Making music is a joy, so my first job is not to mess that up! My approach is flexible and collaborative, putting the focus on what each individual student is interested in learning, and my goal is to work as hard as possible while having as much fun as possible :) Many of my students are songwriters, so we work on playing their original songs as well as possible, plus expanding vocabulary on the guitar as a tool for both writing and performing. Other priorities include the Nashville Number System (if you’re not already a fan, I’ll show you why it’s the coolest thing ever!), fingering shortcuts, picking, grooves, making the most of the capo, + learning how to figure out the chords to your song. Rock on! FORMAL BIO: ELLEN BRITTON is a veteran musician with decades of performing, writing, recording, and teaching experience. The daughter of well-known Philadelphia area folksinger George Britton, Ellen grew up with a guitar in her hands, and as a teenager played the club and college circuit as half of blues/folk duo the Britton Sisters. A move to Nashville in 1991 led to staff songwriter gigs, frequent shows at the world-famous Bluebird Café, touring with Martina McBride, Pam Tillis, Jo Dee Messina, Sara Evans, Lari White, Maura O’Connell, Tanya Tucker, and appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, The View, The Rosie O’Donnell Show, and The Today Show. Delighting audiences with her soulful singing, romping guitar playing, and winning humor, Ellen has brought her original songs and love of performing to venues across the country, including the Philadelphia Folk Festival, The Swallow at the Hollow in Atlanta, as well as a benefit concert with Amy Grant and Vince Gill. She is also part of female vocal foursome Queen of Hearts, whose butt-kicking harmonies and hilarious wit have been charming crowds since 1999, from the Roger Smith Hotel in New York City to regular sold out shows at the Bluebird Café. An evening with Queen of Hearts is like a grown-up pajama party with butt-kicking harmonies – full of wit, warmth, and wonderful acoustic music. And just as their individual voices blend into gorgeous four-part harmonies, the Queens combine bluegrass, pop, folk, and blues to create a one-of-a-kind crazy quilt of soulful and rootsy original music. Ellen’s work as a guitar teacher to prominent and aspiring artists and songwriters in Music City has included recording artists Little Big Town (“Pontoon”), Carly Pearce ("Every Little Thing"), Tenille Townes (“Somebody’s Daughter”), Maggie Rose ("I Ain't Your Mama"), Jimmy Wayne (“Do You Believe Me Now?”), JD Souther ("Her Town Too"; ABC's Nashville), and Pam Tillis (“Spilled Perfume”); hit songwriters Barry Dean (“Pontoon”/Little Big Town), Tim Nichols (“Live Like You Were Dying”/Tim McGraw), Tom Douglas (“House That Built Me”/Miranda Lambert), Brandy Clark ("Mama's Broken Heart"/Miranda Lambert), Jamie Lynn Spears (“I Got the Boy”/Jana Kramer), Jennifer Hanson (“Leave the Pieces”/Wreckers), Jenn Schott (“Two Lanes to Freedom”/Tim McGraw), Tyler Hayes ("Bring It on Home"/Little Big Town), Dennis Matkosky (“You’ll Think of Me”/Keith Urban); and Music Row pros Jim Catino (Sony Music), Laura Stroud (Sony Music), as well as finalists on The Voice and American Idol.