In this episode, Blake interviews Marty Schwartz, a renowned guitar teacher and one of the first music instructors on YouTube.

Marty shares his journey of becoming a successful guitar teacher and the early adoption of YouTube for teaching guitar lessons. He discusses the impact of Guitar Hero on teaching classic rock songs and the benefits of video lessons for students. We also get into using YouTube to enhance private lessons, and the challenges he faced during the 2008 economic crash.

We also get into his experience creating lesson courses and DVDs and how he started working with music brands. He discusses the process of getting a signature guitar and building relationships with brands like D'Addario and Gibson. Marty also mentions his involvement in Gibson's G3 mentorship program and his collaborations with the brand.

Takeaways

  • Marty Schwartz became a successful guitar teacher by seizing opportunities and working hard.
  • YouTube provided a platform for Marty to teach guitar lessons at scale and reach a wider audience.
  • The popularity of Guitar Hero helped introduce classic rock songs to a new generation of guitar students.
  • Video lessons offer students the flexibility to learn at their own pace and review material as needed.
  • Marty's success on YouTube was a result of timing, preparation, and embracing new technology.
  • Creating videos for specific songs and optimizing video titles for search engine optimization (SEO) helped Marty attract more viewers.
  • Marty's commitment to daily YouTube videos and using YouTube as a referral tool contributed to his success as a guitar teacher.
  • Learning from other music YouTubers can provide valuable insights and inspiration.


Chapters

00:00

Introduction and The False Episode 500 Celebration

01:16

Marty's Journey as a Guitar Teacher

03:15

Timing and Preparation for YouTube Success

04:14

The Impact of Guitar Hero on Teaching Classic Rock Songs

05:10

Benefits of Video Lessons for Students

06:08

Transitioning to Full-Time YouTube Guitar Teacher

07:12

Teaching Music at an Elementary School

08:11

Using YouTube to Enhance Private Guitar Lessons

09:08

The Impact of the 2008 Economic Crash

10:07

Focusing on YouTube Videos During Challenging Times

11:06

The Evolution of Marty's YouTube Channel

12:19

Discovering the Importance of SEO for Video Titles

13:14

Creating Videos for Specific Songs

15:16

Teaching Classic Rock Songs to Kids

18:28

Doubling Down on YouTube as a Referral Tool

19:05

The Early Days of YouTube and Monetization

20:01

Using YouTube as a Marketing Tool

22:29

Learning from Other Music YouTubers

23:23

Transitioning from Private Lessons to YouTube

25:26

Creating Lesson Courses and DVDs

27:21

Working with Music Brands

29:16

Getting a Signature Guitar

31:57

Building Relationships with Brands

34:00

Working with D'Addario

35:25

Participating in Gibson's G3 Mentorship Program

39:44

Collaborating with Gibson

00:00

Introduction and Signature Guitar

02:58

The Reality of Touring

06:03

The Connection with Fans

08:58

The Realities of Touring

13:01

Dealing with Scams and Fake Videos


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