Meet our Guitar Teachers
Dr. Mike Jones earned his PhD in music from the University of Iowa in 2009. Mike plays folk, rock, blues, jazz, and classical guitar. He has over 30 years experience teaching guitar and over 20 years experience teaching music theory at the college level. Mike has taught guitar, music theory, and music history at the University of Iowa, St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Coe College, and Kirkwood Community College. He has played at area hospitals, weddings, and other events. He has performed in classical guitar masterclasses for David Russell and Manuel Barreuco and currently serves as the President of the Iowa City Classical Guitar Society. Mike’s love and enthusiasm for music shows in everything he does and he passes these to his students.
Marek Szmyrgala gives piano and guitar lessons. Originally from Poland, Marek graduated from Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He then moved to Boston and worked with music and business before moving to Iowa to open the Music4life studio.
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Askar Khaetov is a bass player, performer, composer and teacher. He holds a Bachelor's and two Master's in Jazz performance from the State Conservatory of Uzbekistan and in Jazz Studies from the University of Iowa. He has shared the stage with some of the finest jazz musicians such as Benny Green, Chris Coles, Christie Dashiell, Anibal Rojas, Aaron Gosh, just to name a few.
During his Master's at the Universityof Iowa, he worked as a teaching assistant of jazz history and was an assistant director of a jazz combo. He also worked as an electric bass instructor at the state Conservatory of Uzbekistan and as a guitar teacher at British school of Tashkent.
Since 2005, Mike has shared his joy and passion for making music with students age 6 to over 65 in Cedar Rapids & North Liberty. Honing a balance of classical technique and fun learning through song, the student's goals and joy are always priority. Come see how fun music can be! I love when students find their joy in music, and I love seeing them grow in confidence and ability. No matter what your goals are, our approach will be as unique as you are!
My musical career began at the age of nine with a rented instrument and group lessons at Reifsnyder’s Music Shop in Ottumwa, Iowa. It was at the University of Colorado at Boulder where I completed my undergraduate studies in Guitar Performance and was the recipient of the Ted and Nancy Anderson Music Award, one of the most prestigious awards offered by the College of Music. There were many opportunities to study with visiting faculty from around the world. I then completed my graduate guitar course work at the University of Denver Currently, I am living in Southeast Iowa and work as a private guitar teacher and I am also a music professor at a Community College.