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Don Parkhurst jr
Music Teacher
About
| About | If you’ve always wanted to play real rock and metal riffs—not kids’ songs or bland exercises—you’re in the right place. I’m Don, founder of RockStar Guitar Academy, and I specialize in helping busy adults and older teens finally plug in, turn up, and actually play the music they love. My lessons are built around one big idea: learn songs, build real skills, and record your own tracks as you go. How my program works We don’t start with pages of theory and random drills. We start with your favorite bands and songs, then reverse-engineer what you need to play them. In our lessons, we’ll:
Over time, you’ll put together your own “album” of completed songs—proof that you’re not just dabbling… you’re actually becoming a rock guitarist. What lessons feel like Every lesson is focused, relaxed, and practical.You’ll always know:
We’ll build a simple, realistic practice routine that fits your life—no guilt trips, no pressure to practice three hours a day. Even 10–20 minutes of smart practice can move you forward if you’re working on the right things. Why learn with me? I’ve been playing guitar for over 40 years and teaching for over 20. Along the way I’ve:
All of that experience gets distilled into one goal: helping you sound like the best version of yourself on guitar, as quickly and enjoyably as possible. |
| Location | Olenick Rd, Lebanon, CT 06249, USA |
| Instrument(s) Taught | Guitar |
| Where do lessons take place? | Teacher's Location, Online |
Prices
| Other Lesson Prices | 30 minutes x 4 = $149 per month 50 minutes x 4 = $229 per month |
| Discounted Introductory Lesson | Yes |
| Preferred Payment Currency | 🇺🇸 United States (US) dollar ($ USD) |
| Lessons Frequency | Weekly |
| Payment Plans | Monthly |
| Payment Methods | Online Bank Transfer, PayPal, Google Pay, Stripe |
| Cancelation & Rescheduling Policy | Attendance & Cancellation Policy Your lesson time is a reserved weekly spot, and I plan my schedule and materials around it. To keep things running smoothly and fair for everyone, here’s how cancellations and ending lessons work at RockStar Guitar Academy. 1. Missing a Lesson: Home Study Option If you need to miss a lesson, I don’t just cross the week off—I still teach you during that time. Instead of a live lesson, I will create a Home Study Lesson for you during your normally scheduled lesson time. This will usually include:
This Home Study Lesson counts as your lesson for the week and is covered by your regular tuition. There are no refunds or reschedules for missed lessons, since I’m still using that reserved time to plan and create your materials. 2. Stopping Lessons: Notice Required If you decide to stop lessons, I require at least 2 weeks’ notice.
Example:If you cancel a lesson and tell me at that time that you are not continuing, that lesson plus the following two weeks are still billed. Those two additional weeks represent the notice period that should have been given.
This policy helps me keep your time slot reserved for you, continue creating high-quality materials, and give every student a consistent, reliable experience. |
Contact
| Get in Touch |
Lessons
| Level(s) Taught | Beginner (up to Grade 5), Intermediate (Grades 5-8) |
| Youngest Age Taught | 12 |
| Class Sizes | One-to-One (Individual), Duo (Two students), Group (Four students+) |
| Graded Exam Preparation | RSL Awards (Rockschool) |
| Performance Opportunities, Performance Coaching & Accompaniment Services | At RockStar Guitar Academy, we don’t just teach chords and scales — we help you build your own album one song at a time. From your very first riff to your finished track, you’ll learn by playing the music you actually love. Every lesson connects directly to real rock songs, and as you progress, you’ll record your own versions using professionally produced full-band backing tracks, drums, bass, and all. The result? You won’t just practice guitar… you’ll sound like you’re in a band from day one. Inside our exclusive online classroom, The JamZone, you’ll find everything you need to stay inspired and keep progressing. Watch lesson videos, download tabs, jam along with your tracks, and track your practice and progress all in one place. Every song you complete earns you another step toward your personal debut album — a collection of recordings that shows just how far you’ve come.
Whether you’re starting fresh or getting back into guitar after years away, RockStar Guitar Academy makes learning fun, structured, and motivating. You’ll gain real skills, build confidence, and experience what it feels like to play loud, rock hard, and actually sound like a guitarist! |
Genres
| Genres Taught | Rock |
| Sub-Genres Taught | Death Metal, Grunge, Hard Rock, Metal, Metalcore, Power Metal, Southern Rock, Speed Metal |
| My Musical Inspirations | My love for guitar started the moment I heard Jimi Hendrix. The sound, the attitude, the freedom, it was everything I wanted to capture. Then came Eddie Van Halen, whose energy and creativity completely changed the way I saw the instrument. Not long after, Randy Rhoads came along, and that combination of precision and fire cemented my obsession. Around that same time, I discovered Jim Matheos of Fates Warning — his sense of mood, melody, and intricate rhythm work showed me how deep and powerful rock guitar could really be. Along the way, players like Vivian Campbell, Warren DeMartini, and George Lynch etc… helped shape my style even further.
But it really all started thanks to my cousin Kevin. Every Sunday our families would get together, and he’d be jamming on Lynyrd Skynyrd, Led Zeppelin, and even some country. One day I picked up his guitar while he wasn’t around — just messing with it — and when he came home, instead of getting mad, he asked if I wanted to learn something. He showed me a little boogie riff that I still remember to this day. After that, I was hooked. I’d watch what he was doing, go home, and try to figure it out on my own. That curiosity and drive to figure things out by ear has stayed with me ever since, and it’s the same spirit I try to pass on to every student I teach. |
Qualifications
| Qualification | 2 years at Hartford Conservatory of Music |
| Year | 2006 |
| Qualification | Attended several classes at Atlanta Institute of Music |
| Year | 2005 |
| Qualification | Studied with Alex Skolnick at American Institute of Guitar in NY for a year. |
| Year | 2004 |
Professionalism
| Please Note | Disclaimer and Feedback MusicTeacher.com is not affiliated, nor endorses, any of the teachers listed on this page. Studying with a registered MusicTeacher.com teacher does not give a candidate any advantage or guarantee a better result in an examination. If you have any feedback regarding any information provided then please feel free to contact us. Things to Check Before Choosing
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Socials
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Profile
| First Name | Don |
| Last Name | Parkhurst jr |
| Username | donparkhurstjr1 |
| GUID | f59028c4-d2b0-4fde-aaed-f0dde1bc46f1 |
| User nicename | donparkhurstjr1 |
| Moderation: Activate Membership | ✅ Completed |
| Moderation: Safeguarding/Background Check | ✅ Verified |
| Moderation: Insurance Verification | ✅ Verified |
| isMigratedRslAwardsTeacher | FALSE |