Fort Worth Music Academy

Why You Should Practice Guitar First Thing In The Morning

I'm going to dispel the myth of being a "night owl" and how you're hurting your progress on guitar by practicing at night. I also attack coffee and caffeine to the fullest. Read the companion article about the benefits of practicing guitar first thing in the morning before your day starts.

6 Principles For Guitar Success (with Vicki Workman)

Check out Vicki's guitar school in London https://croydonguitartuition.com/

How To Spot A Fake Fender Strat (so you don't get scammed like me)

Eric recently bought a used Made in Mexico Fender Stratocaster... or so he thought :( Learn what to watch out for when buying used Strats! Guitar lessons in Fort Worth? We got em! 

The SAD Reality of Reaching Your Goals

ok, maybe YOU won't be sad when you reach your guitar, piano, voice, drums, or bass playing goals, but I was. Here's what I learned about myself when I finally reached my guitar-playing goals after 22 years... To sign up for lessons in person or online, visit https://fortworthmusicacademy.com/ Join www.UnlimitedGuitar.com today for just $10/mo and get access to over 25 courses and growing

3 Ways To Get Your Child To Practice Their Musical Instrument

Have you tried any of these practice tips for kids? Something else? Let me know [email protected] Visit https://fortworthmusicacademy.com to schedule your child's trial lesson today

5 Lies Parents of Music Students Believe

Eric shares 5 falsehoods that parents of new music students often believe when signing up for guitar, piano, drums, or voice lessons https://fortworthmusicacademy.com/

7 Lies We Tell Ourselves Learning A Musical Instrument

Eric Bourassa outlines 7 common falsehoods we frequently believe about learning to play guitar, piano, drums, or any other musical instrument. These come from his experience over the past 13 years teaching over 1,000 students. He also shares the ones of which he has been guilty! https://www.fortworthmusicacademy.com https://www.unlimitedguitar.com

Long Vu- Instructor and Musician

Long Vu celebrates 2 years as an instructor with us and shares his origin story

Anna Discusses Her Mormon Faith

If you've ever been a student at Fort Worth Music Academy, then you know Anna Schumacher. She runs our music school and I don't know what we'd do without her. From new student onboarding to scheduling and payments, she does it all. What you may not know is that Anna is Mormon, so on this episode we dive into why she is Mormon and some of her foundational beliefs.

Ace Coontz- LGBTQ, Gender, and Growing Up Texas

Former guitar student Ace Coontz educates Eric on gender, cisgender, experiences in the LGBTQ community, and growing up in a mostly conservative Christian community. Eric reveals his previous religious bias toward the LGBTQ community

Ace Coontz- Nashville Music Industry and Big Machine

Ace is a former guitar student, Belmont University grad, and shares her experience interning for Big Machine Records in Nashville

Music School Owner Josh Ross

Stephen Harper- Musician/Teacher

Other than discussing the joys of being a musician and getting to teach music, we discuss things that might get us cancelled... Growing up black in rural Texas Racism or lack thereof  Inclusion and diversity at the music school

There Are No Secrets- Eric Rants

Eric rants about products that claim to sell "secrets" to playing guitar, bass, or <insert your instrument here> Surprise! There are no secrets. Just consistent practice paired with good teaching resources and usually a good mentor.

Elizabeth Andrade, FWISD Teacher

Elizabeth and Eric have a candid conversation about the pandemic, its effect on the schools, and teachers and the district are handling it

Music Theory 101- 7th Chords

This is an excerpt from a lesson I recently gave on 7th chords. Video version with charts of chord spellings can be found on Eric Bourassa's YouTube channel. For detailed assignments and PDF charts that will take you deeper in this lesson, and for all the tools you need to be successful at lead guitar and guitar theory, check out https://www.unlimitedguitar.com

Kendi Jean- Her New Album "Lasso The Moon"

Listen to Kendi Jean's music here-- https://www.kendijeanmusic.com/

Rants and Ravings of a Madman

Meg Minter- Studio of Movemint

Meg Minter is the owner of Studio of Movemint, a dance school in Fort Worth, TX. Meg discusses what inspired her to open her own dance school, their quick growth to 450 students in just a few short years, Covid-19, and how children really are our future. Visit https://studioofmovemint.com/ for more 

Amy Buyers Harwood- Ft Worth Artist and Recovery Advocate

Amy is an incredible artist who lives in Ft Worth. In this episode, Amy shares her story of addiction and recovery, rediscovering art and turning it into a career, learning guitar, and the man who stood by her side in her darkest hour. Follow Amy on Instagram @amybh.art

Heart and Harmony Music Therapy with Nikki Belshe

visit https://www.heartandharmony.com/ for more details about Nikki's DFW-based music therapy 

Sarah Estes and Jon Chapman of Preuve Digital Marketing- Navigating a Covid 19 World

Now more than ever it's vital that every business has an online presence, and one FWMA mom, Sarah Estes, is making sure businesses survive and thrive during this worldwide pandemic. Listen to Sarah and her business parter, Jon Chapman, discuss their digital marketing company's strategies in this week's episode Need help with your digital marketing? visit https://preuve.co/  follow Sarah and Jon on Instagram @_preuve_ 

Music Theory 201- The Dorian Mode

join me, if you will, on a journey into everything you need to know about the dorian mode!

Rebecca Lucas of Adorable Boutique and Embroidery

Rebecca and Eric get candid about Covid-19 and the impact its had on business and our west Fort Worth community. Adorable Boutique and Embroidery specializes in custom clothing for children, serving Fort Worth for 12 years on Camp Bowie Blvd. https://www.facebook.com/adorableFW/

Special Collector's Edition: Coronavirus

this is all so crazy. listen as I, Eric, rant and share a few quick thoughts on this ever-evolving thing

Snake Takers EXCLUSIVE interview- Tony, Jake, Royce

The Snake Takers have been a band for nearly 5 days and have experienced all the highs and lows you'd expect from a rock band- replaced members, band drama, a canceled world tour and one last show before hiatus. Rowdy Carter, band coach/manager, has seen them through it all and helped them navigate the turbulent world of rock and roll.

Music Theory 101 (Part 3)- extensions (9, 11, 13) and sus chords

Intervals! must know 1 m2 M2 m3 M3 4 Tt 5 m6 M6 m7 M7 Extensions! 2=9, 4=11, 6 =13 sus vs add- sus chords sustain intervals in place of another (2 sustained for 3), add chords add to the existing chord. 

Carlos Shilinsky- how to play like a pro musician

Carlos Shilinsky grew up in Cancun, Mexico where he learned to perform with pro musicians as a teen, often learning new songs AT the gig! Learn why playing with other musicians is just as important (if not more) than practicing alone in your room.

Annalise Evenson of YouFit Ft Worth- health and fitness

Annalise Evenson is operations manager of YouFit gym and fitness center in Fort Worth, TX. Today we talk health, fitness, taking baby steps that lead to big changes, and Eric hiding m&m's under his pillow at night.  https://www.youfit.com/gym/fort-worth-hulen-bend-blvd-7764

Kendi Jean- singer/songwriter mom stepping out to the limelight

Kendra Finestead AKA Kendi Jean discusses writing and performing music as a mother of 3 and taking big steps to record and release original music https://www.kendijeanmusic.com/

Sean Russell (Cut Throat Finches)- Business of Being a Pro Musician

Sean Russell from DFW-based rock band Cut Throat Finches talks about the realities of being a pro musician. 90% is the business side and doing all the things no one wants to do, 10% is having fun onstage.  On Feb 23rd at 4pm @MASS Fort Worth Music Academy students will join the band onstage to perform a CTR show as special guests. Get your tickets at https://www.prekindle.com/find-tickets/id/530585115430034236?1

Julie Rhodes- actress, mom, writer for MadeWorthy, and how she balances it all

Julie is a DFW actress who lives in Fort Worth and regularly performs in shows for Casa Mañana, Amphibian, Circle Theater, Stolen Shakespeare Guild, Lyric Theater, Dallas Children's Theater and is getting ready to shoot a pilot for a TV show. She also writes for MadeWorthy, the Tanglewood Moms publication, is a board member for Stolen Shakespeare, takes voice lessons (and has an incredible voice), volunteers for PTA at her kids' school and is a married mother of 2. She also has a pug, Eloise. 

Why Are TOOL So Popular?

Eric saw TOOL perform in Dallas this week and asks the question, why do so many people love this band? listen as he debates himself and ponders the issue. Will he reach a satisfying conclusion? Will he babble aimlessly in despair? Find out in this week's episode!

Music Theory 101 (part 2)

Eric covers 7th chords and how they fit in to the major scale. andddd a little bit of news at the top

Music Theory 101 (part 2)

Eric covers 7th chords and how they fit in to the major scale. andddd a little bit of news at the top

Music Theory 101 (part 1)

covering about 75% of all the music theory you'll ever need to know in this episode. Doesn't take too long to explain the basics of theory- the real work starts when you just get to work practicing building scales and chords on your own.  like math (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division), the concepts themselves are fairly simple but they take a LOT of practice to really cement them into your being. Email us [email protected] or call us (817)420-6462 for additional re...

British Blues History with John Harlow

British blues rock historian and native Brit John Harlow educates us all on Joe Bonamassa's guitar heroes- Rory Gallagher, Clapton, Jeff Beck, the music of Free, Mayall, and more!

School News- concert recap, rock band programs for all, rebrand!

Eric rants about the latest happenings at FWGA

John Harlow Interview Pt 1

John shares stories of growing up in England during the rise of the world's greatest rockstars in the 1970's & 80's. All with a British accent that is hard to resist!

1.3 Steve Rohlfing interview

My guest is Steve Rohlfing, an excellent adult guitar student at Fort Worth Guitar Academy who lights up any room he enters. Today we discuss his transition from music ed major to engineer and what it's like to lead a worship service with his wife who also leads a prison music ministry for women. We also talk about practicing!

1.2 Early Morning Guitar Workout Program?

Bigger Space... Not Yet! Student Showcase! Early morning guitar training program! Special guest Olivia Mancuso!

1.1 Greatest Podcast on PLANET EARTH???

Whitney is our new admin! Todd teaches! Showcase! Videos! New location!