Tim O'Lena - Guitar
(Beginning to intermediate)

I began playing guitar in 1968 as age seven and was soon asked to support the music and vocal groups in our church; I have been a student of the guitar ever since then. I believe that a good instructor should also be a lifetime student.I constantly seek new material, that may be simply learning a new song or polishing a specific technique.
I began teaching friends and neighbors in the mid 1970's and had a number of private students from about 1984 through 1988 to supplement my income while I attended college. I have a BSEE in Electrical Engineering from Capitol College in Laurel, Md. I continue to teach privately to this day.

I teach both electric and acoustic guitar and beginning bass. I teach beginner to intermediate levels. I like to teach students how to play their favorite cover songs as well as how to improvise their own music. Music theory is part of my instruction including scales, modes, and chord theory. I teach beginner level reading and have taught from several of the common and popular guitar instructional books.

My style is centered on Rock, Metal, Blues and Jazz. Favorite rock music is a combination of fast, heavy or technical guitar driven music. Favorite bands include Judas Priest, White Zombie, Black Sabbath, early Ozzy, and Iron Maiden. Favorite guitar players include Glenn Tipton, Joe Satriani, Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Vai, Uli John Roth, Randy Rhoads, Eddie Van Halen, and Paul Gilbert. Bands I played with in recent years include Model Citizens, Hellenback and Hammersound.

You can currently find me teaching at Classic Axe Guitar Gallery on Saturdays. I also teach at Minton's Music in Ashburn and Metropolitan Fine Arts Center in Fairfax.