About the Founder

Armed with an old Mel Bay instruction book and determination, I practiced diligently for the next few weeks. After several weeks, I showed my mom my progress. Not long after, my parents gave me one of the greatest Christmas gifts I could have imagined: a month of guitar lessons at our local music store.

In three lessons with my new guitar teacher, Tom showed me what was possible.

One day, Tom proudly showed me the album cover of a former student who had gone on to record music. As we continued our lesson, I couldn't stop thinking about it. In my mind, Tom had hung the moon. He wasn't just teaching chords; he was showing me what was possible.

Around the same time, another friend showed me a few songs on his electric guitar. I was fascinated, not just by the chords, but by the way he could effortlessly create riffs and make the instrument come alive. The more musicians I met, the more I realized that every guitarist developed their own unique style and voice. This inspired me to want to learn everything I could about the guitar, so that maybe one day I could create something original to me.

Not long after, my mom told me if I wanted to keep taking lessons, I'd have to find a way to pay for them myself. She recommended a simple solution. Start teaching lessons to someone who was a little bit behind me.

So, at 13 years old, I began giving guitar lessons to other aspiring guitarists. As I learned, I taught. As I taught, I learned. My student list grew as I developed as a guitarist. I filled a little black notebook with everything I discovered through taking with Tom and teaching my students: patterns, tips, complex chord charts, music theory, ear training, techniques for soloing, and much more. That little black notebook contained the seeds of the teaching program that would later shape the beginnings of the Ignite Guitar curriculum.

Throughout high school, I taught private guitar lessons while playing in worship bands, serving on mission trips, starting bands with friends, and sharing my love for Jesus through music. I dreamed of making a living doing what my first teacher had done, both performing as a musical artist and teaching others to play guitar and discover the joy of music.

A few years later, I was offered the opportunity to teach group guitar classes at my church using a curriculum developed by my friend, Todd. Todd had a compelling vision. He wanted to take guitar instruction to the church and train what he called “musicianaries”, people who would use music to share the love of Christ. His passion for worship and discipleship deeply influenced me, and I remain grateful for the opportunity to learn from him.

After teaching his curriculum for several semesters, I began noticing opportunities to make certain concepts even more intuitive and accessible.

With Todd's encouragement and blessing, I began developing a curriculum of my own. Drawing on my background in music, media, graphic design, and years of teaching and playing, I spent the next year refining every lesson in real classrooms with real students. Each class helped shape what would eventually become the three levels of the Ignite Guitar curriculum, beginner, intermediate, and advanced foundations courses.

Ignite Guitar began with a vision to be a resource for the local church, built from years of teaching real students in real classrooms.

The desire was to provide churches a curriculum that could help build a network of guitarists of both certified teachers and capable guitar players raised up from within the congregation, equipped to serve and lead worship in their local communities.

Over the years, that dream of Ignite Guitar has evolved into three parts.

• A digital guitar training program that takes anyone from their first chord to a well-rounded, holistic player.
• A resource that equips guitarists, families and churches with curriculum, teacher training, and resourcing to raise up guitarists and worshippers.
• And a way to resource worship around the world, telling worship stories and partnering with Renown Collective to serve unreached communities in Malawi.

The heart behind it has never changed: to train well-rounded guitarists and grow worshipful hearts in the home, in the local church, and across the globe.

Whether you're picking up an instrument for the very first time, finding us as a seasoned guitarist, or simply a follower of God looking for encouragement, my goal is the same as it's always been. I want to give you the best path to becoming a well-rounded guitarist and a heart of worship.

I'm grateful for every lesson, every student, every stage, and every opportunity God has given me to share His love and inspire worshipful artistry.

Wherever you are on your journey, I'd be honored to help you take the next step, and to help you explore opportunities where you can see your life and your music as an act of worship.

Sincerely,
Scott