Guitar, Bass & Ukulele Lessons in Burlington
The last guitar teacher you'll ever need
20+ years teaching · Students aged 6 to late 70s · Burlington, ON · Online lessons available
Lessons are built around you — not a textbook.
Kids & Teens
Video game themes, movie soundtracks, the latest pop hits — songs they actually care about. Structured enough to build real skills, fun enough that they actually practice.
Adults
No judgment, no rushing, no method book you'll resent. You've been meaning to do this for years. Let's actually do it and make it count.
Seniors
Patient, flexible, and genuinely enjoyable, at whatever pace works for you. Many of my longest-running students started later in life and exceeded every expectation they had for themselves. It's never too late.
Most teachers show up and wing it. That's not how this works.
Every student has a dedicated lesson plan, prepared weeks ahead. Your materials — exercises, charts, custom backing tracks — are built specifically for you, not photocopied from a book. Best of all, learning is dynamic and fluid because goals are constantly evolving — as a result, your lesson plan evolves too. You'll always leave knowing exactly what to practice and why. And if something comes up during the week, you can text me.
The studio is fully equipped with industry level gear and software, so you get to try real gear in a professional setting. As an official Guitar Pro Education Partner, my students also get discounted access to one of the best learning tools in guitar education.
This is what a serious lesson experience looks like.
Pricing
Private Lessons — $170/month
Four 30-minute sessions, scheduled weekly.
Students bring their own instrument. Online lessons available.
What students say
"Wesley has taught two of my children over 10 years. He gets to know his students and provides music that aligns with their interests — Star Wars, My Little Pony, Harry Styles. There's no pressure because the teaching is rooted in a love for music."
— Tanya L., parent of two students
"As someone in my late 50s who really wanted to learn guitar, I found Wesley & the Music Shed through a Google search. From that first day I felt completely comfortable and welcome. Wesley has tailored my lessons to suit my level and is always encouraging and patient. I've been a student since October 2024 and sometimes I forget how far I've come."
— Kathy S., adult student
"Eight years ago I started guitar lessons as a present to myself on my 70th birthday. Wesley has very patiently and with a great deal of skill helped me reach a level of competence that was beyond my expectations. My two grandsons also enjoy their lessons with him. Just goes to show it's never too late to start."
— Ian P., adult student
About J. Wesley Russell
I'm J. Wesley Russell — guitarist, teacher, and the only person you'll ever work with at The Music Shed. I've been teaching guitar, bass, and ukulele in Burlington for over 20 years, and it's my absolute favorite thing to do every week.
My favourite moments are the ones students don't see coming. I'll quietly set something up over a few lessons, then watch it click — that look when someone realizes they just played something they didn't think was possible. A theme song, a sick guitar riff, mapping all their triad shapes, or even just something their friends will recognize.
I love all music, I'm a movie nut (especially mystery & horror genres), a board game fanatic, a DnD nerd, and I even went to see an epic shred show last week with one of my adult students. My younger students school me on slang, memes and video games and I return the favour by turning their favourite chiptunes into guitar arrangements. That's just how it goes here.
A different kind of lesson experience
I keep my roster small because that's the only way to do this right. Every student gets a real lesson — planned, prepared, and built around them.
A 2x Honours graduate from Humber College in Music Performance, Arranging & Composition — I've spent over 20 years putting that education to work in a real studio with real students.