"It was not until I met him though that I came to know Wes as more than simply one of the most well practiced and skilled musicians that I know. I quickly found Wes to be as much my friend and mentor as he his my teacher."
Wesley's Musical Journey
Wesley III was born and raised in Olney, MD, and was surrounded by musicians from an early age. With one older brother who played drums in a gigging rock band and another who was a classical pianist and woodwind player, Wesley was exposed to music of all types. He started playing the electric guitar at a young age, and later became interested in classical guitar as well. After earning his AA in Teacher Education, he went on to earn his Bachelor's degree in Music Performance with a focus in Classical Guitar.
Throughout his undergraduate years, Wesley earned numerous academic and performance distinctions. These include multiple placements on the National Dean’s List, induction into the Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society, and several first-place awards in scholarship competitions. He also performed extensively, singing with the TU University Chorale on multiple tours and with the BSO at the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. Wesley graduated with honors and has been featured in several publications, including Guitar World magazine. His studio compositions have also been broadcast on multiple local radio stations, including WHFS.
In his 25 years of professional private teaching, Wesley has taught students of all ages and levels from pre-K up through retired, beginner thru advanced, and all different styles of music to people from all walks of life! His students have ranged from individuals pursuing a music degree, to those who are learning music just for fun. Of his approach to teaching, Wesley says, "It is vital to assess each student's particular learning processes and adaptabilities, in order to help the student learn as productively and simply as possible while having a good time in the process. It is also important to be versatile and flexible enough to help the students learn how to play the music in the style that he or she wants to play! I have experience in nearly all styles and can easily adapt to fit the needs of the individual student."
Wesley has this message for any student who is interested in working with him: "I truly enjoy sharing my love for music and my knowledge with others! The opportunity to achieve that through teaching is of personal value to me. It's a great feeling to inspire a student to want to learn about what I love doing the most, and then have the means to take them there if they are willing! It allows me to bring energy and enthusiasm to every lesson, which is a step on a journey to a greater sense of self-enlightenment."
I make sure to assess each of my students' particular learning processes to help them learn as productively as possible and have a good time in the process.