American Guitar Institute™

Lesson Info

First, and foremost, we are a family oriented business with the utmost ethical and moral standards, and will deny instruction to anyone who may hinder a safe, clean and friendly environment.

Our clients are respectable adults and families and we will do everything in our power to keep a safe and healthy environment for everyone who learns from us, young and old. This includes turning away students or instructors whom we feel may be in any way crude, malicious, without morals or low in standards. In short, we keep the interest of our youngest and most impressionable guests and students at heart in every decision we make.

If you are not capable of handling yourself in a respectable and decent manner while you are in our facility, please find instruction elsewhere.

About the American Guitar Institute™

The American Guitar Institute™ is a music school located in Memphis, Tennessee focusing on private guitar, bass and drum instruction. We have been a business in the Memphis area since January of 2004. The founders of the American Guitar Institute were private instructors for several years for other music schools and stores. After getting frustrated with working for someone else and having to follow their methods they created their own private instruction facility.

Our method is very simple, teach the student what they need to know to reach their personal goals.

That should go without saying, it seems so.... obvious! But with other instructors, it's the most forgein concept in the world.

We don't just teach our students how to play, we teach our students how to learn. We have no strict method that all students follow, and we don't teach random songs. Instead we evaluate where each individual student is and create a flexible method that teaches them what they need to progress. Our ultimate goal is to help each of our students become the musician that they want to be, which includes being able to teach themselves any song they could ever want to play, be able to write their own music, and be able to confidently work and perform with other musicians. Not everyone wants to play complicated music, and not everyone wants to keep it simple. We tailor our method to the individual, to make sure they learn what they need and have fun doing it.

Our method will include all important aspects of playing, here is just a sample:

Guitar and Bass:

Reading Skills including:
tablature, notation, and charts.

Harmony and Theory including:
intervals; modes; chord construction, progressions and voicings; voice leading; reharmonization; transposing; rhythm and dictation; ear training and practical application.

Technique including:
For guitar: hammer ons, pull offs, sliding, bending, vibrato, cross picking, hybrid picking, finger picking, sweeping, tremolo picking, legato, tapping, natural and artificial (pinch) harmonics, stamina, endurance, speed, and finger span.
For bass: hammer ons, pull offs, sliding, vibrato, pedaling, slapping, natural and artificial (pinch) harmonics, legato, tapping, stamina, endurance, speed, and finger span.

Timing including:
rhythm, odd meter, syncopation, and metronome use.

Improvisation including:
solo work, accompaniment (comping), and melodic embellishment.

Composition including:
rhythm, melody, solos, licks, riffs, grooves, scoring, and copyright.

Musicianship including:
working with other musicians, understanding other instruments, performance and recording.

Drums:

Reading Skills including:
drum tab, big band charts, lead sheets and real-time reading.

Technique including:
rudiments, hand and leg strength, endurance, speed, stick control, and single and double bass techniques.

Timing including:
rhythm, odd meter, syncopation, and metronome use.

Improvisation including:
solo work, accompaniment (comping), and melodic embellishment.

Composition including:
rhythm, melody, solos, licks, riffs, grooves, scoring, and copyright.

Musicianship including:
working with other musicians, understanding other instruments, performance and recording.

There are a few basic materials that students may need for their lessons, and these materials vary depending on the instrument and on the level of the student. When we analyze what level the student is on, either while the lesson is being booked or during the first lesson, we will let you know what you may need and when you will need it by. As the student progresses other materials may be recommended and advance notice will be given. These materials are optional, but highly recommended to get the most out of the lessons. We do not sell these materials here, but they can be purchased on the internet or at Guitar Center. These basic materials usually include the Guitar Grimoire, the Bass Grimoire, the Real Book for jazz students, method books for drum students, tuners for stringed students, and metronomes for everyone. Again, if or when you need these your instructor will let you know several weeks ahead of time.

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Our Location

We are currently located in Bartlett, at the intersection of Germantown Parkway and Highway 64. We are in the same building as Guitar Center, around the corner from the TCBY.

Parents and spouses will enjoy the excessive amount of shopping in our area while they wait. The only thing that we ask is that when you drop younger children off (under 12) that you wait until your child is in the custody of their teacher before you leave. Also, please make sure that our staff has an up to date number for you, preferably a cell phone number, and one emergency contact (spouse, relative or family friend) just in case you can't make it back to pick up your child (I know you'd never do that, but it's happened before.....)

Most people in this area know how to get to the Wolfchase Mall, we are at the same intersection, on Highway 64, but caddycorner from the mall. We are across the street from Best Buy and Target, behind the Arby's. You will see Guitar Center and TCBY in the parking lot. Drive toward TCBY, and turn between TCBY and Hobby Lobby. We're in the first bay back.

We can be found on map sites, however most of them say we are in Memphis. If you will be using a site to get a map to our location use the following address:
7990 Highway 64 Suite 107, Memphis TN 38133

We can also be found using GPS, simply use our name to find us.

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Our Instructors

You can hear all of our instructors playing. Check out the links for these files here.

Krystel Al-Chokhachi (Becker) - Owner and Co-Founder - Six and Seven String Guitar Instructor

Krystel has been a student of music her entire life. She started working and performing with choirs in 1985 at age 5, which she continued for eleven years. Krystel has been playing piano since 1991, bass since 1992, guitar since 1994, and drums since 2005. Her vocal training was very extensive, including two years of training from a retired opera singer and a few intense months with her teachers friend from Broadway, who taught both vocal performance and stage presense. Krystel has been sightreading both treble and bass clef since the age of six. She has also worked in studios as an engineer, and worked with Shawn Lane in a live setting and in the studio. Her main teacher was Tony Johnson, her bass teacher for almost three years, who had attended Berklee, among other places. She has learned from several other people including Joe Gamble, Dr. Gene Mason, Shawn Lane, Brandon McDuffie and many others. Krystel has been teaching bass both privately and on the web since 1999, and guitar since 2003. Krystel is our specialist in seven string and detuned guitar. Krystel spends most of her time studying music, composing, playing video games and privately studying quantum physics. Her main styles are metal, shred, jazz and fusion. She has composed and recorded music for video games, and is currently working on a solo technical death metal album. Krystel is the owner and co-founder of the American Guitar Institute.

Logan Al-Chokhachi - Owner - Guitar Instructor

Logan has been a student of music from a very early age. He has played guitar, piano, and trombone. He played trombone in marching band for four years, and was field conductor for two years. He has studied at the University of Memphis. Logan is a student of both Jimmy and Krystel and was trained on guitar solely by the American Guitar Institute. He has recorded music for video games and is currently working on a solo project.

Jimmy Hudson - Co-Founder - Guitar Instructor

Jimmy has been learning guitar since he was 6, in 1983. He was educated at the Atlanta Institute of Music. He has learned from Shawn Lane (Black Oak Arkansas, Warner Bros recording artist, Jonas Helborg Trio), Barry Richman (solo recording artist, sessions guitarist, Col Bruce Hampton), Jimmy Herring (Allman Bros, Gratefull Dead, Aquarium rescue Unit), Sid Woolfolk, Carl Cullpepper, Nite Driskoll, Shane Theriot, Bill Hart, Randy Hoexter, Joe Gamble, Chuck Hughes (Chucky and the Pscyclones), Howie Bently, Dr. Gene Mason and many others. He spends most of his time studying music and recording. He has been teaching since 1995. Jimmy started performing at the age of eleven, and started gigging on guitar at age fourteen. Jimmy has sat in with numerous bands and artists, including Willie Nelson, Buddy Church, members of the Allman Brothers, Ben Cauly, Joe Chawki, Lannie MacMillan Jr., members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, members of the Aquarium Rescue Unit, Firefall and has also had several solo projects over the years. Jimmy has taught guitar on every level. He has taught private lessons previously in music stores and private schools. He also has many columns on the web. Jimmy has also worked as a technician, and an engineer both live and in the studio. Jimmy was Shawn Lane's tech for many performances between 1996 and 2002. He also teched for the Barry Richman Band in Atlanta in 1996, and for Jeff Sipe in 1996. Jimmy's main styles are blues, country, classic rock and jazz. He is currently working with many projects throughout Memphis, including The Jimmy Hudson Band, and has recently recorded music for video games. Jimmy is a co-founder of the American Guitar Institute.

Cody Black - Guitar Instructor

Cody has been playing guitar since 1995. He has been a teacher in the Memphis area for several years. He is currently the guitar player for Infusion. Cody is our specialist for children under the age of twelve. Cody is currently working on a new CD with his band.

Tommy Arnold - Bass Instructor

Tommy has been playing bass since 1995, and has been teaching since 2002. Tommy attended Memphis State on a fully paid music scholarship, which he attended from 2002 to 2004. His concentration was in jazz performance and composition. Tommy studied under Tim Goodwin and Neil Bowen. He was also a member of Soundfuzion for 2 years, and he performed in several ensembles including Blue Ascendance Jazz Ensemble. He also recorded for Memphis State, including the anniversary cds. He also has piano, vocal and aural training. Tommy has been a member of Infusion since 1998, with whom he is currently gigging and recording a new CD. He is currently studying the recording arts.

Brandon McDuffie - Drum Instructor

Brandon has been playing drums since the age of four. He was not only in lessons his entire childhood, but by the time he was in school band no one challenged him for first chair. He was untouchable. He made All West unchallenged for first chair, and All State unchallenged first chair in high school. Brandon was also awarded a fully paid scholarship to Memphis State. He has been playing with the band Infusion for several years. They are currently working on their second CD.

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Our Policy

We're probably the easiest business you'll ever have to deal with. We have no contracts, no sign up or registration fees, and you are under no obligation to pay in advance. There are just a few basic things that we would ask you to abide by when you are taking lessons with us.

Warning: If you do not have a sense of humor you probably won't like it here.

Absentee and Tardiness:

You must cancel your lessons atleast 24 hours in advance. Please understand that teaching is the way your teacher makes a living, most of our teachers have no other job. If there is not a 24 hour cancellation notice you must still pay for the lesson or reschedule the lesson if your instructor has an available time for you. The only exception is emergency cancellations. We don't expect you to pay us if there's a tornado headed toward your house, or your kid wakes up with a super contaigeous disease... you know, stuff like that, but you can reschedule if you want. If you or your child happens to be very prone to illness or has a chronic or terminal illness that may make cancelling common please let us know when you call so that we can better work with you and expect frequent cancellations, which you will not be charged for. This is also the case for people who are on call for work. Please let your instructor know if you are going to be on call, so that if you don't show up we know why and won't charge you. If you are unsure if you owe or not just give us a call or ask your instructor.

When you cancel please leave a message. To keep our rates low we don't have a person that just sits around to answer the phone all day. The owners answer the phone, and they will not answer when they are with a student. Due to time constraints only people that want to reschedule will get return calls. Don't worry, we'll get the message and pass it along to your instructor. If you cancel with proper notice you will not be charged, and still have the option of rescheduling your lesson that week if you want to. You don't HAVE to, but you can. You also don't HAVE to pay in advance, but you can. And if you do, and you cancel your lesson with proper notice the money for that lesson will roll forward, so you won't lose out.

If you have to cancel for several weeks, and by several I mean more than two, your instructor may not be able to hold your time. If you are going to be missing for three weeks or more please talk with your instructor and see if they can hold your time for you or if you will need to find a new time when you return.

Everyone is guaranteed the same time on the same day with the same instructor every week. However, if your job makes it difficult to have the same time every week you can talk to your instructor about finding a new time for your lesson every week.

If you miss for several weeks in a row without contacting us you will be removed from the schedule. If you have missed for several weeks (again usually we start to wonder around the third missed lesson) you need to CALL before you come back to see if your instructor still has the time available, or if you need to find a new time, and if you will owe for some or all of the missed time (it depends on the situation how much, if anything, you will have to pay to return, just call, and if you have to leave a message, we'll call you back and let you know.)

If you are late for your lesson chances are your lesson will still have to end at the normal time.

Rates and Payment Methods:

Our current rates are $20 per half hour, whether you pay weekly or in advance is up to you. The first free lesson is a half hour, however hour lessons or lessons several times a week are available. Talk with your assigned instructor if you are interested in longer lessons. We are no longer able to accept checks, so please have the cash with you when you arrive for your lesson.

Conduct:

First and foremost this is a family environment, watch what you wear, and what you say, and how loud you are, and we should be just fine. If you're a jerk, and wear offensive clothes, and can't watch your language in the lobby, and yell and scream all the time, we'll probably tell you to leave and not come back. But that's pretty rare.

Any small children must be accompanied by an adult at all times when in the lobby. If you are dropping off a child under 12 for a lesson, please ensure that you do not leave until your child is within his or her teachers care, and please return before your childs half hour lesson is over. We try to watch our younger students when their parents aren't back yet, and we make them sit in the lobby and wait, but we can't keep an eye on them the entire time. If you think you may not be back in time, please tell your child to wait quietly for you in the lobby until you return. We'll tell them the same.

Make sure you keep track of all of your personal property. If we notice something has been left we'll try to hold on to it and figure out who it belongs to, but some random person may decide to just walk off with it, and we can't control that. So be mindful of your stuff, please.

If you want to pay us to sit here and watch you talk on the phone or text, that's your business, but it's kind of annoying and really inhibits the whole learning process. And if your parents are paying for it, expect a warning from your teacher, and if that doesn't work, expect a casual call to your parents about how texting is much cooler than playing an instrument. So please try to ignore your phone while you are with your instructor. If you are expecting an important call that may come during your lesson time just let your instructor know, and feel free to leave the room if it's a personal emergency. We are still going to have to charge you for the time in most cases, though.

You are the one taking lessons, so you're the only one in the room with your instructor. If you have a small child that is taking lessons, the instructor may let you sit in for the first few lessons until you are sure that your child is comfortable with the instructor.
If you are a parent and you have your children with you and they are too young to wait in the lobby by themselves you'll probably just want to reschedule your lesson to a later time. Little kids sitting quietly in a room with talking grown ups never seems to work for some reason, no matter how good the kid. They just get bored, or curious, but mainly bored, and then they have to go to the bathroom, and then they want to know if they can get ice cream after the lesson, and then.... it usually just doesn't work.
If you have a friend that is wanting to take lessons and they want to see how the lessons work you can bring them with you, but only once. If you bring friends with you just for the fun of it, they have to wait in the lobby, or go hang out somewhere else. And if they hang out here and mess something up it's YOUR fault too......

And here comes the part where I really shouldn't have to say it, but I am going to say it anyway, just to make sure we understand each other.

Do not bring drugs or alcohol into the building with you. Don't bring your booze, or your dope, or your anything else like that with you, preferably at all, but especially inside. We're fairly tolerant people around here, but if you bring crap like that WITH you, first of all you have a bigger problem than you think, and second, it'll make everyone REALLY angry. Especially if you're a kid. In fact, you probably don't want to come in if you're ON anything either. We are very sweet people by nature, but if you come in here drunk or on drugs, well, it just won't be enjoyable for you..... at all.

And please watch what you wear. We don't want to see your stuff hanging out, and we don't need little kids trying to figure out what that four letter word on that dude's shirt means. Please be mindful of what you wear when you come.
If you do either of those things, we reserve the right to make you feel like a jerk, call your parents if you're a kid, take your money without teaching you and we may even tell you not to come back.

Thank you for your understanding of the student policy. If you have any further questions please let us know.

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Referrals

If you love us, talk about us! We love referrals. If you do refer someone to us please tell them to mention your instructors name on the phone, we prefer to book referrals with the original instructor.

Contact Information

If you are interested in lessons our number is:

(901) 685-0545

Don't forget to ask for a free half hour introductory lesson when you call!

Free lesson available only to new students, and only one free half hour will be given for any single household. When you call you will probably get sent to voicemail, so please leave your name, a good number to reach you in the evening (usually between 4 and 7), who wants lessons, the age if they are a child, and the instrument you are interested in. We try to return calls as quickly as possible, but sometimes it may take a few days, so please be patient, we'll get back to you at the first available chance.

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