We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Billy Jones. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Billy below.

Billy , appreciate you joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I am a self taught musician. I started with guitar at the age of 19. I had friends that played and picked up basic things by watching them. Looking back, taking some lessons would have been a faster track for learning to play at the beginning. The most essential skill for learning any instrument is patience. Learning to play music is a journey, and you pick up little pieces all along the way. The biggest obstacle for learning an instrument is time.

Billy , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I began playing guitar at the age of 19, on August 9th , 1995 . Most consider this too late to begin. I spent a few years learning the craft, and then forced myself on stage. A band picked me up as a lead singer/rhythm guitarist at an open mic. At that point, I began writing, recording and performing original music. My first band album was the year 2000. My first solo album release was February 2006. The night of the album release, a fan came up and asked if I would give his kid a guitar lesson. As I continued to perform and write/record music, I also began giving lessons around my neighborhood, and within a couple months applied and was accepted as a guitar teacher for Music 49 in Charlotte, NC. I taught there and also private lessons in Davidson, NC until 2009. I opened my own Music Studio (The Birdsnest) in Davidson, NC on April 15th 2010. I still own and teach (along with other teachers that I’ve hired) at the studio, and have been in business for 15years. I have also held music teaching positions at various schools in the community through the years. I have released three more solo albums since then and also five different band projects, and currently working on releasing my next solo album this spring. These days I also teach many different instruments that I have taught myself over the years, such as guitar (electric and acoustic), bass (electric and stand up), piano, drums, ukulele, banjo, mandolin, violin, saxophone, dobro, lap steel, harmonica, voice, songwriting and music theory. Being self taught, and also still picking up and teaching myself new instruments makes me a different kind of teacher, as I can always relate to the “getting started” process that my students begin with. I made a deal with music on day one to always take one step forward daily. Some days its teaching, other days it writing, recording, performing and also practicing the various instruments. I am most proud of being a teacher and a songwriter.
I love helping people achieve their personal musical goals., and helping them along on their journey Songwriting for me is a artistic way of telling my life story, and also a way I feel I can leave messages (medicine) in the world for people that need it the most.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Support through the community is how artists thrive. Whether it is sharing your music with friends or through social media, coming out to shows, buying merch etc.. Making it in music means something different for each artist. For me personally it is about creating content that helps people through their own journeys. Teaching music is a way that I can have a “day job” and still be able to follow my dream and goal to be a songwriter.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

To be a light. Life is really tough and also not fair a lot of people. I feel it is my job as an artist and a teacher to be a light in dark places. To be a positive influence on the community around me, to show kids (and adults) that I teach that I’m not afraid to fail. To stand up for the little guy, and to spark the passion for the little ones who will build our futures.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mrbillyjones.com

Image Credits

Danielle Angell