spending over 10 grand of your hard earned cash with this program, (I would use another descriptive word but won't), invest a whole lot less by investing in yourself through your own internet marketing, advertising and branding.

If you are indeed a true educator and sincerely committed to making a difference in the lives of others through the transfer of knowledge and experience, then you are not doing it to become rich. A decent living? Sure. But a millionaire or close to it?

There are several entrepreneurs who take advantage of people's desire to learn, succeed and generate great wealth through their magical formula and you can't blame them. Perhaps they themselves are gaining significant wealth by doing so and if it works, and their client base agrees, then more power to them. I am as you should be, very skeptical. Your money in my opinion, is better spent on something else. Take care and go ahead and make some music!

Additional info.. Just added.

I signed up for another Zoom call by a guy who claimed to have the founder of Senora Guitar enroll in his online coaching class and that's is how Senora Guitar started, from one of these "Mastermind" courses. He stated that Senora Guitars is a 6M/ yr business and touted his own music instructor course as the key to their success.
These online coaching courses are crawling out of the woodwork all with the identical game plan and price tag. Like they all graduated the same class on the same day and went out to employ what they learned. What a racket! STAY AWAY You do not need to enroll in any of these "Skools" to become an accomplished musician! Truly!

Well folks. I spent about an hour with a very nice guy who asked very typical questions that you'd expect from someone who is attempting one to enroll in an online academic program by way of a Zoom or Google Meet introduction.
There are several firms utilizing similar strategies.

Cutting right to the chase, I was quoted a special anniversary promotional price for two lessons per month with someone who supposedly is a highly experienced recognizable former professional famous to whatever degree touring artist mentor. I was also offered lifetime access to some specialized guitar software program that I know nothing about and have never heard of. I was quoted $4600 for 3 months in the program, with lifetime access to this special software.

Can we talk? First of all. I asked the guy "who is this amazing accomplished mentor?" I was provided his name. Subsequently, I "Googled" and the results yielded a plumbing company and various links to this plumbing company. I had to scroll down a lot to see this "mentor's "name appear in conjunction with a local but good band's name that he played with. Is this instructor/mentor good? Is he like a wow, a nationally recognized guitar wizard? Well, he is a good player, but seemingly, more recognized on another instrument. There is not enough out there on him to make a fair assessment.
I would absolutely not say that he matches the description of this amazing accomplished former touring artist known for his craft. Would he not then have a more significant appearance online?

To be clear, I do play guitar professionally and have carved out a successful career as a solo acoustic player, and have done so for more than 30 years with over two thousand performances across North America and parts of Europe. If you Googled my name, the results go on for a very long time on various platforms. I am every so often looking to explore additional styling within my skillset and look into what some folks are doing to present educational programs within a profession that I am so thankful for and passionate about.
This Sonora school triggered my curiosity so I contacted them. The opportunity to receive coaching by renowned mentors is also intriguing,

I approached this Google Meet introduction with an interest in working with an artist along the likes of a Tommy Emmanuel who I have performed with, Leo Kottke and Jorma Kaukonen, both whom I've been compared to during my career.

$4600 for 3 months gaining two one-on-one online lessons per month with access to this "mentor" so they say on as as needed basis, equates to over $760 per one- on-one lesson!

I have mentored many guitar players and have coached countless people both emerging and advanced during my career, often at no charge. I make my living through performance, not teaching. I am honored and flattered that someone would approach me for help. I would expect to have the same or greater Internet search response when searching a mentors name, as my own. Not to say that this person is not an accomplished musician, but $760+/lesson?

In summary, You TRULY do not have to pay these exurbanite fees to become a good guitar player to what ever extent you so desire.
My professional advice would be to ask around as to who is a reputable and experienced "coach" who can offer one-on-one sessions. You might want to check out YouTube as there are just so many great instructional videos offered by prominent players that could be beneficial.

As much as the skill, your connection with the instrument, performance environment, audience and music selections are paramount. One can study all sorts of charts, tabs and diagrams all day long. That is not what makes a great performing artist. It can't hurt to incorporate an understanding, but I'd focus on "being" not technically doing. Be your music. Dive into it. Make it mean something not just sound like something. Project your own spin.

Another online advertiser that I would be weary of is Zoom Guitar. They charge $7,800. Unreal folks. Truly. You can't blame these organizations and entrepreneurs for launching a business in education because education does indeed sell. As a matter of fact, Youtube videos that offer instruction or "how to" play a song, quite often receive a higher response rate than performances of the song performance itself.

If you can take a weekend and really want to accelerate your skill and performance, Look into Jorma Kaukonen's (Hot Tuna & Jefferson Airplane), Fur Peace Ranch in Ohio. True mentors by world renown touring artists. I have nothing to do with the program, but have been aware of it's reputation for decades. I am not sure of the cost but I can assure you that it is significantly less than these internet solicitations. Look up the names of the artists that have provided coaching there. Yes, mentors for sure.