Grady Tollison

New to Lessonface
Guitar, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Blues Guitar, Classical Guitar, Fingerstyle Guitar, Rock Guitar, Punk Guitar, Reggae Guitar, Bossa Nova Guitar, Jazz Guitar, Lead Guitar, Beginner Guitar for Kids, Country Guitar, Piano, Classical Piano, Jazz Piano, Piano Composition, Pop Piano, Rock Piano, Keyboard, Blues Piano, Bossa Nova Piano, Reggae Keyboard, Bass Guitar, Reggae Bass Guitar, Ukulele, U Bass, Meditation, Composition, Film & TV Scoring, Ear Training
Lesson Fees
$30.00 / 30 Minutes

About

I am offering lessons on piano, bass, guitar, and ukulele for all ages and skill levels. I graduated from the University of Virginia in 2019 with a B.A. in Music, where I performed with jazz small groups and the Black Voices Gospel Choir. I play electric bass in the jazz group Nucleus Trio; since 2022 we have released an EP and a full-length album and performed extensively around Richmond, VA. I’ve also performed and recorded with Richmond bands including Big Fancy, Pharaoh Sistare, Dan & the Fam, and Sunflower Mafia. I have over five years of teaching experience with students ranging from age 4 to their 70s.

Teaching Style

I let students guide and shape their own lessons because they learn best when working on music they love. I emphasize listening and playing by ear—half or more of learning music is listening, and developing that skill makes everything else easier. I introduce improvisation, composition, and practical music theory, and I teach reading when it fits the student’s goals (but don’t stress it early if it would hinder progress). My role is to support and encourage each student’s musical journey while gently pushing them beyond their comfort zone to foster growth.