David Reid Feldstein
About
I worked for over 30 years as an advocate for kids who cannot advocate for themselves and their families. My niche is in working with kids who have a super power such as ADHD, autism, Dyslexia, etc. I also have extensive experience working with kids who do not have such diagnoses. 2025 marked my 20th year teaching guitar. My approach to working with kids on guitar is to meet them where they are. I consider myself a complete goofball with my students. I enjoy developing a rapport between us and working at whatever pace they require. My goal for my students is to make progress each and every lesson, but the most important rule is to have fun! I am not the kind of teacher who assigns huge amounts of work to learn mathematical crazy chords and memorize notes in short amounts of time. We are all so over-scheduled today. Kids deserve to have time each week to simply enjooy! We will take it at the child's pace and my goal is for them to be able to play songs quickly. I want them to be able to pick up a guitar anywhere they find one and be able to play for friends and family. I am very big on patience and giving tons of positive reinforcement. A child's work is their play. This should be informative and fun! Thank you.
Teaching Style
My teaching style is: "Total goofball." Lots of (for in-person lessons) fist bumps, funny accents, lots of humor. My goal, especially for the younger kids, is to almost "trick" them into learning guitar. It shouldn't be work. It should be fun. We will begin to work on chords during the very first lesson!
Curriculum
We will use the internet to its fullest, and I will email or text the parents the chord sheets needed for each lesson. There are no books to purchase.
Credentials & Affiliations
I am a member of BMI performing rights organization for my recorded music.
Teaching Experience
Remote and In-Person Guitar Instructor for Children
Friendly, safety-focused guitar instructor with over 20 years of teaching experience working
with children ages 4–18. Known for patience, structure, and warmth, with a strong
background supporting neurodiverse learners and communicating clearly with parents and
caregivers.
Private Guitar Instructor — Kids Guitar Atlanta (2005–Present)
• Teach acoustic guitar to beginner students; electric guitar introduced after acoustic
mastery
• Provide in-person and remote lessons via Zoom and FaceTime
• Extensive experience working with ADHD, autistic, and neurodiverse students
• Emphasize safety, encouragement, and trust-building with students and families
• Maintain consistent parent communication regarding progress and goals
• Host an annual student recital for local families
Social Work Experience 1990-2013
Social Worker (Full-Time, Prior to and Concurrent with Teaching Career)
• Provided support services to individuals and families in professional care settings
• Developed strong skills in child development, emotional regulation, and behavior support
Musical Background
• 49 years of guitar playing experience
• Lifelong songwriter and musician
• Professionally recorded artist with debut album “Surrender the Silence” available on
streaming platforms, CD, and vinyl
Student Success Highlights
• Student awarded a full scholarship to music college, majoring in Classical Guitar
• Former student performs in internationally recognized band Lunar Vacation
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology — DePaul University, 2008