Audio Digital - Music Instruction

Shannon C.

October 2009 - Present

"Gene is the best teacher I have ever had even though he is my second teacher. When Iam mad i go to my room and play my guitar and when Icome out I'm happy. Every time I go to guitar I am always happy."

Mykenna N.

October 2009 - Present

"I love Audio Digital! I have learned soooooooooooooooo much. I took lessons from some on else for a year and didn’t learn even half as much as I have in less than a school year with Audio Digital. I really enjoy playing my guitar now. I always look forward to my lessons! They are one of the high points of my week."

Collin P.

June 2009 - Present

Learning guitar with Gene is great. I started a year ago and I'm already playing "Carry on my Wayward Son" by Kansas (a challenging song). You can go at your own pace and play anything you want. Yeah, the scales are great and all, but real songs are better (in my opinion). Every time I leave after a lesson, I am already looking forward to the next. It's that great. I played piano with another teacher for 5 years until I got tired of it, but I don't think this will ever get boring. Gene is a great teacher, and I would highly recommend learning from him.

Bryant B .

March 2009 - Present

I have been playing bass for 4 years now, but for the first 2 i was taking lessons from another guy (i forgot his name) but he didn't make playing fun, it was just scales and reading music out of a book which didn't teach me much; there was no helping me with my technique or learning stuff that i wanted to do. Then when i started taking lessons with Gene and he helped me refine my technique and taught me a lot about why the stuff like scales and what not are so important and has also taught me about music theory. After the first 2 lessons or so i felt really good about how i was playing, sometimes i cant believe its me playing. I have not only learned about my instrument but also about other instruments, song structure, how scales fit into music, and even a little bit about recording. If you are thinking about taking guitar or bass lessons go with Gene you will not regret it.

Dom B.

September 2008 - Present

"Gene Crout is a very interesting fellow. He has gnarly skills with the guitar but still after all these years is teaching his gnarly ways instead of shredding them out in a band of his own, which leads to the point of how much of an awesome teacher he is. I think of him as the Jesus of the shredder world. Along with his perfect Jesus appearance, he had sacrificed his own fortune and fame to spread his knowledge and wisdom of the guitar to others around the world! Not really but he’s the best teacher I’ve had, and trust me I’ve had many. If you are in need of a loving, caring guitar teacher (with a little bit of humor) to guide you along your journey of obtaining gnarly shredding abilities, come to Gene for he is the Jesus of the shredder world. Seriously. "

Disclaimer: Gene cannot absolve sins, guitar or otherwise

John M.

June 2008 - Present

"Ever since i've been going to Gene, it's like my playing has just clicked into place and I'm suddenly the master of the 6-stringed beast. I had been self-taught for about 7 months before going to Gene and about 3 weeks into lessons with him, I was already twice as good as before. His teaching is like mixing music theory, rhythm, and your favorite songs in a blender together for a delicious smoothie of ever-improving skills and shredding. Go to Gene and prepare for the best guitar playing you've ever seen, right out of your own fingertips!"

Dan S.

October 2007 - May 2010

"I have been taking guitar lessons from Gene Crout for about 10 months. Gene runs a first class guitar studio that is a strong environment for learning. As an older student, I greatly appreciate Gene's patience with my slower learning pace due to work and family commitments -- I simply cannot put in the practice time afforded to younger students. Having said this, I have made very strong progress on the guitar over the past 10 months. I came to Gene as a self-taught guitar player with a very limited vocabulary on the instrument. Gene has worked with me on the basic physics of the human body and applying it to guitar. We have worked on scales, chords, and most importantly music that inspires me to go on as a musician. Gene's approach with me has been very flexible to work on the "problem of the week". I play guitar for a very large church here in the Denver area. I am learning new music constantly and seek to improve my contribution to a strong ensemble. Gene has been instrumental in helping me to learn to use a guitar pick, play improvised solo's based on various diatonic and pentatonic scales, and to play rich jazz-oriented chords. Gene's enthusiasm for a broad range of musical genres and his practical experience as both a professional musician and instructor have been invaluable to me as an emerging guitar player. Gene is both a friend and mentor who inspires me to take "my game" to the next level. I look forward to my guitar lessons each week and always leave with a smile on my face. I am learning Gene's enthusiasm and passion for guitar and adding to my own. It's a fantastic experience that is 100% "for me" and that I can share with others. :)"

Michelle C.

January 2007 - June 2010 Graduation

"I started taking guitar lessons from Gene in January 2007. I've been a student for a year and half now and still look forward to my lesson each week. Although I was a complete beginner when I started, I am now much more skilled and confident with my guitar-playing abilities. Coming to Audio Digital has been a wonderful experience because it's a relaxed environment where I can come to learn a wide variety of songs as well as develop my skills with a professional and qualified musician/teacher. Gene teaches good techniques and habits to help me improve my playing while still making the lessons enjoyable. Ultimately, Audio Digital has met and exceeded my expectations and I feel that it is the best musical instruction a student can receive."

Ben Z.

December 2005 - June 2009 Graduation

"I've been Gene's guitar student for about 3 years. I started with him when I was a freshmen in high school. Since then, I have learned to love music with such a deep respect. He has not just shown me how to play the guitar, he has made me a guitar player. He has never pressured me into doing anything that I did not want to do, but at the same time he has pushed me to become the guitar player that I've wanted to be. Through song teachings, pentatonic and diatonic scales, playing technique, and ear training, Gene has taught me to truly understand and listen to the music that I'm playing. He is a great, personal teacher, and a really fun person to be around. I enjoy going to my lesson every week because I know I will learn something new each time, as long as I put the effort into learning it. Gene is not just a great teacher, he is a great friend, and I'm thankful that he has truly helped make guitar playing and music a part of who I am. "

Brian K.

January 05 - Present

"I have been taking guitar lessons from gene for about 4 years now, and i absolutely love it. When i first started taking lessons, i was absolutely terrible, and now, i can barely believe that its actually me playing. Gene is an incredible teacher. He never gave up on me, even when i felt like giving up on myself. I have learned so much about not only guitar, but music in general, and i am amazed at how fun these past few years of learning have been. Gene is such an awesome dude, that'll help you no matter what. It's also a plus that he teaches you what you want to learn, instead of just slamming you with boring chords for an hour straight. I absolutely love my lessons with Gene, and i plan to continue with him for many years to come."

Rachael C.

January 2005 - November 2008

"Gene is an awesome guitar teacher. He has taught me soo much in the time that I have been his student. When I go to my lesson I am comfortable. I love going down and playing my guitar with him because he is an amazing player and he knows your strengths and weaknesses. I have so much fun and learn so much. I hope to continue my lessons with Gene and to learn more about playing. I love to play my guitar and Gene loves to teach. He will never give up on you unless you give up."

Justin H.

December 2005 - September 2007

"Gene,
Just wanted to take a few minutes and provide you with some feedback on how I feel my guitar lessons are going. To start I would like to give you a little insight on my previous experiences with lessons and other college classes I have taken. I started playing guitar seriously about three to four years ago with private lessons at a well known musicians store under the instruction of John. It wasn’t till about two months later I found myself tired/board of playing and that picking up the guitar was becoming more of a chore then a form of enjoyment. Due to slow results and dwindling interest I believe my guitar instructor became frustrated. His teaching styles of “My way or the highway” never really worked with me and unless I completed his task to a level he deemed sufficient I could not move on to another lesson or try something new. I ended up quitting lessons and guitar all together feeling that it was to difficult and that I didn’t have the talent for it.

About a year later I enrolled in a group Intermediate guitar class at Front Range Community College feeling that I should give lessons another shot. The teacher Kevin was much more professional in his course outline and lesson schedule then my previous teacher but was unable to give the one on one attention to each student. The class had about 12 students ranging from kids who should be playing on tour to students who never knew they had a left handed guitar. So much for an intermediate group setting I thought. The class was a semester long 6 months learning everything from how to hold the pick to a verity of basic songs. Over all the class was good but with as many students and the amount of material we needed to cover getting help on specific problems or learning proper technique was very difficult. After this class lasting only 6 months I once again gave up on guitar, never re-opening the case until my girlfriend and I attended a Halloween party ware one of your current students Paul Hummel was playing.

Watching Paul play was amazing. They way he could sound just like some of the cover songs he was playing and how fast his hands moved on the guitar were amazing. Later that week I talked with Paul regarding his band and how he became so good at guitar at such a young age. Out of all the things I thought he would say I would have never guessed he would say lessons seeing how my past experiences went. After listening to Paul brag and rant about how well you teach and the quality of the equipment you use I figure I would give lessons a shot “again”… And man am I glad I did. Gene I can honestly say that after two to three months with you taking lessons only every other week I learned more than all my past experience combined. Even more important than that, I now have a new love/excitement for playing guitar then I’ve ever had. The way you teach lets me wonder with my own interests yet keeps me on track with what you want me to learn. I love how you can explain something and then show me real world applications of what you want me to learn in songs I know. The tools and software you have are way above anything you would think or even expect a guitar teacher to have. Half the time I just walk in humming a song and within five minutes you can have it up and be ready to teach it. I also love the fact that you remember that you were once in my shoes learning guitar, and that you show me things that will not only help me a little not but will greatly help me in the future. Your prices are very completive when you take into consideration all the services you provide. When compared to lessons at the guitar store or classes at Front Range I feel that I gain so much more from you and your first class studio then I could from either.

Thanks again

Justin"

Eric P.

January 2005 - June 2009 Graduation

"I have been with Gene Crout since the middle of my eighth grade year, December of 2005. It has been a wonderful experience where my once terrible guitar skills have been molded and shaped into an adequate display of musical talent, all thanks to the hilarious Gene Crout. His guitar teaching not only allowed me to grow in my skill, but also gave me a chance to observe what true passion is. He is not only passionate about music in general, but desires for his students to grow and develop a passion such as his. It has been incredible to see this as I have grown from a puny middle school kid into the lanky giant I am today. Gene has been a very positive influence in my life and through his amazing display of guitar skills, I have learned a great deal. I would recommend his lessons to anyone who even hints at a desire to learn the guitar, my experience has been wonderfully encouraging and I would expect the same for any others who desire to learn guitar. It has been amazing and my talent with the electric guitar has grown immensely, all thanks to Gene."

Austin B.

May 2004 - September 2008

"I played piano for about four years as a child, but it [music] was finally my decision so I picked up the guitar. I have now been playing for about five years. My relationship with Gene has been odd. I started lessons with him about four years ago, but after about two years my parents switched me to [Unnamed Arvada Guitar Teacher]. He was a great guitar player and teacher, but my heart was still longing for more. There is something about lessons from Gene that just don't quite compare to others. I went to [Other Guy] for about 5 months and quickly returned to Gene. The first lesson back, I knew it was right. Gene has taught me so much. Not only how to play the guitar, but how to know and understand music. I liked music before I met Gene, but since then, I've began to fall in love with it more and more. My guitar skills have quickly improved and I have started to pursue music in many ways. I've started to write my own music, I'm now comfortable playing in front of people, I've learned to teach myself songs by using my ear, I can play with others and it actually sounds good, and I have learned the art of rock and roll. Gene is an awesome guy. When you have a lesson, it's not like school or something, you don't even realize your learning... You're just like "woa, I am good at guitar now... sweet."

Dom D.

"The Shredding Tomato"

August 2003 - Present

"I’ve been a student of Gene’s for about 8 years now. I feel like I know more than I would if I went anywhere else for lessons. I’ve been learning things such as music theory, scale modes, reading and even a few things about recording. Gene helps to improve my technique. Whenever I don’t understand something such as a scale mode or a certain riff, Gene explains it and makes sure I understand it or if I’m having trouble with a certain song he makes sure that I get it. One of the coolest things about Gene is that he teaches you what you want to learn. I wouldn’t go anywhere else for a guitar lesson because Gene is the best!"

Paul Hummel

Some Random Band

November 2001 - April 2010

"From Paul Hummel, student of 6 years, now front-man for Some Random Band:

The coolest thing about taking lessons with Gene, is that while he strongly focuses on technique, he will only teach you what you want to learn. I have always felt that I would rather learn anything that I chose for myself, rather than something chosen for me. Gene is a master at combining music theory with what you want to learn. Pick a song, he'll show you how to do it, and you'll pick it up pretty quick. Books are assigned, but only to show you how and why the songs you choose work, and eventually how to structure your own music if you wish to do so. Gene taught me everything I know about the guitar, and it continues to show itself every time Some Random Band plays a show!"