Musician's Workshop

Instruments Taught:
Guitar, Bass Guitar, Dobro & Mandolin & Ukulele

During the pandemic, Mike will be offering online instruction only.  You may contact him directly at AshevilleGuitar@gmail.com or visit his website http://www.ashevilleguitar.com

Mike Barnes has been teaching at Musician’s Workshop since 1977 and is also a faculty member in the University of North Carolina at Asheville music department. He studied at the University of Miami and is a graduate of L.A.’s Musician’s Institute (GIT), as well as UNCA. He has toured the country extensively in a variety of musical ensembles, served as a studio musician for Geffen and Polygram Records, and spent time as a session guitarist for recording studios in L.A., Memphis, Pittsburgh, Atlanta and Nashville. Mike studied with such guitar legends as Pat Martino, Robben Ford, Joe Diorio. He has also shared the stage with The Black Crowes, John Scofield, Jimmy Page, The Allman Brothers and Gov’t Mule, to name a few. He teaches all styles of guitar from beginner to advanced and also teaches bass guitar. Mike Barnes is also available for performance bookings in any and all musical styles. Please contact him for any of your live musical needs.

Professional Education: Graduate of Guitar Institute of Technology (GIT) Los Angeles, CA.  Master’s Degree Program, University of Miami.  Faculty member University of N.C. at Asheville – Music Department.

Teaching Schedule:
Online Only - Contact Mike directly for schedule

Instruments Taught:
Guitar, Bass, Ukulele

If you are a beginning or intermediate guitarist who has been frustrated by the task of advancing your guitar skills, Forrest Smith is here to help. Forrest has a B.A. in music from The University of North Carolina at Asheville. Forrest helps understand the theories of music through the music you enjoy. Forrest graduated from UNCA in 1997 and began teaching at Asheville Music School. In 2000 he joined the teaching staff at Musician’s Workshop. Since arriving in Asheville in 1992, Forrest has been a member of many bands (Marsupial, The Jaimee Tomas Band, This Man’s Hat, Leigh Glass & The Hazards,Fifth House, After School Special, The Royal We), as well as contributing to several artists recordings. Forrest’s approach to teaching is to tailor his style to each individual student based on their goals and music style preferences.

Professional Education: B.A. in Music, University of N.C. at Asheville.

Teaching Schedule:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday

Instruments Taught:
Drums & Percussion

California native, Joey K has been playing drums since he was five years old. He started taking formal drum lessons at eight.  At nine he joined the school band. This gave him a chance to play music every day and build a strong foundation. Steady drum lessons from age nine to twenty as well as attending California Institute of the Arts honed his skills into a working professional. Joey has played in dozens of bands in hundreds of venues all over L.A.  He played on every scene, Funk and R&B, hip hop, blues, jazz, reggae, and rock just to name a few. Joey starting teaching at age 12. As the drum line Captain in junior high and high school he began to develop a curriculum. He based it on his own private lessons and the school band experience. Now almost thirty years later, he has honed his method. His curriculum works for any drummer on any level. “I teach people how to teach themselves.”

Joey came to visit Asheville in 2007. He was quickly in demand and had gigs booked while his drums were still in L.A. It was time to move here permanently.  Joey has been in a private event band called The Business for the last ten years as well as playing with his own band Joey K and the Extra Double. Joey is still active in the music scene playing gigs around town. Teaching at Musician’s Workshop has been a great opportunity for Joey to give back and spread the love for drums and music

Professional Education: California Institute of the Arts

Teaching Schedule:
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday

Instruments Taught:
Guitar, Classical Guitar & Mandolin

Drew Matulich is a multi-instrumentalist who started at the age of 8 and has been playing guitar for 30 years. With a strong focus on Bluegrass, Blues, Rock, Swing and Jazz, he has dedicated the majority of his life to the study and performance of music through the guitar.

In college he studied Jazz Guitar, Music Theory and Composition as well as Classical Guitar under Dr. Andrew Zohn of Columbus State University.

In addition to the guitar he’s maintained a passion for playing the mandolin since the age of 20 and has continued to perform and teach on that instrument for 15 years.

He toured the country playing music professionally with Billy Strings for two years and was fortunate to have shared the stage with the likes of David Grisman, Bryan Sutton, Sam Bush, Cody Kilby, Sierra Hull and some of best in Bluegrass.

You can easily find Drew performing a variety of styles in various projects around Asheville and Western North Carolina.

From beginners to advanced students, Drew has taught guitar and mandolin for more than 8 years. Drew is passionate and dedicated to finding what works best for each student and catering their study around their own goals and interest while also teaching students how to nurture their own creative passion for music through learning regardless of the students level, technique or preferred genre.

Professional Education: Darton College/Valdosta State University

Teaching Schedule:
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday

Instruments Taught:
Banjo (Bluegrass & Old Time), Guitar & Mandolin

Gabe Epstein is an Asheville-based banjo, guitar, and mandolin player and composer. He is a 2019 graduate of the Bluegrass, Old-Time, Celtic, and Country Music Program in Johnson City, Tennessee, where his areas of focus included teaching and a study of the history of American music, as well as performance. Now living in Asheville, Gabe teaches locally and plays in several groups performing a variety of acoustic genres including bluegrass, folk, Americana, and Celtic. He is excited about teaching at Musician’s Workshop and is eager to help students achieve their musical goals.

Professional Education: B.A. in Music, East Tennessee State University – Bluegrass, Old-Time, Celtic and Country Music.

Teaching Schedule:
Thursday, Friday & Saturday