Instruments: Acoustic + electric guitar, bass, mandolin, dobro, ukulele

Locations: Bojangles Rockin’ Robin + Bojangles Heights

Ian Barry

Instructor

Ian Barry is the kind of teacher who makes his students want to play music. His knowledge of guitar and other string instruments is impressive, but it’s his love of playing that inspires anyone lucky enough to sit across from him. 

A veteran instructor with more than 35 years of teaching experience, Ian has mastered his own approach that prioritizes practicality, consistency, and joy. Also a luthier, he repairs and builds string instruments with meticulous skill. Ian regularly performs with beloved bands throughout Houston, including Willow Creek Junction, at venues such as Lone Pint Brewery, Pacific Yard House, and Sawyer Park. 

At Bojangles, Ian teaches all levels of guitar, bass, ukulele, and mandolin. He cherishes the time he spends with students, and takes special note of big breakthroughs: the moment a beginner realizes they can play a song; when a student plays their own music for the first time; when a player finally leaves the plateau where they’d felt stuck. 

When it comes to what his students take away from lessons, Ian doesn’t hesitate. “The love of music of all kinds,” he says. “Music is a language all its own. It’s a sound that evokes emotions without words––communication with no language barriers. A little bit of work practicing can lead to a lot of fun playing.”