Our friendly and skilled teaching staff has years of experience, and are here to help you learn to play like the pros. We offer lessons on a variety of instruments, including:
- Acoustic Guitar
- Electric Guitar
- Bass Guitar
- Banjo
- Mandolin
- Fiddle
- Ukulele
Lessons are 30-minute, one-on-one sessions held in our lesson studios above our retail location in Downtown Roanoke. At a cost of only $18 per lesson, it’s hard to beat the individual attention you’ll get from your instructor. Lessons are available Monday-Saturday, times may vary.
To schedule lessons, call 540-342-3884 or email us at: info@fretmill.com
Please leave your name, your phone number(s), the instrument you wish to learn and let us know a good time to reach you by phone.
Meet The Instructors:
Phil Holland
Phil began teaching guitar when he was 16 years old, traveling to each students home. After attending college, he returned to Roanoke and taught music at his own location for several years. Phil has been the Music Director/Lesson Coordinator at Fret Mill Music Co. for many years. He has played with some of Roanoke’s biggest bands in his career. Whether you want to learn to play rhythm guitar, learn to jam, or just play along with your favorite songs; Phil can help you. He is a very versatile teacher who is capable of teaching the country style of Hank Williams, to the Beatles; or even Metallica. His musical tastes range from Les Paul to Joe Satriani; as well as the new Christian rock bands. Phil teaches by note, tablature and ear. We hope you will come by and join the fun of learning with one of Roanoke’s most popular teachers!
Phil is teaching Monday-Thursday and Saturdays and is now accepting student for guitar and bass.
David Cannaday
David started teaching at 15 years old. He has worked in music stores and teaching studios ever since. David plays with his own variety band “Stairwell” that offers country, bluegrass and oldies rock & roll. He is also a member of bluegrass band “Southern Rail Express”. Plus works as a sideman with many other groups as well.
He has produced many recordings including his own “Inheritance Bluegrass Band with special guest Dan Tyminski”. “Virginia Bluegrass Sampler – Carry Me Back To Old Virginia”. And the most current “Alleghany Rails – A Collection of Railroad Folk Songs From Virginia’s Rail Heritage Region”.
David is currently teaching on Wednesdays and accepting students for Banjo, Guitar, Mandolin, Bass, Lap Dulcimer, Autoharp and Dobro.
Leah Howard
Leah has been fascinated with the violin ever since she picked it up for the first time when she was ten, and played Jingle Bells. A few months later, she performed the song solo for her elementary school, and joined her first youth orchestra.
Leah started formal, private Suzuki training the following year, when she moved from Oregon to California, and continued to study violin in school and privately, throughout her high school years. Some of her early musical experience includes playing in her high school orchestra, professional strolling violinist, violinist in a professional youth quartet, and playing violin in a community philharmonic orchestra.
Soon after moving to Roanoke in 2002, Leah joined the Valley Chamber Orchestra as a violinist, publicist and board member for two and a half years, while she pursued her degree in Commercial Design and the Arts, at Hollins University. Leah was very active in the Music Department at Hollins, where she studied music theory, Latin American Music, and Bach, as well as taking private voice and violin lessons. She is proud to have been awarded a surprise scholarship by the head of the Music Department.
Using the Suzuki Method, which emphasizes listening to music, as well as technique, Leah’s students can learn the fundamental foundational tools that will make it possible to play any kind of music they enjoy.
Now a Hollins Alumna and professional Graphic Designer, Leah is excited to start teaching violin, and sharing music, which she considers to be one of the most beautiful gifts in her life, with others.
Leah is currently accepting violin students of all ages.
