Do you want to learn guitar? If you need lessons, you’ve come to the right place. We have four stellar teachers here at the store: JD Pendley, Eddie Collins, Kym Warner, and David Pulkingham . These educators have over 60 years of combined experience, bringing the rock (and the folk) into the lives of countless players! They have imparted to many students the art of guitar in styles ranging from Blues, Rock, Fusion, and Jazz to straight-up traditional Bluegrass. Lessons are also offered for the bass guitar, banjo and mandolin. Give us a call and we’ll get you in touch with one of these fine instructors.
J.D. Pendley
JD is a guitarist, arranger, composer, and producer living in Austin, Texas. A native of Salt Lake City, Utah, he’s been a full time musician for 30 years and a part of Austin’s live music scene since 2001. JD plays a variety of styles of music and performs with his own group ( JD Pendley ), The Violet Crown Review, Hot Texas Swing Band, the Texas Moaners, and many others, as well as being the head guitar instructor at South Austin Music since 2023. JD’s debut solo release is Why, Sometimes- available at Bandcamp.com as well as streaming platforms.
Eddie Collins
Eddie Collins is regarded nationally as a top instructor in the acoustic music field, specifically for 5-string banjo, mandolin, and flatpick and Travis style guitar. He’s authored over 30 instruction courses. He founded 5-String Quarterly and authors the “Beginner’s Corner” column for Banjo NewsLetter.
As a performer, Eddie plays around his hometown of Austin, Texas. Collins’ sideman credits are as diverse as having played with bluegrass legends to cutting his performing teeth in the country and oldies field as a sideman to the super-oldies group, The Drifters, and country music legend Wynn Stewart. He won the Southern California Banjo Championship in 1985 and placed 2nd in the 1999 Texas State Banjo Contest.
Collins has appeared on 30+ recordings, including ten solo CDs and has produced albums for several other artists. For years he played with The “A” List players, an Austin-based group of super pickers playing hard-driving bluegrass.
Beyond music, Collins is a past President of the Central Texas Bluegrass Association and a former disc jockey for KOOP’s (91.7 FM) “Strictly Bluegrass” program. His career and original music have been documented in several publications and were highlighted on the nationally syndicated television show, Texas Music Café.
Kym Warner
Kym Warner is an Australian musician and record producer, and a founding member of the American bluegrass band The Greencards. Warner was an aspiring bluegrass musician (which was unusual in Australia at the time) after inheriting the music from his father, an early Australian bluegrass pioneer. The winner of the Australian National Bluegrass Mandolin Championship for four consecutive years, Warner had toured with country music artists Gina Jeffreys, and with Young again in Kasey Chambers‘s band. Before the band formed, Carol Young and Warner both knew each other, and according to Warner had been drawn to bluegrass and American roots music through an appreciation of George Jones and Merle Haggard. After meeting, Warner and Young made the decision to emigrate to America, to pursue musical careers there. Later, Young and Warner were living together in Sydney, and trying to find work in the moribund Australian bluegrass scene. After leaving Australia, they spent time in West Texas before relocating to Austin.
David Pulkingham
David Pulkingham grew up traveling internationally, recording and performing music.
He was first published at age four and was on his first recording session at age seven.
Deciding to pursue music professionally at age 20, David enrolled in the prestigious Jazz studies program at the University of North Texas. Upon graduation he moved to Austin, Texas where he has been a mainstay of that city’s thriving music scene ever since. Known for his abilities in numerous styles, he has been called on for many recording sessions whether it be Latin music or Rock and Roll. Tony Visconti, the legendary record producer best known for producing David Bowie, calls Pulkingham “the complete guitarist.”
“David is one of the best guitarists I’ve ever worked with,” said Visconti, who has worked with some of the greatest guitarists of the last five decades. “He is equally brilliant in pick styles, finger styles, classical, Flamenco, Brazilian — rock ‘n’ roll and jazz. He always amazes me.”
From 2002 until 2012 David toured internationally as the right hand man of the famed Texas troubadour, Alejandro Escovedo. He was also the musical director of the Alejandro Escovedo Orchestra. This lead him to performances on such stages as Carnegie Hall and to share the stage with such icons as Bruce Springsteen.
In December of 2012 he was asked to be the bandleader and guitarist for two shows with Robert Plant and Patty Griffin, and went on to tour with Patty Griffin in 2013 in support of her new album release “American Kid.”
In 2011 he released a solo instrumental album entitled “David Pulkingham Plays Guitar.” In 2012 he released a 5 song EP of originals called “David Pulkingham Plays Guitar and Sings” and in 2014 he released a third volume of “David Pulkingham Plays Guitar”, and will release a full album of originals.
David currently tours with Patty Griffin and plays internationally under his own name.
