Music Education
with Brendan Forrest

I hold a B.A. in Music from North Park University and have spent over 15 years teaching guitar, music theory, songwriting, and music production through private lessons, public schools, festivals, artist residencies, and workshops across the U.S. and internationally.

With thousands of hours of teaching experience, my educational work includes the Chicago Public Schools, the MOX Project in Nashville, workshops in India with the Bluegrass Journeymen, Julie Sullivan's Roots & Boots Camp, and placed as far away as the Americana School in Antananarivo, Madagascar, and township music programs in Cape Town, South Africa, among others.

A John Lennon Songwriting Contest winner and 2X City of Chicago Individual Artist Grantee, my music has also received support from Telluride Arts and has been featured in film and television, including Netflix productions.

Private Lessons & Workshops

  • Guitar & Mandolin

  • Songwriting

  • Music Theory & Ear Training

  • Recording & Music Production

  • Performance Coaching

  • Creativity & Artistic Development

  • Independent Music Career Mentorship

Whether you're taking private lessons, attending a workshop, or booking an artist residency, every session is tailored to the goals and experience of the individual or group.

Music Production
& Artist Development

With a published discography of over 25 albums, commercial credits including work with Netflix, and more than 10k hours in recording studios, Brendan Forrest brings real-world experience to help artists navigate the complexities of music production and execution.

Services include:

  • Songwriting Development & Arrangement — Transform melodies, lyrics, and song form from good to great, creating music that truly connects.

  • Pre-Production Planning — Design charts, sessions, and instrumentation choices that maximize creativity and efficiency in the studio.

  • Recording Guidance — Capture your best performances, whether in-studio or remote, with a producer’s ear for detail and emotion.

  • Production & Mixing Insights — Shape raw tracks into polished, radio-ready releases with depth and clarity.

  • Artist Development & Career Strategy — Define your artistic identity, sharpen your brand, and create a sustainable plan for success.

Brendan works one-on-one with artists to turn ideas into polished releases, while building the skills, strategy, and confidence for lasting growth. With experience across folk, Americana, rock, pop, jazz, and bluegrass, he helps refine your sound and guide your career — from first demo to full album and release strategy.