Today we’d like to introduce you to Nikki Stevens.
Nikki, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started teaching guitar lessons professionally in 2005 throughout Los Angeles, most notably at Mel Booker Music and Keyboard Galleria Music Center. In 2010, I moved to southwestern Montana and purchased a guitar shop that was on the verge of going out of business. I revamped the lesson program with a goal of creating an inclusive environment for everyone that wants to learn. On the retail front I brought in top-selling brands and trail blazed with the newest products the industry had to offer. I had hundreds of students coming through the door each week and had store traffic comparable to the volume you would expect from a store in a larger city. I also occasionally had some vacationing rockstars walk through the doors as well — one of them being Jason Newsted, former bassist for Metallica. Jason was well known for rounding up locals for jam sessions, and one day I was invited to his rehearsal space for a jam session. I regularly became a part of his Montana jam crew while he vacationed during the summers there.
Up until then, I only considered myself a guitar player and vocalist — but Jason mentored me on the bass and helped me strengthen my craft in regards to songwriting and performance. In 2015, I moved back home to Los Angeles to pursue my music career, and also joined Paradise Kitty, L.A.’s all-female Guns ‘N Roses tribute (I played bass in that group for a couple of years and had an absolute blast — Duff McKagan is one of my biggest influences when it comes to the bass guitar). Shortly after moving home, I was referred to an audition for Fender Play — Fender Play, the complete learning app for guitar, bass and ukulele from Fender guitars. Since 2016, I’ve been an on-camera instructor for Fender Play, and I am also curriculum team where I work in R&D, lesson scriptwriting, and also interact with Fender Play subscribers on a daily basis in our own Facebook community group.
Since the pandemic began, Fender offered Fender Play for free for three months to 1 million people. Music helps us all get through tough times, and it’s been incredibly therapeutic to connect and interact with so many people throughout the world through such a unique and challenging time. I also offer private lessons via Skype/Zoom, where people can reach out to me directly via my social media. My original band, Teenage Ritual, for which I am the lead singer/bassist, will soon release its debut single in Summer 2020.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There were absolutely struggles along the way. I’m certain that I’ve faced additional challenges, judgment, and criticism because I am a female-identifying musician… but the more I look back on it, the biggest hurdles were conquered while I was a kid, back while I was still learning how to play. It’s a very vulnerable time in general for kids and teenagers when they are discovering who they are as a person, along with their musical identity. These moments that I had to overcome helped shape my mission statement as instructor, which is to provide a supportive and inclusive environment for anyone and everyone that wants to learn how to play music.
Thankfully, the musical instrument industry is finally starting reflect the reality that female players are a huge part of the guitar playing market — that we are not to be taken as a novelty. This is a huge contrast to the negative experiences I’ve had over the years where I will have a run-in with the occasional customer or fan in the crowd that is ignorant and sexist. Overall I believe my success came from focusing primarily on the blessings, the mentors in the industry that believed in me and showed me the trade. That is what helped me navigate the psychological head games that any musician striving for success will always have to battle.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I provide lessons for guitar, bass, and ukulele — for beginning to advanced players. Nearly half of my students are usually girls or women. It’s an honor to be there for them and provide the support they need. In the past, it seemed as though there weren’t as many female guitar instructors teaching professionally. I think it’s great that we have so many more options with diversity in this day and age. I believe I am very well known for the special attention I give to first-time players. I love to demystify so much of the guitar playing world that is intimidating and overwhelming for beginners. The guitar is for anyone that wants to learn to play — whether someone wants to just jam around the campfire or has big dreams to sell-out arenas.
Teaching isn’t just about sharing the joy of music for me — it’s also about equipping my students with the ability to retain that joy so they can receive the mental health benefits that playing music provides. I don’t want anything rob my students of the peace and happiness they feel when that guitar is in their hands. The other half of my students are usually into metal or hard rock, and that always makes for fun lessons. I really enjoy breaking down the guitar tricks of my students’ favorite players, and just being a metalhead enjoying the music just like they are. I am truly blessed to have a full day of teaching, with everything from pop to bluegrass to riot grrrl to heavy metal.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I don’t think I would change a thing. I’m pretty happy with my accomplishments so far and excited for what is yet to come!
Pricing:
- Private lesson Skype special comparable to guitar shop prices — Only $120 for a month of lessons! Sign up today at nikkistevensmusic.com
Contact Info:
- Website: nikkistevensmusic.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @Nikki.nacho.stevens
- Facebook: facebook.com/nikkistevensmusic
- Twitter: @itsnikkistevens
Image Credit:
Green shirt w/ white guitar photo by Robert Downs Photography, grey building w/ red lights, red jacket and gold bass guitar photo by Robert Downs Photography — Blue photo holding bass w/ smile — photo by Epic Shots by Jerry Averill — Other photos marked Jack Lue by Jack Lue.
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