Kyle Ellings: January Instructor Highlight Interview
Bio
Kyle Ellings has been playing the drums for as long as he can remember. His dad is a drummer and taught him to play his first basic beat at just 4 years old. Growing up in Wisconsin, he immediately gravitated towards rock music, which has been a big part of his identity ever since. While his friends were listening to rap, pop, and country, artists like Lil Wayne, Black Eyed Peas and Taylor Swift, Kyle was discovering heavy rock artists like AC/DC, Metallica, Bon Jovi and Nirvana. Listening to music that wasn’t considered mainstream or popular while he was growing up in the 2000s and 2010s ultimately gave him the confidence to be himself, because he learned that what was important was not what others deemed “cool” but in fact what he himself found exciting and inspiring. After learning the basics on drums from his dad, he became mostly self-taught from then on. A major turning point occurred one fateful day when he decided to research the drummer of Nirvana, as he had been such a big fan of the band, and was shocked to learn of a musician by the name of Dave Grohl, who it turned out not only played drums in Nirvana but had started a band of his own called Foo Fighters in which he was the primary singer, songwriter and guitar player. Kyle was so inspired that he decided he wanted to play the guitar. He picked up an old family heirloom, a guitar from his late uncle that had been lying around the house for years. After taking a few guitar lessons online, he realized he was going to need in-person lessons. Kyle found Guitar Ninjas and fell in love with the program, where he began taking weekly lessons until he graduated and received his GN Black Pick 4 years later, at the age of 19. He then attended courses at Moorpark College in music theory, engineering and production and ultimately graduated with a certificate in music technology. Less than a year later, Kyle returned to Guitar Ninjas in 2022, this time not as a student, but as a teacher. Invigorated to share his passion and knowledge with others, he has been an exceptionally upbeat and enthusiastic instructor at GN ever since. In addition to playing live in multiple projects and releasing original music in collaboration with other artists, Kyle is about to begin a 2 year program at Cal State Northridge which will culminate in a Bachelor’s Degree of Music Industry.
What is a distinguishing aspect of your teaching style?
“I’ve always tried to be a friend in addition to being a mentor. I really like to make sure there’s a personal connection. That has always been a very important part of my lessons. The lesson room is a safe space for everybody. On top of it being a learning environment, it’s important to me that everybody’s having fun and is happy. I’m interested in the lives of my students, which is to say I’m invested in their growth as musicians and people.”
Embodying the Way of the Ninja
Vibe: “I find that I can cater to the student. Some students are laser-focused on working through the material for the whole lesson, which is awesome, but some need a bit more time spent on social engagement and just having a fun musical experience while learning. So I can also be a little silly. If I can make them laugh within the first 5 minutes or so, that sets the tone, which is making people smile. That’s the vibe of my lessons. Happy and fun.”
Method: “I always tell my students, no matter what the song is, no matter what is challenging you - your two best friends are repetition and going slow. Repetition is the name of the game when it comes to learning an instrument. I remember my martial arts instructor used to say ‘everything is uncomfortable before it becomes comfortable.’ Every single chord shape is a little uncomfortable the first time you play it, but the more you do it, the more comfortable it gets. And that takes repetition. Also, going slow can be such a big help. Really understanding the movement, the mechanics… speed will come in time, but it’s so important to develop muscle memory first. And of course, I always emphasize making progress by putting in the work at home.”
Mindset: “I’ve found that a lot of my students can be really hard on themselves. They can get frustrated by challenges and wonder why they aren’t able to play at a higher caliber yet, even if they’re just starting out. I tell them to be patient with yourself. Be kind to yourself. It’s also important to manage expectations and set realistic goals, which I’m able to help with by giving them perspective on their progress, which is almost always more than they initially recognize or give themselves credit for. If we can remain positive and keep having fun even through the challenges, nothing will stop our progress.”