Welcome to my website! My name is Tim Kierstead and I am a musician, artisan and teacher of over 35 years. I began my teaching career focusing on the guitar. As time went on, my skill set and knowledge base grew to include bass, piano, mandolin, ukulele, writing and performing.
After taking a break in 2024-25, I’m excited to return to teaching and guiding people of all ages through their musical endeavors. I’ve chosen Northwood for a few reasons. Most notably, the area appears to have a shortage of music programs like mine. Additionally, Northwood is roughly half way between my home in Concord and my performing residency in Rochester. Factor in personal friends and fantastic walking trails and there are plenty of things to fill gaps in my schedule, should there be any.
I’ve had two notable careers in music, one as a teacher and one as a performer. I’ve been extremely fortunate to have opened shows for some of the biggest names in the industry with several bands and as a soloist. Names such as Keith Urban, Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, Wynona Judd, J. Geils and Ronnie Earl are a few that I’m honored to have on my Resume. I’m also thankful to have a collection of music awards among my accomplishments. Recording at the legendary Sound Stage studios and hearing my guitar on the radio for the first time provide fond stories as well.
Though my days of recording in Nashville and opening for the biggest names in the industry are likely behind me, I enjoy sharing the experiences to motivate my students. I’ve been extremely fortunate to enjoy some amazing adventures in the music industry which afford me perspectives and knowledge that simply aren’t available from others.
Though the focus of this site is firmly on teaching, it’s worth noting that I do still perform quite a bit. As I mentioned earlier, I’m no longer playing large venues. Instead, I’ve settled in to the restaurant circuit. This affords me many luxuries for which I am very grateful. I feel that it suits me well at this stage of life and career.
In addition to my circuit gigs, I am available for private events. If that’s something you’re interested in, feel free to email me and we can discuss options and availability.
