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Call Us at (866) 806-7079 | Jacksonville, North Carolina
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30 Years of
Teaching People to Play and Sing
Call for a Free Consultation Lessons
for...
Guitar • Banjo • Violin (Fiddle) • Mandolin • Dobro
Steel Guitar - Bass (Electric & Upright) • Drums • Voice •
Piano Styles
Taught...
Country • Bluegrass •
Rock
Christian • Blues • Classical • Jazz
All Genres and Techniques
Ages...
Kids • Teens • Adults • Seniors
All Levels...
Beginners • Intermediate • Advanced
When Earl Jones started teaching guitar in 1975, he had four
students. Not long after this inauspicious beginning he happened to
read an article about a teacher in California who started with six
students and quickly increased that number into the hundreds. Very
encouraging for the struggling young instructor, but what really
caught Earl's attention was the reason for this growth. The
California teacher said that the key to his growth was that he
learned to love every one of his students. Earl decided to actively apply this principle; he exerted extra
effort to sincerely care for each of those four students. They were
no longer just a source of income; they were a mission. Within a
month of his decision, he had 20 students. By the end of his second
month, he had 40. Now, his weekly roster exceeds 300 with a full
staff of teachers for every instrument and voice, instruments for
rent and sale, and a waiting list. Many of Earl's students have become professional musicians and
singers. Many others have enriched their lives by playing for their
own personal enjoyment or for friends, family, church, or social
events. Earl himself has been a performing artist for over 40
years. In fact, many will recognize him as "Cowboy Earl" from his
shows at Mike's Farm. Prior to this, he was involved in virtually
every aspect of professional music (clubs, concerts, churches,
festivals, TV, recording, radio, etc.) as a multi-instrumentalist
and singer playing every style of music imaginable. His real
passion, however, lies in teaching others to play. For 30 years, Earl Jones has taught private students, classes,
and workshops. Constantly searching for ways to make learning
easier, more fun, and effective led to the creation of a unique
method called EZ Numbers. After several years of testing and
improving this method, his wife and business manager Kathy put
these lessons into book form and founded the EZ Pickin' Publishing
Company. To date, they have authored seven books that are sold
through the Internet and at their studio outlets. This easy-play
method is one of the reasons for the success of Earl Jones
Music School, but it's not the primary one, says the
owner. "The real reason for our success goes much deeper and traces
back to those original four students and what I learned from them,"
Jones said. "I have always tried to create an atmosphere of
informality and fun; to emphasize self esteem, confidence, and
dignity; to find one's individual learning strategies and
strengths; to let them learn at their own pace with no pressure. I
want every child, teenager, or adult (seniors included) to remember
this as a fun and rewarding experience." One of Earl's adult students describes her lesson as an escape
from daily pressures — "my own special time," she says. One
teenager said it's a lot more fun than video games or sports and
young children have been known to cry when they couldn't attend
their lesson. An older gentleman said, "I told Earl I couldn't even
play a radio. He proved me wrong. I played a song on my first
lesson and I've been pickin' and grinnin' ever since." One rewarding aspect for Earl is the family participation.
Sometimes entire families will enroll and learn together. For
example, several members of the Fucili family from the Pin Hook
community (near Wallace) have been taking lessons for several
years. "We love it," says Randy Fucili, who plays banjo while his
wife, Edna, plays upright bass. "As soon as we get home from work,
we grab our instruments and start playing." Lessons have paid off
for the Fucilis, as they are now members of a bluegrass group
called "Living Strings". Other members of the family play in
different groups. Randy's brother Rickey plays guitar and his wife
Peggy plays piano. Uncle Allan plays fiddle, bass, and guitar at
his church, while another family member Christopher plays electric
rock guitar. When asked about his goals, Earl says, "It's not about numbers;
it's about nurturing talent and impacting lives in a positive way."
For more information or a free consultation, call 910-298-5336 or
910-353-6633.
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Two Locations: | 504 West Main Street
Beulaville NC 28518
(910) 298-5336 | 337 Center Street, Suite E
Jacksonville, NC 28546-6700
(910) 353-6633 |
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TALENT SEARCH I was a shy, introverted, lonely boy when my Dad gave me a guitar and taught me a few chords. I learned three songs that I sang and played over and over mostly in my bedroom. A few weeks later, a school teacher overheard me softly strumming and singing during break and asked me to perform for the school talent show. At the age of 14, my life was forever changed. I had begun an exciting adventure into the world of performing. I was lifted out of a secluded corner of obscurity onto a stage where people were actually applauding for 'me'! Since that time, I have performed for every venue imaginable (concerts, shows, TV, radio, records) including international audiences. It has been a wonderful life that I wouldn't trade for anything and it was all because someone recognized in me a hidden star. Please understand that I had only been playing guitar and singing for three months and my repertoire consisted of three songs. Nevertheless, something connected with that audience. I have since spent my life identifying that small spark of talent in people of all ages and giving them the same opportunity that I was given.
It has been a great privilege to have done so for many undiscovered and ignored individuals. Since 1975, I have been developing and promoting new talent. One of my earliest students became a guitar player for The Gatlin Brothers; another played on MTV; and yet another became a regular on The Grand Ole Opry. Just recently, a former student stopped by fresh from performing with The Zac Brown Band and prior to that, John Meyer. A couple of years ago a former drum student went on the road with Garth Brooks and the list goes on and on including at least two major songwriters, two American Idol finalists and three actresses. This is not a source of pride but rather of deep fulfillment to know that I was instrumental in launching these careers. With this in mind, I have formed The Hidden Star Foundation to discover and develop new talent.
If you or anyone you know would like to enter the Hiddden Star Talent Search, please call 1-866-806-7079 or email me at cowboye@directv.net.
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CREATING REAL GUITAR HEROES Earl Jones has spent a lifetime as a real live guitar hero. As a hired gun (professional guitarist) he has played TV, radio, recording sessions, concerts, churches, festivals, clubs, and private parties for movie celebrities. He has also played every style (rock-country-jazz-blues-bluegrass-classical-gospel, etc) and every technique imaginable (fingerstyle-Chet Atkins-Travis-Fast flatpicking-chord solo-octave style-sweep picking-string tapping-counterpoint-Carter style-cross picking-chicken picking, etc). But, his real legacy lies in thestudents he has taught and the careers he has crafted, creating several generations of real guitar heroes, not the ones who sit at home and play but those who actually perform and make money. Chances are, without even knowing it, you have heard and seen his students who have appeared on everything from MTV to the Grand Ole Opry. With an uncanny ability to coach and draw out hidden abilities, Earl can guide a guitar player into secret places of playing with subtle psychological techniques that have his former students saying things like: "He makes me surprise myself everytime." M.S. Lead guitarist for touring rock band "My fingers seem to glide across the strings effortlessly." L.R. Top earning session guitarist "It's like I'm standing aside watching myself play in amazement!" B.B. Lead guitar for country band "Hot licks sparkle from my fingertips under Earl's tutelage." E.V. Sideman to the stars "Earl is fond of saying 'The problem is not in the fingers but in the mind.' When you remove that mental block, it's amazing how freely you can play." B.P. Professional rhythm guitarist "After one lesson, I could play with wild abandon, without missing a note." R.G. Bluegrass guitarist "My playing became more relaxed and natural under his teaching." C.H. Fingerstyle guitarist "The guitar seems to come alive in my hands." A.V. Freelance guitarist "The emotion conveyed through these strings now is unbelievable." D.G. Blues guitarist "The greatest benefit of taking lessons from Earl is that I can perform before any size audience now with confidence, poise, and composure." L.H. Performing artist "Earl taught me more in five minutes than I had learned in five years." S.J. Hotlicks guitarist These are just a few testimonials of guitarists having their playing revolutionized by Earl's methods. You can now be one of Earl's guitar heroes. Call 910-353-6633 to enroll in the Guitar Heroes Master Class. A Special Message to the Military I began teaching guitar in 1975 at a local music store in Jacksonville NC. My first students were Marines or Marine families. There were other instructors at this store, one of which was an older Canadian lady. Being new to teaching, I was concerned about teaching properly so I asked her advice. Her answer both startled and repulsed me. She replied, “It really doesn’t matter whether you teach them the correct way. This is a transient area; they will leave soon and take the mistakes with them.” Not only did I consider this a terrible attitude, I felt personally insulted. I had already spent most of my musical career touring military clubs, USO’s, etc. I had become close with the military community. I felt I was a part of them. This “quick buck, take-advantage-of-the-military” attitude caused me to form my own music school devoted to teaching, really teaching people (military and civilian) to play. I began to instill in all of my instructors the value of giving their very best to every student, even if that student was leaving the area tomorrow. I wanted every person who came into our studios to know that they were not taking lessons from some kid at a music store trying to make a few dollars on his way to becoming a rock star. Instead, a real professional, caring teacher. So, to every Marine and member of the Armed Services and your families, let me conclude by saying I have celebrated your victories and mourned your losses. I have laughed with your friends and cried with your families. I have loved your unique military culture and I consider it a privilege and an honor to serve you. Yours truly, Earl Jones |
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