WELCOME TO GUITAR BOULDER
THE PREMIER LESSON STUDIO FOR BOULDER & SUROUNDING AREAS.
OUR APPROACH TO TEACHING IS TO LET THE STUDENT DEFINE WHAT THEY WISH TO ACCOMPLISH AND DESIGN A CUSTOM CURRICULUM BASED ON THIER GOALS AND SELECTED STYLES. MUSIC EDUCATION IS A DEVELOPMENT OF THE MIND THAT PROMOTES CREATIVITY, COORDINATION, AND OVERALL PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELL BEING.
Michael Mathern
Michael Mathern is a Berklee College of Music trained Guitarist and Songwriter from Boulder, Colorado. He began taking music lessons on both guitar and bass when he was 8 years old and started gigging around Colorado with numerous bands beginning when he was 11.
After 2 years at Berklee, he transferred to Los Angeles College of Music in 2018 to finish his degree in Songwriting and Composition. He then founded the band For You with Gossip Girl star Ed Westwick. Michael is currently writing, recording, and playing with For You as well as two other up and coming acts.
Now based in Colorado once again, Michael is excited to share his knowledge and experience with his students and help to ignite the passion for music in others that drives him!
Justin Long
Music has an incredible way of cultivating creativity, emotional expression and offering a lifetime of joy. Justin’s number one goal for you or your child is to develop a lifelong relationship with music and guide you through building well rounded musicianship.
Justin’s journey with music began when he started taking guitar lessons at an early age. He studied with several teachers throughout his childhood (including with Thom) that prepared him to earn his degree in Guitar Performance and Music Business at University of Colorado Denver.
In the beginning of his Sophomore year, he quickly was immersed in the professional music industry. He was already gigging with multiple bands and working as a talent buyer full time. He focused hard on his studies with world class teachers such as Bill Kopper, Sean Mcgowan & Paul Musso. Pulling from the wisdom of a wide range of teaching styles, he built balanced curriculums that are molded to the student’s needs. He is constantly innovating to find new ways to make lessons fun while also guiding the development of a solid technical and theoretical foundation.
His specialties are in funk, blues, rock, jazz, fingerstyle and flatpicking on both electric and acoustic guitar. Alternatively, his studies and curiosity extend into an even wider range of genres and styles. He always encourages students to engage their creativity. For him, songwriting, singing and performing go hand-in-hand with my guitar expertise. He’s played sold out shows at some of the best theatres in Colorado and beyond but his favorite thing is sharing a passion for music and helping people grow their own musicality.
Thom Sandrock
Thom’s likeness of music began at the age of 7 with violin lessons and continued through an evolution of various instruments.Ultimately, he found a true affinity for guitar/bass in his teens. His passion for music has led him on a tenacious journey of music education and performance for the last 25+ professional years.
“Music is a necessary element in everyone's life: one that deepens the soul and promotes overall well being.
Graduating first in his class (summa cum laude) with a bachelor of science in music from the University of Colorado at Denver, Thom has established himself as an active player in the front range, performing a variety of genres from jazz to prog rock on multiple instruments. Starting in his first bands in eighth grade, he was involved in touring, recording and managing bands on a national and local level. Thom now wishes to play and teach what he has learned in order to enrich others lives through performance and education. With experience in teaching all ages, he has had multiple students earn degrees from top Music Conservatories and develop successful careers in music
As an educator, Thom teaches his students at GB's studio in south Boulder, CO. His approach to teaching is to let the student define what they wish to accomplish, then design a program to help them achieve those goals. His students find themselves progressing rapidly through his sound knowledge of music theory and teaching devices. He views musical education as a development of the mind that promotes creativity, computation, coordination, as well as overall physical and mental well being. Whatever the student wishes to accomplish in music, the gift that music gives back is invaluable.
TESTIMONIALS
"Thom is the best guitar teacher in Boulder. We went through many different teachers in the search for the perfect match for our son. He makes the lessons fun, keeps my son interested and most importantly ignites that passion to learn and play." --Elaine, Boulder
"The "Sandrock Method" really worked for me. I've been playing guitar for 20 years but recently had my first lessons with Thom. He quickly helped me get rid of some bad habits and gave me some great tools to understand music theory that I skipped over for so long." -- John, Boston
“I want you to know that out of all the teachers I had in music, sports, and school I consider you to be amongst top 5 best teachers I've had. You know how to inspire and motivate your students to learn and have fun while doing it.” --Idan, Boulder
“You are the best teacher ever!!!” --Michael, Lafayette
“My favorite teacher of all time is my guitar teacher Thom Sandrock. His iTunes page is overflowing with music; and I mean overflowing! He has at least over 100 songs of rock, blues, jazz, classical, and more! Also, he even knows how to play all of them just by hearing them once or twice!” --Duncan, Louisville
ABOUT US
Many of our students have gone on to successful careers in music, as well as, graduated from the top programs in the country. Please contact us with any questions on our contacts page.
Hours: Lessons are generally setup in the evenings during the week and on Saturday mornings and afternoons. Both 45 minute and 1 hour lessons are available and require a monthly commitment.