Terry Bradley Biography    (Hear Him Play)

Click here for a recent article about Terry

I began studying the guitar at the age of five on an old Harmony acoustic that my dad bought for twenty dollars. My teacher was a gentleman named Rex Shadley. Rex was a good player, but more than that, he was a great teacher. He loved the guitar and he possessed the uncanny knack of making you love it too.

He taught me until I was about twelve years old at which time he told me that I played better than he did and that he wanted to hire me to teach in his studio. That launched a career that has lasted almost forty years. I shall be grateful to him for believing in me and giving me a wonderful opportunity. He was a teacher, a mentor, and more importantly, he was a great friend. When he died, he left a huge void in my life and in the musical community.

Throughout my teen years, I continued to teach as well as play in a variety of garage bands. In the mid-seventies I began to become very disenchanted with music and with the guitar after having built a reputation playing music that I viewed as being largely vacuous and most of the time just noisy. It was at this time that I discovered the style of guitar known as classical. 

I happened upon a recording of Christopher Parkening playing a Back program and I experienced an epiphany of sorts. It was without a doubt the most beautiful playing I had ever heard and I fell in love the instrument all over again.

Over the years, I have enjoyed playing music in a variety of disciplines including Community theater musicals and directing church choirs. For several years I also played in the Des Moines Symphony Orchestra as a contracted viola player and was also a co-founder of the popular K-ROX shows.

Today I teach from a warm studio in my home. I have a large compliment of students and I enjoy watching each one of them as they grow at their own pace. About two years ago I joined up with a singer/guitarist named Rich Ford. Together we play acoustic music from the 60s and 70s. You can check us out at www.richandterry.com.

It has been quite a journey from that old Harmony acoustic to today. I’m playing more now than I ever have and I enjoy every minute of it. My philosophy of music is reflected in the words of the great master J.S. Bach when he said: “the aim and end of all music is to glorify God”.

Terry Bradley

Here is Terry (on the left) playing at a hot spot recently.

Some of Terry playing:

Far From Eden

Road Not Taken

YES- we are accepting new students of any age.

More about what do we do:

• Guitar Lessons- With over 30 years of teaching experience you will learn at your own pace in a fun and relaxed enviroment.

• Weddings- Have great classical guitar played during your ceremony to accompany a singer, or the guitar alone sounds great!
  

• Private Parties (or company parties)- Liven up the party with some great classical music. Everyone will comment on how great the music was for the event!
  

• Other gigs such as wineries, and coffee shops- Need us for something else? Call or email and let us know what you need!

Please contact us if you have any questions regarding lessons or event availability.
Call us at 641-840-0604
Email us by clicking here!