Guitar

Skyler Bready

Skyler Bready is a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter available for guitar, bass, mandolin, banjo, ukulele, music theory and songwriting lessons at Maxwell's House of Music. His approach emphasizes teaching technique and theory alongside songs that students already know and love. His songwriting lessons focus on demystifying the creation process and encouraging students to build their own personal songbook. Skyler works with beginner to advanced students. When Skyler isn't teaching at Maxwell's, you can likely find him riding his bike, singing lead vocals and playing guitar in his band "Darlington Pairs," or working in his home recording studio.

Dan Cartledge

Dan's lifelong obsession has been music.  He first sang publicly at the age of 4 and has not stopped since.  He began piano at 14 and guitar at 16.  Dan continued his studies in music into college, graduating from Liberty University with a degree in Choral Music in 2011.  Even though his main instrument was voice, he also trained in theory, composition, piano and music history.  While at university, Dan began a band called The Empty Room in 2009 which is still active today, with three albums under their belt.  Dan loves to teach because he believes music is one of the things in life that keeps us alive.  He is currently active in the Louisville music scene, participating in several bands and playing many different venues.  While music occupies most of the space in his brain, Dan also enjoys spending time with his beloved wife and 10 year old son.

Rick Eisman

Rick Eisman has been playing guitar for over forty years.  He has two decades of teaching experience, sixteen of which have been spent teaching at Maxwell's House of Music. Rick’s love of music and the guitar began at the young age of eleven years old he and played his first professional gig at the age of 14.  He has played with many bands since then, including Dynamo Hum, The Grind, Starvin' Dogs, and Travelin' Mojos.  Rick teaches all ages, from beginners to advanced players. He specializes in teaching a variety of styles including blues, rock, classic rock, and country. His teaching expertise is focused in lead improvisations, finger picking, and various rhythm guitar techniques. 

Sam Hall

Sam Hall is a Louisville native who grew up in the School of Rock program at Maxwell’s House of Music. Sam has been playing guitar and the drums since he was 8 years old. After high school he moved out to Los Angeles with his younger sister to study Vocal Performance and Production at the Musician’s Institute. At MI he was able to meet a lot of amazing musicians and was fortunate enough to play bass for many aspiring artists around the city and beyond. He has recently moved back to Louisville to work on his own music with LUCYTHEDOG and help the next generation of rock stars to find their voice in the same community that inspired him! 

Jacob Head

Jacob Head has been teaching at Maxwell’s House of Music since August of 2016 and has become one of the store’s best musical assets since joining the team. Jacob began playing music at the age of nine, beginning with violin.  He has since become accomplished on mandolin, guitar, piano, and ukulele. He is a 2015 graduate of the University of Louisville School of Music, with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy. He is the worship leader at LifeBridge Christian Church in Louisville, the founder of the group “Compass Quartet,” and recently has begun working with private clients as a board-certified Music Therapist.  In addition to teaching at Maxwell’s, Jacob manages the very popular “Blue Note Café” monthly concert in the Maxwell’s Stage Room. In his free time, Jacob enjoys arranging and composing music for himself and the Compass Quartet, as well as spending time with his wife, Kara.  He enjoys teaching students of all ages, levels, and abilities.

Jack Hovland 

The most recent addition to the Maxwell’s House of Music family is Jack Hovland. Jack recently relocated to the area from San Diego, California. Jack’s contagious positivity is noticed by all! Jack’s skills are highlighted on the retail sales floor as he does product demonstrations to show-off Maxwell’s House of Music's huge inventory of retail items.

Jack is a guitarist who has played in a hard rock band in California, and is now playing in a local classic rock cover band. He is also an avid runner who trains all year long for marathons – even in his new home’s colder climate! Boston, look out…Jack is on his way!

 Andy has been playing guitar since March of 2000 when he was 13 years old. Andy has enjoyed learning many different genres of guitar, including classical,rock, blues, and his most favorite-percussive finger style. Over the course of his 21 years as a musician, Andy has had the privilege of teaching guitar for over 15 years and has taught students from many walks of life, from ages 6-88. Andy has worked with students who have had a wide range of abilities and challenges, and he views these challenges as opportunities to connect with students in the areas they are interested in and use those interests to relate to music and playing the guitar. He loves to see students enjoy what they are learning and enjoy the challenge of learning to play the guitar.

Tim Pitts

Tim Pitts has over 35 years teaching experience. He teaches all aspects of music theory including reading, improvisation, composition, style, complex rhythms, melodic concepts and technique. He has authored two instructional books: Learning Guitar Book 1 and All About Chords. Styles covered include rock, blues, metal, shred, jazz fusion, neoclassical, acoustic, and altered tunings. His teaching strengths include enabling students to open up to improvising leads, understand what scales to use, read timing, and utilize advanced creative melodic concepts. Supplemental instructional CDs and tab booklets from Tim’s Master Classes are also available on a number of subjects. A strong effort is made to gear lesson material towards the student’s goals and interests. Helping students maintain interest and providing them with inspiration is job number one. Tim’s music education includes five years of private lessons with instructor Mark Smith, one year with Jeff Sherman, three years with Alan Phelps, and one year with GIT graduate Pat Lentz.  He is best known locally for performances with his bands SandPit and The Gary Sanders Band. Tim has written and recorded six internationally acclaimed CDs and is always working on a new one. His sense of humor and vast knowledge ensure a fun lesson every time.

Ronnie Scharrer

At a very young age, Ronnie Scharrer knew he had music in his veins. While others his age were drawn to rock and roll, Ronnie developed a taste for classical and popular music that has stayed with him for a lifetime.  Born and raised in Indiana, Ronnie is an established musician, songwriter, and composer and artist.  His musical abilities span multiple instruments and genres.  Ronnie has been performing professionally for nearly forty years and has used his talents to inspire others by teaching music for the past fifteen years! In 2019, Ronnie released his latest studio album, “The Eight Seasons of Life,” a sprawling epic of instrumental guitar prowess. Ronnie teaches beginner to advanced students of all ages and skill levels.

Kirk Whitehouse

Kirk specializes in youth and young adult guitar, vocal, bass and piano lessons.  He works with beginners to intermediates with an emphasis on basic note and fingering techniques.  Kirk was a member of the Kentucky All-State High School Choir for three years and studied under Renee Grant Williams (vocal coach for Linda Ronstadt and The Grateful Dead).  With over 20 years professional performing experience in rock, country, souls, blues, R& B, funk, and pop, Kirk is one well-rounded instructor. Kirk also serves Maxwell’s House of Music as one of our premier band coaches and prides himself on helping young musicians reach their full potential with their instrument in a live setting.