Aaron Hultstrand, Guitar
What instruments/classes do you teach at Allegro?
Guitar, Bass, and I guess ukulele now?
Tell us about your formal education in music.
I studied classical guitar at the University of Arizona and Arizona Western College.
Tell us about your professional performance experience.
I’ve played in just about every kind of band you can think of over the years…From a jazz big band to country to heavy metal and everything in between! Lately you can catch me with local acts The Tryst and Carlos Arzate and the Kind Souls, amongst others.
Do you still practice? How often?
I still try to practice every day, but even when I can’t find the time to sit down and play, I still try to learn something! Just listening critically to music on the radio can be educational if you open your ears enough!
What inspired you to start playing music?
I had a little toy Casio keyboard when I was a kid, and used take it everywhere and make up my own songs. I had no idea what I was doing, but it was fun! Later, my parents decided to enroll me in piano lessons, which I absolutely hated the idea of at first. I soon fell in love though, and played piano for around five years before switching to the guitar.
Was finding the motivation for practicing hard for you as a beginner? Is it still difficult at times?
I grew up more or less literally in the middle of nowhere. We had four TV channels, dial-up internet and my closest friends lived in the next town. So, I didn’t really have much else competing for my attention, and never had much trouble finding time to practice!
What advice do have for students who need help getting motivated to practice?
The key for me was thinking less about “practicing” and more about “playing”. Find the FUN part of music and it becomes recreation instead of a chore!
What types of music do you currently listen to and enjoy playing?
I always like a challenge, so lately I’ve been working hard on my jazz chops and trying to pick up flamenco guitar. It’s making me feel like a beginner all over again!
What do you like the most about the Allegro Student Recitals?
The cookies!
What’s the single most important principle you try to convey to all of your students?
I can’t narrow it down to just one, but I always say “practice doesn’t make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect”. Learning effective strategies for practice and learning new material helps keep you moving forward, motivated and prevents frustration.
What aspect of teaching music do you enjoy the most?
I love that teaching has allowed music to become such a huge part of my life. I love music and I love being able to share it with everyone!
In what ways do you see your students benefiting from learning music?
Music is something that, once it becomes a part of your life, it will continue to enrich you until the day you die. There aren’t a lot of skills you can say that about.
What are your non-musical hobbies and interests?
I’m something of a fitness nut…one of my goals is to compete in weightlifting by next year, so I spend a lot of my time training when I’m not playing music.
What overall advice would you have for all music students, regardless of their instrument?
Rhythm and timing are at once the most fundamental and overlooked aspects in music, so blow the dust off that metronome and use it! It might not be fun at first but you’ll thank me later.
Interested in taking guitar lessons?
Visit our guitar lesson page for more information or request information online.
