“I can't believe Paul Gilbert is actually sending me a video lesson.”

When I signed up for the Artist Works Rock Guitar School with Paul Gilbert I was as excited as I was skeptical. It just seemed too good to be true. The Paul Gilbert—rock guitar icon, Shred master, and musical torchbearer—would send me personalized video lessons!

Well, I've been learning guitar on the ArtistWorks website more than a year, and I am no longer skeptical. And yes, it's as awesome as it sounds: Paul Gilbert sends me—and all of his online students—personalized video lessons!

The videos are short, concise—often funny—,and perfectly tailored to my musical goals and tastes. In other words, Paul is as good at teaching as he is at playing, which is just crazy!

Over the last fourteen months, my playing has improved, my repertoire has grown, and my technique has blossomed.

In short, I'm not just playing the guitar, I am rocking!

Now don't get me wrong, learning to play the guitar is a monster undertaking, and a student needs a method. Fortunately, ArtistWorks shaved years off of my guitar learning process by providing me with access to a world-class guitarist and the opportunity to evolve my skills in a supportive online community of musicians.

At first, filming my progress was challenging. If you've ever been on YouTube, then you know the guitar community has a reputation for eating its young. That's why I didn't want anybody to see me playing the guitar.

Nevertheless, I held my breath and submitted my first video lesson. To my surprise, the Rock School students have been nothing but supportive and respectful of my learning process. The chat features and forums helps me feel like we're in it together, and I love seeing them improve as much as they love seeing my progress.

My background is more baroque than rock! When I studied classical violin and piano as a kid in Europe, master teachers were the stuff of legend. Students had to navigate a maze of referrals, competitions and auditions to win access to an instructor of Paul Gilbert's caliber.

So thank you ArtistWorks for opening the gates of world class music to students of all levels.

Sophie Parham is one of the 6 winners of Paul Gilbert's signature Ibanez Guitars. Study Rock Guitar with Paul Gilbert here.

Sophie is also a co-founder of the Rock Dojo in Portland, OR, where she teaches kids between the ages of 6 and 12 years-old to rock on the guitar. She's also the co-author of Guitar for Kids: Rock Dojo The Complete Belt System.