Gallery

"Attending my first group lesson as part of the UT Informal Classes was nerve wracking. I had no experience and the thought of playing in front of other people made me nearly apoplectic. To my great delight, however, I met a teacher who was experienced and knew the fears we faced. He immediately addressed those fears. Through his perceptive teaching skills and his personal demeanor I was immediately set at ease. I am now in private lessons and the same qualities Rubin displayed with our group are present in our private sessions. I am improving and learning much about the harmonica and what I can do with it. Rubin makes learning the instrument a joy."

"Being a total beginner with anything concerning music, I was incredibly nervous my first lesson. However, Michael's opening statement to me was, "You have the right to play music.", and I've been hooked ever since. Having the opportunity to learn from someone who is not only supremely skilled in his craft, but also dedicated to the background and foundation of the music and instruments he plays is euphoric. As a teacher myself, I can attest to Michael's infinite patience and ability to encourage his students in their musical journey."

"I have been taking lessons from Rubin for over 7 years now, since I first picked up the instrument and was 100% music illiterate. I keep coming back for more because he is a walking harp encyclopedia! At every level from the most basic to super-advanced techniques, Rubin is a master at teaching. I can't imagine a more capable instructor or a nicer guy to take lessons from. I now consider him not only an instructor but a friend. Thanks to Rubin, I am now able to play on stage with strange bands with confidence and am working on putting together my own blues band.

I live in Altadena, CA and now take lessons via Skype, since I no longer live in Austin."

"I've been a student of Michael's since 2011. I've had a few dead end attempts at learning an instrument in the past. I am very happy and appreciative about the progress I've made on the harmonica with Michael. I attribute it to his ability to teach music, in the largest sense of the word, while simultaneously teaching how to play the harmonica. Music theory once seemed as daunting to me as a foreign language or a physics class but Michael can break it down very well. This method might sound like a lot to dive into but it actually makes everything a lot easier because practicing has been much more rewarding and interesting when I understand the context. Its like an exercise for the instrument and the mind. In comparison, playing random chords or simple songs on a stringed instrument got boring fast when I had no idea why a particular sound was identified as C or G and had no idea how one simple tune related to another. Michael taught me how to connect the first sounds I made with a harp, the songs and improvisation I can play now, and all the music I listen to or even incidentally hear into a framework that reinforces itself. I experience music today with more depth in feeling and thinking because of what Michael has taught me. After a year of lessons in Texas, I moved to Rome, Italy and we've kept working together without skipping a beat through Skype. I'm very glad I gave the Skype lessons a try. The technology is free, 95% of the time the connection is perfect, I'm progressing on harmonica despite the distraction of a big move, and I don't have to battle the traffic on I-35."

"I have taken lessons from at least a dozen different harmonica teachers including some very well known in the harmonica community, both in person and via Skype, bought all sorts of self teaching instructional books and DVDs, watched hundreds of how-to YouTube videos from everyone available, and even joined paid learning websites. It was not until I started taking lessons from Michael that I really started to feel like I could play along with other musicians and started to play out at different open mic jam sessions. Michael is not only a great harmonica player but also one of the best available harmonica teachers, hands down. Thanks to him I can see myself as a musician first instead of just a harmonica player. Being a college graduate I know all about great and not so good teachers, the ones who know their stuff but can't really teach and the ones who know, can teach, and inspire greatness and true growth. Michael knows his stuff and he knows how to teach in ways that reach me and my learning style. I feel comfortable with him and feel I can discuss anything and come away with the answers or how to find them. I know what to practice to become better and have seen steady improvement. I think anyone even mildly considering a lesson from Michael, either via Skype, in person, or phone, would benefit and learn a lot if they went for it."

"People often ask me how long I've been playing blues harp. The truth is I first picked one up when I was 12. It was a hand-me-down from my Grandfather. However, my playing was only remedial until I met Rubin. If you're looking for licks; don't go to Rubin. You can steal licks from a record. Rubin will teach fundamentals that will give you adequate knowledge of your instrument. When you you finish your apprenticeship you will be not only a better harmonica player, but a better musician."

"I've been taking harmonica lessons from Michael for two and a half years now. He turned this "wannabe" musician into a musician. His teaching style resonates with me - a great balance between the practical and the theory - he is very patient and will explain concepts in many different ways until he finds the one that "clicks."

Just because you can do something well (like playing the harmonica) doesn't mean that you can teach others how to do it. Michael is a Teacher with a capital "T".

No matter how modest or grand your goals are for playing the harmonica, Michael can help you to reach them. I've still got a ways to go before I reach mine. However, I have no doubt that if I put in the effort and stick with Rubin, I will get there."

"Two words come to mind when I think of Rubin; dedication and patience. He is deeply and passionately committed to his music and constantly strives to grow and improve, on harp and other instruments, such as mandolin. But he is no prima donna with his students. I am still amazed by his endless patience in coaching and coaxing students like me to uncover our latent talents and interest in music. His enthusiasm is infectious!"

"When I was younger I tried learning an instrument, but never found one that clicked. The harmonica was more my style. When I found out about Michael I was excited to get started. I appreciated Michael’s patience and not forcing the learning. He has extensive knowledge of music in general along with understanding how it is to learn an instrument that seems simple but has many complexities. He also never let learning necessary basics interfere with the fun of simply jamming."