Eric Sykes
Hi! My name is ERIC SYKES.
I am an accomplished professional guitarist and guitar instructor and have been performing live and in studio around North Texas and surrounding states for over 20 years.
I hold a Bachelors Degree in Music Theory from the University of North Texas. I am trained and teach all styles of guitar, including Jazz, Blues, Country, Rock and Classical at Nadine's Music Manor in Plano, Texas. I maintain an elite clientele of up-and-coming musicians of all ages.
I currently play bass guitar in the ULTIMATE 80s HAIR METAL band POISON CHERRY and I am partners with Chris Paul in an acoustic duo that plays hits from the 60s-90s. I also freelance with other artists in the Dallas area.
My current passion is filmmaking, and I am looking to expand my hobby into serious work. I have completed two short films and I am working on a full length feature entitled 'Music Matters.' As this new project develops, I welcome additional work as writer, director, producer, composer, actor or model.
To donate to my films:
ERIC SYKES
Eric Sykes Enterprises, LLC
972.489.4532
eric_sykes_live.com
TEACHING POLICIES
Tuition –- $100 per month. Payment for the upcoming month must be received on the last lesson of the previous month. No exceptions! If a student starts lessons in the middle of a month, they will be charged $25 for each individual lesson. Make checks payable to me personally, or cash is fine. A $10 late fee applies to any payment received after the 1st of the month.
Months with a 5th week –- No extra payment necessary. These ‘extra’ lessons act as make-ups for lessons missed due to most school holidays.
Ending lessons –- Two weeks prior notification is needed if a student wishes to terminate lessons. Without notification, PAYMENT FOR THE FULL MONTH IS MANDATORY!
Vacations –- Their will be no lessons on Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving day, the week of Christmas Day through New Years Day, the week of Spring break, and one week in the Fall (to be determined). No make-ups will be given for these holidays.
Make Up Lessons –- 24 hr. cancellation notice required when missing a lesson! Notify me via e-mail or phone 24 hours prior to your lesson in order to receive a make-up. Lessons cancelled less than 24 hours in advance will not be made up. Make-ups, if applicable, are scheduled at the convenience of the instructor and are by REQUEST ONLY!
Expectations -– Without practice, learning the guitar can be very frustrating. Student must practice in order to progress. Regular practice time should be fifteen minutes up to an hour a day, depending on the student.
Please contact me with any questions at:
972 489 4532 (cell)
972 985 7884 (Music Manor)
3031 West 15th St.
Plano, TX. 75075
*Please consider me for your next party or event as musical entertainment.
New Student Info Sheet
Eric is the most wonderful teacher ever!! He is patient and kind and will teach you the way that you need or want and desire!! I really can't say enough good things about him!!! I have taken guitar from him for many years and he is just the very best!! I could not have asked for a better teacher!! Vickie (older adult!!)
Taking guitar lessons is really fun and Eric makes it better because he is a really cool guy. He will teach me any type of guitar playing that I ask for. He is one of the best guitar players that I know. He also helps me write my own songs. Josh, age 11
I am a 60+ year old physician who has been working with Eric for over 4 1/2 years! During this time he has reversed some forty years of bad self taught habits and has greatly advanced new techniques in both flat and finger picking. Old songs sound better and the repertoire has increased far beyond my Folk interests. His knowledge of the guitar is immense and his style of teaching is precise, innovative, supportive, and never critical. A 4 STAR rating!!
I have been taking acoustic guitar lessons from Eric for over a year now. I enjoy his style of teaching because he is very patient and allows me to select the music I want to learn. He is a great teacher and I enjoy learning from him. Ashley, age 15
I've been taking guitar lessons from Eric for the past 2 and 1/2 years. He is a fantastic teacher that taught me not only the material that I wanted to learn but also gave me a better appreciation of other styles of music. I credit Eric with helping me with a sucessful audition for my school's Jazz Band. Weather it's Classic Rock or Jazz - he's a great teacher! Victor, 15
Eric has been a great guitar instructor for me. He helped me find my musical talents and strengths, which was a great help with my guitar playing and singing. Aava
HOW TO BUY A GUITAR
After playing and teaching guitar for over 20 years,
one of the most common questions I get asked is,
"What's a good guitar to buy?" Hopefully, the
following information can answer this question.
YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!
It's that simple! Guitars range from $100 to $10,000, kind of like cars. Which car would you rather drive? However, most of us can't afford the high end equipment right away, so work with your budget. If you want to play, JUST BUY ONE! You can always upgrade later. We all do this!
$300-$500 is a good price for a guitar to start and grow with. Don't forget a case, picks, a strap, a tuner, and a guitar cable and amplifier (if you go electric), then of course there's always sales tax $$$. YOUR MONEY GETS EATEN UP QUICKLY! Package deals are great ways to save a little money, but the guitar should come first.
KEEP IT SIMPLE!
Acoustic instruments are easier to buy than electric instruments, because an amplifier is not involved. Fender guitars are easier to deal with than Gibson guitars. There are fewer knobs to twist and they weigh less, but you should explore every guitar brand and model possible -- EVEN ONES YOU CAN'T AFFORD!
Usually, the more expensive you go, the more bells and whistles involved. I have had many students get the coolest looking, rock-n-roll guitar in the store, just to quit a few months later. DON'T BASE YOUR GUITAR PURCHASE ON THE WAY IT LOOKS!
Also, it's okay to start with an electric guitar, especially if you're going to buy it later anyway, but if you're the type who starts new hobbies and quits early, you might want to rethink this. KEEP IT SIMPLE!
BUY FROM A MUSIC STORE!
Avoid pawn shops, television, online, or your local all-in-one superstore. It is better to physically see -- and play -- the guitar before you buy it. Other places may try and rip you off, and most of what they sell is of questionable quality!!!
A music store employee is the most qualified to help you find what you're looking for; however, they are salesmen, so don't let them push you into something you don't need. I once had a teenage girl come to her first guitar lesson with a 7 string guitar! That is too much guitar even for some of the pros.
Do some homework, and hopefully you'll find a salesperson who understands that THE GUITAR SHOULD FIT THE PLAYER! The Internet is a great way to do research and explore your options.
Most music stores also have a 30-day return policy. That way, if you get it home and decide you don't like it, or your teenage daughter gets upset that it's the wrong color, you can return it. SAVE YOUR RECEIPT!
GET IT IN YOUR HANDS!
Sit down, put your arms around it, and see if you're comfortable. If you're not comfortable, you won't want to play and it will go into the closet or under the bed. WHAT A WASTE OF MONEY!
Today, guitars come in all different shapes and sizes. Full size, half size, and three-quarter size acoustic guitars are available, as well as mini electrics for kids who want to rock out at an early age.
This should get you started!
I'm not trying to sell you anything. Take this for what it's worth. Twenty other people may tell you twenty other things, but to me, this is all the first-time buyer needs to know.
Once you've progressed passed a beginner, well that's a different story!
Eric
Guitar Movers is a one-of-a-kind, LLC registered service, specializing in the packaging and shipping of all types of guitars and amplifiers to any verifiable physical address in the world!!!
When you purchase a valuable musical instrument for your music store, as a gift for someone special, or a treasure for your personal collection, you deserve to have the peace of mind knowing that we are here to ship your item(s) quickly and without incident.
Our services include:
Other items we ship, but are not limited to, include:
If you purchase equipment, domestic or international, you can have it delivered to our secure, climate controlled warehouse facility, where it will be stored until you have enough inventory to ship cost effectively.
International shipments are sent exclusively with www.transtrade.com; however, a possible arrangement could be made with the international shipper of your choice. Guitar Movers is a KNOWN SHIPPER with this company and they are efficient and cost effective.
When you use our services, please trust that your materials are being handled by trained professionals with many years of experience in this specialized area! Merchandise is packed inside and out, then transferred to strong wardrobe boxes for security, where they are then stuffed with more packing material so NO MOVEMENT will occur. Amplifiers are wrapped in bubble wrap, with the tubes removed, stuffed with paper, and staked accordingly facing inward, or sent individually depending on size.
Many of our customers first discovered Guitar Movers at the ARLINGTON and DALLAS, TX GUITAR SHOWS, which we attend each year to provide our services. We are proud to forge strong relationships with these returning customers and look forward to making new ones.
Prices vary depending on size, amount, and situation of the shipment. All shipping costs are the responsibility of the client. Guitar Movers is labor only! Payment may be made through www.paypal.com. All fees must be incurred by the client.
Please contact us for pricing information. Guitar Movers is non-insured.
GUITAR MOVERS, LLC
3031 West 15th St
Plano, Tx. 75075
ERIC SYKES, Owner and Operator
www.ericsykes.com
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
EDUCATION
PRIVATE INSTRUCTION
MUSIC SKILLS
INDUSTRY MEMBERSHIPS
OTHER ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENTS
Filmmaker
Screenwriter
Actor/Producer
Recordings of Eric's original music will be loaded to the site very soon!
"Chasing Bars"
"Jorts"
"Beverly's Pills"
"Midget Got Bike"
www.nadinesmusicmanor.com
www.poisoncherry.com
www.texasguitarshows.com
www.ccsongwriters.org
www.rappsnapper.com
www.siriusxm.com
Eric Sykes Entertainment
© 2011 Eric Sykes Enterprises
