A guitarist since 1978, Charles has taught full-time since 1991. He is a summa cum laude graduate of Whitworth College (sociology/psychology) and an honors graduate of Musicians Institute, Los Angeles.
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Charles has taught over a thousand Eastside students of all ages, styles and skill levels. He is a passionate teacher who blends student interests with strong academic goals. His students enjoy learning their favorite musical styles, whether rock, blues, pop, metal, hard rock, punk, folk, classical or jazz, while increasing their knowledge of the fretboard and music theory on an effective and age-appropriate time line. Charles’ primary musical excitements are introducing new musicians to the guitar and bass, helping people of all ages reach their goals, and getting students hooked on music!
In LA, Charles studied under master musicians Carl Schroeder and Ron Eschete. He performed with Leon Patillo, former keyboardist for Santana. Charles is also the author of the Rock Guitar for Dummies CD-ROM.
Charles directs Kaleidoscope and also spearheads our Rock Academy band program. Charles offers college credit through Bellevue College.
You can also check Charles’ calendar for rock class dates, shows and special events.
Video Links of Charles’ Playing
Pay tuition for lessons or ROCK BAND programs
Testimonials
I’ve been a commissioner on the Issaquah Arts commission for the past 8 years, and one of the founders of ArtWalk. There are simply not enough words to describe the vitality that you and your students bring to the community. I know I will come across a famous musician one of these days that will say I got my start at Kaleidoscope and ArtWalk. I am very grateful that you are in our community! Thanks again for all you do.
Julie Griffin
I started taking lessons from Charles in kindergarten. Now I like playing my guitar more than any other activity.
Shila (Age 10)
he's great
brandon
We can‘t thank you enough for your energy and passion for music education!! The thrill for Isaac to perform at the Hard Rock was something he will not soon forget (nor will his proud family!). We are very excited to be returning this fall.
Paula
I honestly owe everything good in my life to Kaleidoscope and Charles. He taught be how to play guitar when I was 10 years old which got me to start writing and now he records and produces them and has helped my create my first album. He put me in a band in 5th grade, giving me a chance even though i was technically too young for the program. And then we all became so close and I realized I was standing next to the love of my life and my legal best friend for so many years and just didn’t see it until our New York trip and now we’re all so close and it’s so sad it’s gonna be over.
Krista Mainard
Charles lets us bring what we want to learn, but he also teaches what we need to know, like showing me the blues scale by playing Black Flag.
Shane (Age 15)
Charles is one of my favorite people...ever! It's been 16 years since I took lessons from you. I'm still involved in music heavily - can't thank you enough for what you taught me, I'm so glad you are still teaching kids about music, it might have been what saved my life in my teen years.
Travis (Teen Student from the 1990’s)
Thank you for making me sing and play my songs for an audience at your recitals, for teaching me to play an instrument I can no longer live without, for motivating and encouraging me when I was frustrated, and for being a great example. I wanted to let you know that as of the first of next year, I am a full time musician. I will be leading worship part time at Ventura Bible Church in Ventura CA. I will also be working full time as a singer/songwriter. Never thought I'd be making a living on a Taylor 810CE tuned to drop C#. Keep showing kids the joy of 6 wires stretched too tight over a wood box.
Taylor
Max McDevitt, an alumnus of Charles McCrone's guitar and rock class programs,opened for international metal acts Lacuna Coil, Sonata Arctica and Epica, with his North Bend group If I Were a Gladiator.
Max McDevitt
We cannot thank you enough for the incredible week of Girls Rock Camp! My daughter loved every minute! We have learned that camps are really only as good as the people working with the kids. Allison and Tori were just tremendous! They were fun, kind and treated the girls like peers and not little kids. You set a beautiful tone and relaxed atmosphere for the girls to take risks and try new things. We loved that it was small and made each girl feel special. We loved the final performance!
Darcie Kardong
I'm a returning student of Charles' and after being asked to play at my sister's wedding I came in for my first lesson in over 14 years. The performance went smashingly! My friend told me he overheard the snooty hipsters in the audience say they really liked "the understated '50s jazz guitar vibe". I would've never played that way were it not for our hours together way back when. Thanks for helping me develop my style and for guiding me in a creating a unique arrangement.
Nathan Dean
I wanted to thank you for being such a great role model for me throughout the years. You were an adult I could always look up to when I was having trouble at home and you were really inspiring with how much you loved music and how much you loved to teach it. The prompt for my college essay was write about an experience you've had that has changed your life. So, of course I wrote about music. P.S. I'm gonna miss hiding your phone in the room and calling it later
Avery
From 1991 to 2011, I served as a naval aviator flying from six different carriers, and I took my classical guitar on every deployment as my anchor to musical sanity. You can get great acoustics in a metal stateroom; however, lessons are hard to come by. I am WAY older than the average student at this school, but about a year ago, I took up electric with Charles McCrone. It is one of the absolute highlights of my week, and I thoroughly enjoy Charles' expertise and energy. Every lesson is a total blast! Thanks Charles!
Jay De Bellis
Charles offers the background and flexibility to go wherever my interests take us. Charles simply has amazing talent and - more important - he has the ability to teach
Skip (Age 47)
Two members of the Cold Cold Ground, Zan Ferguson and Ben Applegate, are alumni of Charles McCrone's guitar program: www.facebook.com/pages/The-Cold-Cold-Ground/106102636524
Zan Ferguson and Ben Applegate
After your guitar recital, my kids are deliriously proud of themselves; their smiles just light up the room tonight. Will was going to ad lib tonight when introducing himself; he wanted to do a monologue on how much he loves having you as a teacher, how much he loves coming to guitar lessons, and thanking you for teaching him to play this song. You are worth every penny I pay you, and then some. My kids adore you. Their Mom thinks you're pretty cool too.
Cathy (Parent)
I've never met a more consistently hard-working and intelligent person in my life, and I mean that. This man has a passion for music and shreds the guitar like no other. Just seeing Charles solo gives me the chills. He's truly dedicated to his art and is just a wonderful person in general. Rock on, Chuck.
X-Ray
Wow! Just, wow. The talent displayed by the kids at the concert yesterday blew me away. I’m so glad my daughter found this band; it has provided her with so much joy and purpose the past few months. It has also been really fun to watch her inner rock star emerge. You are clearly a great band leader and I look forward to attending future band concerts and watching these kids progress.
Lisa W. (Kaleidoscope Rock Academy parent)
My daughter started the drums less than a year ago at Kaleidoscope School of Music. This program has provided her so much joy between lessons with Sam and participating in the Rock program that Charles leads. We look forward to our youngest daughter beginning guitar lessons at Kaleidoscope this fall. I can't say enough about the school and the confidence I've seen build with in my daughter as she progresses through the program
