More Testimonials ​

 

"Paul puts his heart and soul into teaching. He gives solid tools and lays out a navigable path toward musical understanding and expression. Music's fun, Paul's fun, and he's a great teacher. I don't feel like I'm wearing a blindfold anymore, and my piano and I are a lot better friends now. What more is there to say?"  -Justin King

 

"I cannot recommend Paul and the Musical Mandala enough. I worked with him for nine months and saw so much growth in my playing and understanding of music. He is also just a lovely soul to spend time with, and creates a wonderful space to create and explore music in."  -David Sheur

 

"Paul is the absolute cream of the crop when it comes to music teachers! I've been playing guitar for over a decade but have never been super strong on my theory, which eventually led to me feeling pretty limited and a bit bored of my own playing. In just a few months Paul has greatly expanded my understanding of music and guitar. He's an incredibly effective teacher, but on top of that he's simply one of the most kind and humorous people you'll ever meet which only enhances his skills as a teacher." -Steve Moore

 

"Paul is hands down the best music teacher I've ever had. I wanted to learn guitar and piano as a young adult and had a few teachers before Paul, but I never felt like I was getting anywhere. Paul's teaching style/philosophies has helped me progress at a rate I'm more than happy with and feel like I'm actually understanding music opposed to just going through the motions. I can't recommend him enough, he's an incredible musician and teacher." -Kris Thomas

 

"A masterful teacher who allows students to embody musical theory through felt experience, Paul guided me on a music journey that I never knew was possible. I tried to learn the guitar a hand full of times in my life and it never stuck until I met him. He lives to teach and is constantly evolving and refining his trade to meet each student where they are at in the process. Once unable to keep a simple rhythm, I now play and sing with competence and confidence. He helped me discover joy in the creative process and a deep love for music. The lesson with Paul is a highlight of my week." -Jonathan Carlson

 

"As a self taught guitar player, I worried lessons would hinder my creativity. I am glad I found Paul. Paul has a deep respect for the creative spirit in all of us. His teachings on harmony, modes and technique helped me see music as a night sky that you could always find new stars and constellations in. I still practice the exercises Paul gave me. My time with him laid a foundation for years to come." -Bo Bestvina

 

"In the two years we have known Paul Russell, he has proven himself to possess an incredibly broad understanding of the American guitar tradition. Add to that a sound foundation in general music theory, and a professional-level technical ability, Paul can meet nearly any acoustic guitarist where they are and take them where they want to go." -Rob Vetter

 

"Musical instruction, education, and collaboration at its finest! My 14 year old son has been taking guitar lessons from Paul for 4. Each lesson brings another week of musical exploration and inspiration back into our home. I have been simply amazed at our son's knowledge of music theory, composition, and speed of skill growth. Paul knows just how to meet a student where they are, and how to gently inspire to the just right next step. As a mentor, he connects with students and families professionally, and with true care. We value Paul as an instructor, and member of the musical community." -Anna Malpica

 

Paul at The Musical Mandala is a fantastic music teacher! He will meet you wherever you're at and find ways to help improve your playing. He is incredibly skilled, intelligent, humorous, and a pleasure to be around. Presenting unique ways of looking at music theory and offering bite-sized, manageably sized lessons, he is a wonderful resource and highly recommended. -Shawn Speyer

 

"Paul is the most knowledgeable, supportive, and adaptable music instructor I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. When I started, I knew basic guitar chords but had no vocal experience. Yet, through his intuitive approach, he taught me the fundamentals of music theory in a way that truly clicked. Within just a few months, I felt comfortable improvising on the guitar and with my voice. His vocal group lessons gave me the confidence to sing in front of others, which was a huge step for me. Working with him has been truly transformative, he’s given me a solid foundation that I’ll continue building on for the rest of my life. I would highly recommend anyone of any skill level to work with Paul." -Garrett McHugh

 

"My son developed his song writing skills, understanding of chords and scales, as well as his guitar skills through lessons with Paul. We appreciated how Paul collaborated to work with my son’s musical interests as well as introducing him to new artists to provide new knowledge and experience. Thank you Paul!" -Melody McCall

 

"Paul provides a unique view of the musical process that brings things together. Many of the questions I was left pondering from other teachers and online resources have been answered, helping me progress with both my playing and understanding of music and the guitar. Paul also makes the process fun, allowing me to look forward to our weekly sessions." -Rob Hope

"Paul is an excellent teacher and just a great person in general. He helped me immensely not only in achieving greater technical ability in my voice, but also to be more confident with it. And he is very knowledgeable about all things in music theory and is able to translate those concepts across several instruments easily. He is able to teach both basic and advance music theory concepts in a fashion that is very easy to understand. I highly recommend Paul to everyone from beginners just starting out to people just looking to expand your ability and music theory knowledge."  -Spencer Corbin

 

"Paul is a unique teacher. He meets you where you're at with absolutely no judgement and then quietly pushes you forward. His enthusiasm for the voice is infectious and he's made this 47 year old wish I'd found him many many years ago. If you're even a little bit terrified of singing but have always wanted to do it, then Paul is your man. He'll help turn your nerves into beautiful noises!!"  -Steve Thornton

 

"Paul has been an amazing piano and music theory instructor for our son. He started playing relatively "late" compared to some of his friends, but Paul has brought out his intuitive understanding of patterns and his natural musicality. Our son is playing fluently much more quickly than we expected and Paul has been an inspirational coach, especially around improvisation and songwriting. We couldn't be more pleased."  -Jennifer Dixey

 

Paul has a heartfelt and inspirational passion for music. He is compassionate and communicative, always meeting me where I am. He is well prepared and present to whatever "is" in each and every moment. With effortlessness, he fluidly moves through lessons, adjusting course according to my challenges or triumphs along the way. His approach to teaching is intuitive and brings the music out from within. He always sets me up for success which continually builds my trust in myself as a musician, and most definitely makes it more fun.

Paul is an exceptional musician and teacher who is playfully engaged. He has a deep knowledge of music theory and teaches it clearly through metaphor, humor, sound and felt sense. Working with Paul is a complete joy and feeds my soul (and my musical aptitude)!" -Sarah Formica

 

"Paul is the man - I came in with a music background (primarily percussion, and playing piano/guitar off and on for a while) and he met me where I was at. From there, we’ve been working together the last 6 months and I’ve seen my playing ability and understanding of music grow exponentially. No matter where yours at in you’re music journey Paul works with where you’re at - I’ll come to Paul every week with new ideas and we’ll expand on them, and we’ve worked a lot on the skill set I already have (percussion & rhythm) and applying that to guitar. Paul allows me to explore the areas of music I’m interested in and gives tips, advice and ideas along the way to keep on that path of improvement. Highly recommend for beginners and beyond." -Andrew Kearns​

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