Today we’d like to introduce you to Wayne Riker.
Wayne, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
What started as a hobby turned into a profession as a full-time guitar teacher and performer after graduating college in 1973 from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, New Jersey. The key to my career longevity and success has been attention to detail in maintaining business success as a teacher and performer by being prepared, never tardy, upbeat and always respecting the music genre I’m asked to play or teach.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road to success is littered with failures, it’s how you deal with those disappointments that determines your fate as you confront each musical challenge. As a multi-genre performer, I would often encounter musical situations that I would fall short on throughout my career. Each of those moments became my stepping stones to acquiring new knowledge that I welcomed with a positive outlook via endless hours of practice to rectify each deficiency. You have to be tough skinned, welcome positive criticism and have no fear in meeting each musical challenge. Much of my incessant work ethic is detailed in my autobiography, “50 Years, 50 Bands, 50 Bucks’”
Please tell us about Wayne Riker.
As far as my teaching career, it’s much of the same as the performing career. It’s a business. Be on time, look alive, greet each student with enthusiasm, be prepared to meet each student’s goals with written handouts, don’t run late, don’t talk about yourself, your band or your personal problems, stay focused on each student’s concerns, have strong social skills, and keep communication positive. By following these guidelines, I never had to advertise after my first three years teaching as word of mouth took over as the best marketing tool. I’m most proud that my private teaching skills were recognized by musical camps and workshops, instructional book companies and trade magazines in which I was able to share my knowledge with an international audience through clinics, instructional columns and how to books.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Enjoying time with friends in my Bronx, New York City neighborhood, playing sports and taking in the multi-faceted things to do in that city.
Contact Info:
- Website: waynerikerguitar.com
- Email: whyriker@gmail.com
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