Today we’d like to introduce you to Guillaume Metz.
Hi Guillaume, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I started as a self-taught, confused guitarist who could play songs but had no real understanding of what I was doing or why. I almost gave up to focus on my engineering studies instead, which, unexpectedly, is what saved my playing. The same logical, break-it-down thinking I used as an engineer finally made music theory click for me.
That led me to music school in France, where I noticed classmates just as lost as I’d been. I started helping them, wrote it all down (which became two published books), and ended up teaching at the university level by twenty-five. Eventually I realized the people I most wanted to help were adults with careers and families who used to play seriously and just wanted to actually understand the guitar. That became the Will Metz Guitar Academy – an online guitar and music education platform and community – which has since helped hundreds of students do the same.
I also still play guitar professionally in several bands in Colorado (Elder Grown, J-Calvin, Nu Bass Theory, and more)
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not at all a smooth road. The world and business of online education are very busy and competitive, especially when it comes to guitar learning. It took me many years to go from teaching private lessons and college students to a business that could sustain me financially.
And there are still struggles today. People imagine online business to be the holy grail. But it can be very draining and isolating despite the many advantages.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a professional guitarist and mostly play funk, soul, and fusion. But I am mostly known as an educator for my ability to clearly break down important and complicated musical concepts. My YouTube channel is full of comments where people describe finally understanding notions they had spent years trying to wrap their heads around.
This is arguably due to my background in science and engineering. I like structure and logic and have a unique ability to break complex notions down into digestible chunks. That skill, of course, is not unique, but it’s the intersection of engineering, music, and education that sets me apart.
I am proud to have helped people gain clarity and gain the knowledge to pursue their passion confidently.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Yes… I mean, I gave up a career in engineering to move from France (where I am from and grew up) to the US to become a musician and teach music instead. I guess most would consider that a risk.
I also invested a lot of money in coaching and mentors to launch my business…
Risk is an integral part of life. There is a risk behind every action we take, including NOT taking action. However, I believe it’s important to take calculated and incremental risks.
Before transitioning into my business full-time, I kept several other sources of income to make sure I had a backup plan.
I think starting a business and being successful takes a lot more work than risk-taking. A lot of risk can also be mitigated by a willingness to work harder. For example, quitting one’s job to start a business is a risk. But keeping the job while working extra hours to start a business trades risk for more work.
Pricing:
- 52 Week Theory and Fretboard Navigation Program – $3500
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.willmetzacademy.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/willmetz_music/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@willmetz_music
