My name is Owen Hurter and I give Guitar Lessons, and work as a Recording Engineer in Holly. Springs, NC. For as long as I can remember I have loved music. I  remember starting to write songs in the second grade, and even though they were not hit songs, I was very proud of them. I have always loved the fact that I could actually create something from nothing. A thought, a feeling, a little melody, a rhythm, or a chord progression could set me off exploring brand new possibilities!

A little history

  I learnt to play guitar by watching my dad play, and then I would go and mimic what I saw him do. I learnt and mastered the basic chords on the guitar pretty fast, but  I wasn’t challenged to really go to the next level. My parents never signed me up for guitar lessons or music lessons,  so I never progressed very far. 

   When I joined my first band I was overcome with the desire to become better on my instrument and I went and joined a Music Conservatory. Even though guitar was and will always be something I greatly love, I went and studied piano at this Conservatory.

My piano teacher believed that degrading and insulting a student was the way to challenge them to greatness. I remember dreading going to the lessons because how it made me feel. Being down in the dumps after lessons was becoming normal.  It felt like I could never accomplish anything, and that I had absolutely zero encouragement. One day I was trying to play a piece of music and she got a phone call. While I was sitting there trying to learn the piece of music she was talking to the person on the phone. “This student I’m currently working with is horrible, and can’t get anything right”, I heard her say.

   Needless to say, this didn’t last very long. My parents were very encouraging people and I don’t thrive in an atmosphere with no encouragement. As a matter of fact, just one encouragement can fuel me, and make me run miles.

   What happened to me at the Conservatory left a mark in the sense that I decided that I will never be that kind of teacher. By nature I am extremely encouraging. I live my life based on the fact that it’s very easy to point out the negative, but finding gold in someone is where the magic happens.

A Decision

Encouragement has become one of the foundations of my teaching. I love encouraging my students to greatness, When they feel like they are not going to get a certain part we just try to find another angle until they get it. I always encourage them that anything is possible as long as they are willing to keep trying. No matter what, we will find a way to make them succeed. The truth is, this works every single time. When my students leave the lesson I want them to feel encouraged, happy, and celebrated.

   Taking music lessons, or guitar lessons should be a fun and life-giving experience. Music is such a gift and such a blessing to our hearts. Why not make our future musicians love every second of learning?.

   If you are a teacher reading this, go after your students hearts. Get to know them, and seek to encourage them.  There is always some thing to encourage. If you find even just that one little thing you’ll watch their faces light up. Seeing them go to the next level is such a joy! Here is a great article: The Quiet Power of Encouragement.

   If you are a student reading this I hope your teacher is encouraging.. If not, I would greatly encourage you to think if the person that is teaching you right now is really getting the gold that is hidden inside of you.

My name is Owen Hurter and I am a guitar teacher and recording engineer in Holly Springs North Carolina. Contact me is you are interested in taking lessons.