What is The Academy?

The Academy is a set of focused courses offered for the serious music student — but unlike college, it's individualized, affordable, and 100% online.

Each 6-week course includes:

• ✅ Weekly live Zoom classes with an expert instructor

• ✅ Replays if you can’t make it live

• ✅ PDF/tab resources for every class

• ✅ A community of pickers learning alongside you

Choose from 2 unique courses this semester, or bundle them together if you’re feeling ambitious.

Meet Your Instructor

Check out what classes we are offering

for Late Fall 2025!

Ever wanted to explore the entire fretboard with confidence?

In this class Hayes will help you:

• Learn visualization methods and applied theory to unlock up-the-neck playing

• Build your fiddle tune repertoire up the neck

• Understand how tunes like St. Anne's Reel connect to triads

• Gain the freedom to move anywhere on the neck without getting lost

➡ Perfect for: Intermediate players who know open-position tunes but want to expand their fretboard fluency.

Mondays at 7pm ET starting November 3, 2025
Taught by Hayes Griffin

Step into the world of swing and develop the essential tools of jazz rhythm and improvisation.

In this class, you’ll:

• Learn 3-note comping shapes to lay down that classic swing groove

• Get an introduction to soloing with modes, so you can start building lines with confidence

• Explore voice leading concepts that make your solos connect smoothly over chord changes

• Apply everything in the context of three classic jazz standards:
  🎵 It Had to Be You
  🎵 I'll See You In My Dreams
  🎵 Oh, Lady Be Good

➡ Perfect for: Intermediate players who want to dip their toes into swing and jazz, expand their rhythm vocabulary, and start soloing in a whole new style. 

Mondays at 5:30pm ET starting November 3, 2025
Taught by Hayes Griffin

• 📅 Start Date: Nov. 3, 2025

• 🕒 Length: 6 weeks (1 live class per week)

• 💻 Where: Zoom (replays available if you can't attend class live!)

• 📂 What’s Included: Live instruction, PDF/tab downloads, access to replays, and a supportive student community

• 🎯 Skill Level: Courses range from intermediate to advanced — choose what fits your goals!

  • Still a beginner? Check out Hayes' course offerings in Guitar Club!

Why choose The Academy?

Because learning in real time, with expert feedback and peers to cheer you on creates results you can’t get from YouTube alone.

You’ll walk away with:

• ✅ A clear plan and weekly accountability

• ✅ Direct coaching from world-class flatpickers

• ✅ Practical tools you’ll actually use at jams and gigs

• ✅ A sense of momentum and excitement in your playing

Choose your courses: