Aaron Dorfman began playing guitar at age 6, studying both the Hal Leonard and Dick Bennett methods.  What started as an early interest quickly developed into a passion for music.  Performing in front of family, Aaron was fortunate to find endless encouragement and support.  Aaron was inspired by his first guitar teacher and childhood hero, Aaron learned guitar in an environment that was exciting but also productive and progressive.  This paved the way for Aaron’s approach to teaching, which is that the enjoyment of what you do is the key to success. 

At first studying pop, classic rock and motown music, Aaron’s tastes gravitated towards jazz by the time he turned twelve.  In high school, he was selected as an IMEA (Illinois Music Educators Association) top district jazz guitarist; he also recorded and was a featured soloist on IMEA’s choice for “Best Original Jazz Song” that same year.  

Aaron studied jazz guitar performance at Northern Illinois University under Fareed Haque (Sting, Madeski Martin and Wood, Edgar Meyer).  While there, he was a member of the Jazz Lab Band under Rodrigo Villanueva (2005-'06) and the Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Ron Carter (2006-'07). In 2007 Aaron was responsible for bringing jazz legend Stefon Harris to NIU for a concert and clinic, as a liason for NIU's Campus Activities Board. 

Teaching his first guitar lesson at age seventeen, he has since worked a a private instructor for the Community School for the Arts (Dekalb, IL) and The Imperial School of Music (Geneva, IL) and Hix Brothers Music (Aurora, IL).

Aaron currently performs regularly in and around Austin, performing rock and roll, folk, bluegrass, and blues with Project Vagabond, The Teddy Long Band as well as solo performances. He has also taught other styles of music, from classical to contemporary, jazz to pop, and many styles in between. 

In guitar lessons, Aaron strives to incorporate teaching music fundamentals alongside the songs each student wants to learn.  Whether it’s Taylor Swift, the Beatles, a Jimi Hendrix guitar solo, or a Carcassi classical etude, he wants to help you understand how to play the music you love.

When he’s not teaching or performing, Aaron enjoys cooking, reading, writing his own songs and long distance cycling.