Lessons

We currently give private lessons on hammered dulcimer, mountain or Appalachian dulcimer, bluegrass banjo, clawhammer banjo, fiddle, beginner to intermediatte guitar and mandolin, and piano or keyboard. We also provide group lessons, workshops, and string band clubs for schools and other institutions. Or we can teach you and your family to play and organize into a family band. We teach in various locations, so it is best to call or write to see what location best suites your needs.. We currently have over 80 students.

Please see lesson references below:

I would strongly recommend Brett Ridgeway as a hammer dulcimer teacher.  When Brett first suggested that I try it out, my first thought was that I couldn’t because I had no musical ability or aptitude whatsoever.  He encouraged and challenged me to try and I’m so glad I did.  Brett has been a wonderful teacher.  His methods of teaching had me playing songs right off the bat.  His teaching practices are very clear and understandable, as are his CD lessons.  He really makes it easy (even for someone with no musical background!).  He is patient with questions, slows down and repeats things when you need him to and does not make you feel like a beginner.  I have not yet been playing a year but I have quite a few songs and hymns that I can play successfully.  I am thrilled with the instrument and I love to play and I have Brett to thank for that!

Diane Dombroski

Boston Heights, Ohio

Brett --

Thank you so much for conducting the dulcimer workshop last weekend at Touchstone.  I learned so much.  You are a fantastic musician who knows how to communicate your love of music to others.  You made us all feel at ease and gave us the feeling that anyone can learn music.  You certainly impart much information in a weekend and send us home with a desire to practice and learn all that we can.  For all those who might be reading this and wondering if they should try to learn this instrument, take a class from Brett and you will be very glad you did.  Thanks to Serenity too for all she contributed to the class.  So fun to get to know you both.  It was a great time.  Little did I know when I signed up that I would come home with many new friends. Wish I was closer to PA so I could meet with the other participants. 

Sue Blackburn, Indiana

Mountain Dulcimer Workshop

I have been taking independent group music lessons from Brett Ridgeway since December 2006.  Initially my goal was to pick the guitar back up and continue learning from where I’d left off 35 years prior.  Brett’s enthusiasm and love for music fueled me to not only pick the guitar back up, but also learn two new instruments – the mountain dulcimer and the banjo.  I have thoroughly enjoyed our group classes as well as the rare one on one lesson that I’ve received from him.  Every week he is just as excited to teach as we are to learn.  His style of teaching is very flexible and creative.  He is very knowledgeable, yet open to input from students, which may help his creative flow continue to flourish.

I would recommend Brett as an instructor for people of any age looking to find their joy through music.  We’re never too old too learn and absolutely never too old to have fun doing it.  Brett has been a wonderful teacher and I look forward to continuing to improve my skills on all of the instruments I have.

Dana Plagens

Twinsburg, Ohio

I began playing the mountain dulcimer about six months ago. My boy-friend (he plays guitar) suggested I take lessons from a dulcimer player and arranged for me to take lessons. I had not seen the dulcimer played before and was very excited about the prospect of learning techniques and how to create the wonderful sounds I heard on my Cds. I expected to grow in my skills, learn techniques, and build a solid foundation for enjoying an instrument I fell in love with.

My lessons with Brett exceeded my expectations. From the very first song Brett played for me at my first lesson, I knew I had the right teacher. Brett is an accomplished musician and knows how to bring out the beauty, and excitement, in a song. As a teacher, Brett created an environment that made me feel comfortable and confident about my playing and my progression as a student. Brett is also patient and has tailored his instruction to my particular goals. Because of this, I have rapidly improved my technique, increased my versatility, and my list of songs!

Would I recommend Brett Ridgeway? You bet! I recently traveled one and a half hours, one way, in a snowstorm, to make my evening lesson. I love my instrument and love my lessons!

Kathleen Lockhart

Newbury, OH

Brett Ridgeway has been a wonderful clawhammer banjo instructor for me. He's great on music theory, is very patient, and has an extremely pleasant personality. Since he plays several instruments, he can accompany you on your own instrument or another to aid in playing with others and gaining confidence. I give Brett high marks.

Tom Olexa
Brecksville, OH

We have been taking dulcimer lessons from Brett for over two years and we are proof that anyone really can "make music"  The dulcimer is a great instrument and under Brett's guidance we were playing songs during our very first lesson. Brett is so kind and patient, always willing to accompany us with his guitar or his dulcimer.  If you open to new and interesting experiences....give the dulcimer and Brett a try.  You'll have fun!! 

Marcia Macbride and Deborah Brown

Brett Ridgeway has the philosophy that anyone can LEARN and ENJOY making music,and he's proved that in teaching me to play the dulcimer! He opened up a whole new world for me, and I am thoroughly enjoying it.  Not only did Brett introduce some instruments with which I wasn't familiar, but he also introduced one area of music, among others, with which I wasn't too familiar, music from America's history. This has been great for me, because I am a teacher and have had fun with my dulcimer in my classroom. 

Brett is a knowledgeable teacher. More importantly, to me, he is a patient teacher!  He also encourages his students to "stretch" and not be afraid to reach beyond their comfort zone.  This is helpful to me. One of the things I like best about learning the dulcimer (in addition to meeting lots of nice and fun new people) is that it's good for building new neuron pathways, which is recommended by doctors for people who are aging!  Since I fall into that category, having begun to play only a few years ago,now, at the age of 61, I am very grateful to Brett for having introduced me to this whole new area of interest.  I love my dulcimer, and I love making music with it!  And I'm glad I met Brett Ridgeway and that he taught me how to play!  I look forward to working with him in the future and would recommend him to anyone who is looking for a good teacher! 

Marilyn Rowell

If you are considering lessons with Brett Ridgeway, don't do it unless you are looking for a teacher who can adapt his teaching style to match the student's learning style, is patient and not condescending.  I have been taking hammer dulcimer lessons with Brett for 6 months and am amazed at the number of songs I have learned already. He balances the lessons between teaching how to just play a song, how to care for your instrument and other playing techniques that allow even a beginner to play with others.  A number of times when I would come for a lesson somewhat discouraged at myself, and he will help boost my confidence by teaching me something new. I would highly recommend him for music lessons.

Chris Ontko

I've been taking banjo lessons from Brett for almost one year. He is very supportive, patient, nonjudgmental even when I mess up, understanding of me having a life besides playing the banjo and knowledgeable of how to challenge me to be a better player. He is an excellent banjo teacher.  He makes lessons fun and I have thoroughly enjoyed each one.
Anne D Raspey

Ohio

Thank you so much for the wonderful mountain dulcimer workshop at Touchstone last weekend. It's only been one week and I can truly say I'm making great progress. This, thanks to your instruction and positive way of instilling confidence in the participants. I'm hoping to take your next workshop in November because I feel it's a perfect follow up review and reinforcement of the last lesson. Although it's a 2 1/2 hour trip for me I feel it's well worth it! The instruction and fellowship were very uplifting for me. Keep up the good work!

Judy Parker

Pennsylvania

Thanks again for wonderful Mountain Dulcimer class at Touchstone in Pennsylvania. You can tell that both of you love to teach. For the absolute beginner, you were patient and had the material well organized.  You made it fun and made me want to go home and practice, which I have. Wish you the best of everything.  Hope to see you again in the future. 

Tom Anthrop

Michigan