To thrive on an instrument, we must first cultivate the love of playing. There is no system of practice that can help a student who fundamentally doesn’t connect with making music. We build on the simple joy of playing the guitar, at whatever level a student begins lessons. I am always searching for what makes a student’s eyes light up, what makes them smile with pride. When they feel a sense of agency and accomplishment, they will strive to improve their technique, their ear, and their knowledge. My job is to guide them on that journey, to watch, adjust, and correct at times, but mostly to kindle the basic inspiration to make music and to get a little bit better each day.

Evan began teaching guitar privately after graduating from Boston College in 2012. He has taught guitar extensively both for the Merry Melody Music Academy, and through his own private studio. In collaboration with his bluegrass band Mile Twelve, he taught both guitar and singing/songwriting at camps in Maine, Colorado, California, British Columbia, and France. He has also spent time teaching music for young children through the Music Together program. Evan studied bluegrass guitar under Michael Daves and Bryan Sutton, and classical guitar under Jason Sagebiel in New York.

Evan Murphy has rooted himself deeply in northeastern acoustic music. His acclaimed string band Mile Twelve was awarded New Artist of the Year in 2020 by the International Bluegrass Music Association. With them, Evan has played some of the country’s finest roots music festivals including Rockygrass, Grey Fox, Freshgrass, Savannah Music Festival, and Bristol Rhythm and Roots. They have opened for Del McCoury, Tim O’Brien, and the Steep Canyon Rangers, and recorded with Billy Strings, Chris Eldridge, Bruce Molsky, and Brittany Haas. In 2019 Evan released his first solo project, a roots rock EP titled Born Again Town. Brian Carroll of Red Line Roots wrote, “It isn’t often you come across an artist who can excel to a certain level of one genre, never mind entirely separate ones through different projects, but that’s just what Evan Murphy has proven.” Evan is at home as a bandleader, a solo singer-songwriter, and an endlessly curious collaborator.

B.A., Theater & Music, Boston College