ST. PAUL GUITAR LESSONS

RICK STACK- DIRECTOR/Owner of ST. PAUL SCHOOL OF MUSIC. ROCK, BLUES AND FUSION INSTRUCTOR

Available: 3:00-8:00 PM Monday-Wednesday. Thursday- 3:00-5:00

Rick Stack is a guitarist, guitar instructor, author, and owner of St. Paul School of Music. Rick's own music is a blend of Rock, Funk, and Jazz with influences from Indian, Middle Eastern, and Latin music. Rick has taught over 90,000 lessons, teaching an average of 50 students a week for over 36 years. 

Rick incorporates a lesson plan that goes through 12 levels. The first level is for the absolute beginner, up to level 12 for the advanced student. Rick also welcomes customizing this plan based on the student's interests. One of Rick's favorite things to teach is rock, blues and fusion improvising. He also loves teaching classic rock. 

Rick is the author of the books, “Secrets of The Electric Guitarist,” “Teach Guitar,” “Follow Your Excitement,” and “The Half-Sized Santa Maria.” His books are available in both e-book and paperback on Amazon and Google Books.

A graduate of Musicians Institute, Los Angeles, CA. , Rick began playing the guitar at age 11, and was playing and teaching professionally by age 16. Rick has played over 3,000 gigs throughout parts of the US, Mexico, the Caribbean and Cuba over the last 32 years for crowds up to 10,000 people. 

DREW HURST- ROCK, METAL, CLASSICAL AND JAZZ/FUSION INSTRUCTOR

Available: 5:30 - 8:30 Monday and Tuesday evenings.

Drew is a guitarist, instructor, and composer based out of Minneapolis, MN. He holds both a B.M. in Guitar Performance and M.M. in Guitar Performance from McNally Smith College of Music. His studies focused largely on contemporary performing and teaching styles with additional studies in classical and jazz guitar techniques. In addition to guitar, Drew is experienced in teaching bass guitar, mandolin, ukulele, music theory, composition, and performance techniques in both private and group settings. With 15+ years of proven success across all ages and skill levels, he has developed a teaching style rooted in practical application and adaptation to students’ individual needs and goals.

Drew has worked extensively as a guitarist-for-hire on stage and in the studio across most genres of music. Previous guitar-for-hire work includes JenniferOrdalen (original country artist), The Mike Fugazzi Band (blues/rock coverband), Big Toe and the Jam (pop cover band), Mudshark/Rock Sirenz (rock/pop tribute band), Nick Riley (original blues/rock artist), and many more. Original projects have included Arrhythmogen (instrumental rock/fusion) andPeace to Death (progressive death metal). Drew also has several years of experience as solo/fingerstyle guitarist.

Drew currently records and performs as a solo artist and in the metal band, DiAmorte. He is also the band leader and guitarist in Power Balladz: a touringstage production and tribute to 80s rock music.

Dustin Korth - Rock, Metal, Blues, Jazz, and Classical Guitar Instructor

Available: 3:00-8:30 Tuesday and Wednesday.

Dustin Korth is a guitar instructor, performer, and composer based in the Twin Cities, Minnesota. He’s a multifaceted teacher, demonstrating a wide variety of genres such as rock, blues, jazz, and classical. Dustin has been teaching since he moved to the cities in 2009. Since then, he has developed a reputation as an enthusiastic, patient, experienced instructor who’s students progress very quickly. He teaches all ages from beginner to advanced. 

Dustin graduated McNally Smith in 2013 with a B.M. in Guitar Performance. When he’s not teaching, he is performing with his progressive metal band By the Thousands. He and his band have been together since 2012 recently signing to Modern Empire Records. The band has toured the United States several times over opening for acts such as After the Burial, Periphery, In Flames, and many others. He is currently composing an instrumental solo record.

SHAWN FOSTER- HUOT- Rock, Metal, and Jazz/Fusion INstructor

Available: 4:00-8:00 Thursdays

Shawn began playing guitar at age 11 and teaching students at age 16. He enjoys teaching students of all ages and levels and looks forward to watching each student grow creatively while developing their technique and theory knowledge. He views learning music as a valuable life skill and continues to be a student himself as he believes one never stops learning.

He graduated from McNally Smith (then Music Tech) in 1995 with an Audio Engineering diploma and began working in various recording studios and post production facilities in Minneapolis and for a short time in Los Angeles. In his spare time, he performs in a heavy metal tribute band, and in his original rock group, The Last to Know. He also continues to work on film scores locally with his first full length film score set to release in 2023.

While Shawn’s main style is rock, progressive rock and metal, he has an affection for classical, jazz and fusion.