I started studying with John in Oakland just before he moved to Denver. He made such an impression on me in those first few lessons that we decided to continue instruction via Skype after his move. That proved to be an excellent choice. John is a gifted teacher who takes his own playing very seriously. This means that he is constantly growing as a musician and sharing those lessons with his students in a way the they can relate to. He meets the student where they are, but does not give in to the temptation to cater exclusively to their wants; John preaches balance in playing and practicing and will not hesitate to prescribe work in weak areas. Every time I see John in person, he has grown as both a player and a teacher. He is at the forefront of 'ukulele education on the national and international stage. If you are interested in deepening your understanding of the instrument, you should run - not walk - to Ukulele Inspired Studios. read more

This review is long overdue! I took ukulele lessons with John when he was based in Oakland, from 2015-16. I was brand new to the uke, and needed to start with the basics. There were many things I loved about my lessons with John. First off, his positive energy and enthusiasm made our lessons such a pleasure. Something else that made John's approach totally unique was that his lesson content is very student-driven; rather than assigning me songs to practice, he would ask me what I wanted to learn. I would show him songs I was interested in, and he would help me figure out how to play them. In the weeks when life was busy and I didn't have a song in mind, he would make suggestions that I could choose from. He also challenged me by incorporating musical theory into our lessons, and took into account my prior knowledge from playing piano and singing. Another unique aspect of John's teaching is that he would video record new finger work or strum patterns, and share the videos with me. This way when I was practicing at home and didn't remember how to play something, I could always rewatch the videos. If you're at all considering taking ukulele lessons, I highly recommend that you work with John! read more

What's not to like? John is a bad-ass. I took a series of 6 one-hour ukulele lessons from John over the course of 6 weeks and learned a ton. I really appreciate his balanced approach, which typically meant that we would spend about a third of the time working through old stuff, a third of the time working through new stuff, and a third of the time on music theory. It's a great way to solidify the previous work and give you tools to advance the following week (provided you keep up with your homework). On average, I probably learned a new song each week, but I'm much more excited to know that I learned new tools and techniques which will help over the long term. Do it! read more

I am a person who hates taking classes and hates listening to anyone because I'm sure I can usually figure it out myself. But taking ukulele lessons with John is the exact opposite. It is the one thing that I refuse to miss every week because it is so much fun and I learn so much that I wouldn't get through my own research. I was a beginner to uke and hadn't really played anything seriously since grammar school. I have been taking lessons with John for the past few months and I can't believe how much I have progressed and how much I have learned. Taking lessons with John is hands down the best investment I've made in a long time. He is super enthusiastic and supportive, but he also doesn't put up with my crap and tells me when I'm slacking which I appreciate. As an adult, it is really hard to learn new things, but I swear that I see improvement on a week to week basis if I stick to what John tells me to do. Every week we go over warm ups, talk over any issues that might have come up with practice, do a little bit of theory and then work on a song that I pick. He has even offered to do some voice coaching with me (although I swear I am tone deaf). Taking up uke is the most fun I have had on any hobby in a really long time and I really believe that a huge part of that is John's teaching method. Take lessons with him and you won't be disappointed! Oh and I live in SF and this is one of the only things I'd consider driving to Oakland to do that I couldn't get in the City - totally worth the commute. read more

Going to see John is something I look forward to every week. He lives and breathes Ukulele and is an excellent teacher. He goes out of his way to tailor lessons to me, making it more like a musical adventure with a friend than a lifeless tutorial slog. With his experience he knows the cycles, the pitfalls of learning the instrument and has been extremely helpful as navigator/coach. I would recommend John to friends and family, to anyone wanting to learn the Ukulele. read more

I had prior music experience before taking lessons with John, but there was/is an "unlearning" process that had to take place before I could wrap my mind around new things. John has been extremely patient and encouraging throughout, and I have achieved a level I never thought possible. He teaches not only great songs, but the underlying music theory. You won't get that by watching YouTube videos. His expertise is clearly deep and covers many genres. I began lessons with the tiniest bit of stringed instrument experience - just enough to be dangerous. I had zero experience with the ukulele, only a desire to learn. John's teaching method quickly got me comfortable with fun tunes and a solid grasp of music theory. I continue to gain confidence in my knowledge & skills with each session. Our lessons always strike just the right balance between learning fun tunes and covering what is the bane of so many music students - scales. He led me to understand the underlying structure, and hence, the undeniable importance of scale knowledge. He pushes me to expand my grasp of music theory. His library of tunes is vast, diverse and ever-expanding. I can't recommend lessons with him highly enough!! read more

John is a fantastic instructor. He works hard to and makes every session enjoyable in addition to challenging. I would recommend him to anyone learning or wanting to learn ukulele. read more

I have been taking Ukelele lessons with John for about 2 years. if he can teach me how to play music, he can teach anyone!! He makes each lesson super fun and his passion for music is totally inspiring. Music is really hard for me but creates a relaxed and safe space to learn. His enthusiasm for your growth as a musician makes me want to practice all the time. I have never seen anyone get so stoked that I learned a new song. His lessons cover a little bit of everything from chords and strum patterns to scales and music theory and I am always smiling and laughing when I leave! I cant say enough good things. read more

John is an excellent teacher. I started studying with him in the Summer of 2013. My experience has been extremely positive, so much so that I've continued lessons via Skype after his relo to Colorado. Being new to the Uke without formal musical training I was initially drawn by his low key demeanor and balanced approach mixing practical techniques, theory, and a willingness to focus on songs/genres that got me excited. Through the years I've found him to be patient and always willing to re-cap, revisit, and answer questions. John is very good at breaking things down into small digestible components. It's been really cool to see his evolution as a teacher, continually incorporating new techniques and methods. John's positive energy and enthusiasm make our lesson a weekly highlight. I highly recommend John to new or experienced players. read more

John's the best! I started my ukulele lessons this past February and am so happy I found him as a teacher. I haven't played an instrument since grade school and wasn't sure what to expect...now I'm hooked. John is more than patient...I have been known to complain a bit when things are challenging :). I pick what songs I want to learn and John tailors my lessons accordingly. Not only is John an outstanding teacher, he is a good person - you will not be disappointed!! read more

Well educated in Music and can make an type of player a great one. Best of all always a fun class with laughs and smiles. Looking forward seeing the schools future and continuing classes. Very inspiring. read more

I decided to take up ukulele when I went part time at work. I found John Nash on the internet and started to study with him. From the beginning it was an amazing experience. First of all John is brilliant. He really knows his stuff. He breaks down lessons into manageable chunks and doesn't move on until everything is clear. He is able to gear lessons toward the student's interest and if you don't know what you want to study, he will make up the lesson plan. I have been with him for over 1 1/2 years and I plan to stay with him for a very long time. I can't recommend him enough! read more

I'd been wanting take up an instrument for awhile now and the ukulele seemed like a fun, accessible way to go. I stumbled upon John's beginner series class on Facebook and based on his highly regarded reviews here I decided to give it a shot. I'm so glad I did! The beginners series was 4 sessions long. I didn't have any real expectations but I was amazed at how much John was able to convey into 4 classes. The classes were a combination of learning a little bit of technique, a little bit of music theory, and we learned a song in each class. It was his intent to inspire in us an appreciation for music not just the ukulele. His passion for music and the ukulele is undeniable but his teaching style is relaxed and encouraging. He did push us, but always encouraged to not be afraid of failing and we were the better for it. For ANYONE who is even mildly interested in music and the ukulele you will not regret learning from John Nash! Call him today! read more

I have been taking Ukulele lessons from John for about 9 months and he is Awesome! I love the way he structures his lessons. First we always warm up. Then we go over some music theory (which I love because I never thought I would be able to learn music theory but he teaches it in a way that makes sense to me). And then we learn a song. He is patient but good at pushing me. It's super fun! And the lessons have given me more confidence to play my ukulele. read more

I started taking classes with John about 2 years ago and working with him REALLY improved my skills. Alone, I could figure out how to play songs by following chords, but I got bored quickly with the same strumming patterns and no leads. John helped me break down songs so that I hear the depth and dynamics of whatever music I was trying to play. It's even helped me build the skills to figure out strumming patterns and lead lines on my own too (sometimes). Because I was curious about music theory, John also broke that down for me a little bit, which has improved my overall understanding for music, and has helped me become a better singer. John is an awesome teacher, super patient (this cannot be overstated) and flexible. He designs each lesson based on what you're interested in learning and that skills you want to work on. I highly recommend his lessons to anyone looking to start or get better at playing the ukulele! read more