For adults who think it might be too late to play beautifully…
WHY SO MANY GUITARISTS FEEL STUCK
You sit down to practice.
Five minutes later, you're staring at three open method books, a YouTube video paused mid-explanation, and that piece of sheet music you started two weeks ago.
You put the guitar down, unsure if you improved at all.
Maybe you've told yourself, "This video will finally make it click."
You watch, you try, and before your next session, you've already found another video that contradicts the first.
No routine. Just new exercises that put you right back at square one.
Or maybe you've wondered, "I've been practicing for months… why don't I sound better?"
You have the exercises. The pieces. The techniques.
You put in the time, but you feel the lack of progress.
But without a clear order to practice them in, or a reason why each one matters, you're just collecting exercises, not building skills.
Perhaps you’re wondering “is it me?” or think you’re missing something the “real players” understand
But the problem isn't you…
It's scattered practice.
If you want to learn to play beautifully and effortlessly you need a different approach…
That’s why I created The Woodshed®, a structured system where every session has purpose, and progress becomes linear because you’re learning skills at the same time.
Who is Allen Mathews?
I've been teaching classical guitar for more than twenty years, privately, at universities, and now online to thousands of adult learners in more than fifty countries.
But I didn't start classical guitar until I was twenty-five. I came from fingerstyle folk, and like many players, I wanted to play beautifully.
Not just correctly, but in a way that felt connected and alive.
For years, I chased flawless technique. My playing became fast, clean, and controlled. On paper, I was progressing beautifully.
My playing became clean, precise, controlled… and cold.
Technically proficient, but emotionally empty.
I rebuilt my technique from the ground up several times over chasing what was missing… Hours of practice every day, excellent teachers, I did everything "right." And still, the music wasn't singing.
That changed the day I studied under a pianist.
He showed me how to shape a phrase, how to breathe with the music, how expression grows from structure.
It was in that moment I realized…
Technique without expression is hollow, but expression without structure is chaos.
Beautiful playing needs both.
I saw the same pattern in my students. The ones who progressed knew exactly what to practice and why.
The ones who stayed stuck were guessing. Collecting exercises. Hoping something would click.
Just as I had for years.
But you don't need to spend a decade like I did, practicing hard but never knowing what's missing, never playing the way you've always wanted.
That's why I built The Woodshed®, 25 years of guitar experience condensed into micro-lessons that unite structure and expression, creating joy from your very first session.
Since 2013, over ten thousand adult learners have followed this path, learning not just what to practice, but how practice becomes music.
— Allen Mathews
Founder, Classical Guitar Shed | 20+ years teaching | 10,000+ students worldwide
THE ART OF PRACTICING BEAUTIFULLY™
Most programs teach you what to play, but The Woodshed® teaches you how to practice beautifully.
Because structure without beauty is mechanical & beauty without structure is chaos.
The Art of Practicing Beautifully™ unites them, so practice doesn't feel like a chore, but a conversation with the instrument.
When you understand why each exercise matters and how it connects to everything else, repetition transforms into discovery. Discipline becomes delight.
This happens through three elements working together:
Progressive Structure: 30 Micro-Levels That Build on Each Other
Instead of jumping from beginner exercises to advanced pieces hoping something sticks, each level gives you clear goals and benchmarks.
You always know where you are and what comes next.
Each level teaches you to listen, not just execute. You're not practising for practicing’s sake, you're learning to hear tone, feel phrasing, and recognize patterns that reveal the music.
Not by overwhelming you, just steady growth that compounds week by week, like climbing steps instead of staring at a mountain.
Each level reveals new connections. Nothing is random, everything belongs to the bigger picture, to playing beautifully.
Daily Clarity: Every Session Scripted for You
Every session is fully mapped out for you, warm-up, technique, and repertoire. You don't plan. You just pick up your guitar and start.
Each exercise has a clear musical purpose, so you always know why you're playing it and what it's building toward. No more flipping through books or wondering if you're working on the right things.
In just 20 minutes, you finish feeling focused, productive, and relaxed.
"There's no guesswork involved, and as a student, that's what keeps you going. You know exactly what you're supposed to be practicing." — Helen Logan
Expert Guidance: You Never Practice Alone
Send us a video of your playing anytime. We'll review it and catch small technical issues before they become ingrained habits, so you're not practicing mistakes for months without realizing it.
You also get live sessions with me and my team (usually ~7 per month) and access to a supportive community of 2,000+ learners.
You're not figuring this out alone, it's about deepening your awareness.
We help you see what's working, what's emerging, and what you're ready to understand next.
"I came with over 50 years of guitar experience and many years of perfected bad habits. After just 2 months at Level 1A, I cannot believe how much I've learned and unlearned. I finally have a path forward." – Rick Simmons
This is The Art of Beautiful Practice™ where discipline and delight become one.
Join Now
Everything You Get in The Woodshed®:
30 Progressive Micro-Levels:
How 30 small, connected levels quietly remove overwhelm and show you exactly what to work on in each 20-minute session, so you always know where you are and what comes next.
Unlimited Personal Video Reviews:
The single most calming part of The Woodshed: send a simple phone video anytime and get precise guidance on what to adjust, so bad habits never have a chance to settle in.
7 Live Sessions Each Month
When you get stuck on a passage, fingering, or tension, you can bring it to one of ~7 live calls each month and get real-time answers instead of spending weeks guessing alone.
A Private Community Of 2,000+ Adult Learners
Why do so many members say they finally feel "understood" here, not judged? You're surrounded by people your age, working on the same skills, sharing what works.
No extra tiers. You get everything from day one. Complete clarity, complete support, so you can practice beautifully.
And as a BONUS for joining us at The Woodshed® you’ll get access to 67+ Included Premium Courses worth $2,886 value.
Everything from Bach & Beethoven, to sight-reading, theory, and technique all developed to work alongside the main program.
"My guitar practice has been stagnating for years, decades actually... Your program has changed that from the get-go." — Gary Rancourt
Most online programs hand you lessons and leave you alone. The Woodshed® gives you a path, the feedback, and the support that keep you making steady, visible progress.
CHOOSE YOUR PATH
You've seen the system. The structure. The results.
Now here's how you start playing beautifully.
Monthly
$49/month
✓ Everything included
✓ Cancel anytime
Start Playing Beautifully
Full access. 30-day money-back guarantee.
Yearly
$399/year
✓ Everything included
✓ Save $189 vs. monthly
✓ Renews yearly
Start Playing Beautifully
Most popular option. Full access. 30-day money-back guarantee.
3-Year
$959 one-time
(Save $805) Best value
✓ Full access for 3 years
✓ Save $805 total
✓ One-time payment
Start Playing Beautifully
Extended access. 30-day money-back guarantee.
Most private lessons cost $75/hour or over $3,600 a year.
The Woodshed® gives you everything you need, a structured progression, expert feedback, supportive community, and full access to all materials, all for less than $1.10 a day.
"I wish I had this resource decades ago—it would have made me a better teacher. Allen has created an absolutely vast resource with very clear lesson plans and video instruction. If you were to go to a private teacher, you'd pay $2000 to $2500 a year. This is an absolute steal." - Doug Ackerson Retired Music Teacher, 68
Start with complete confidence.
Try The Woodshed® for 30 days.
If you're not happy for any reason, email us for a full refund within 30 days.
No hassles, no questions asked.
Plus, keep any premium course you've started (worth up to $97) as our thank you for trying.
Start Playing Beautifully
YOUR NEXT STEP
I spent nearly ten years playing correctly but sounding cold. It took a decade to learn that technique without expression is hollow, and expression without structure is chaos and mastery of the guitar needs both.
When I looked back over 20 years of teaching, I saw the same pattern in many of my students. The ones that didn’t feel they were progressing often had no idea why they were practicing something
I built The Woodshed® so you do not have to waste a decade like I did or end up thinking that you’re not cut out for the guitar…
You can keep doing what you have always done. Practicing without clear direction, flipping through books and videos, wondering if you are working on the right things, hoping that someday it will all come together.
Or you can follow a path that has thousands of success stories of students who are now playing pieces they never thought possible.
"IT'S WORKING! Both my practicing and playing are markedly improved. What a joy to feel the fingers move more easily and hear the notes ring more clearly." - Bruce Lund - Started at Age 75
"There is no guesswork involved, and as a student, that is what keeps you going. You know exactly what you are supposed to be practicing." - Helen Logan
So what will it be?
Another year of practice, or worse, leaving your guitar in the corner because you've convinced yourself you'll never play at the level you've always wanted.
Or six months from now playing with clarity and confidence, working on music that truly moves you.
If you want the second path, join The Woodshed® today and try it for 30 days. Work with the sessions, ask your questions, see how it feels. If you are not happy for any reason, email us within 30 days and we will refund you in full.
When you are ready to begin, we are here.
All the best,
Allen Mathews
Join The Woodshed®
Success Stories
"I LOVE The Woodshed Program. It is everything I thought it would be. It's thoughtful, systematic, encouraging - and incredibly effective."
Mark Weiner
“As a former professor myself, you got me with the syllabus! I love it...this thing is organized as if it was a college-level course.”
Leah Holmes
"It's so humbling and wonderful to have a program so well-organized, thought out, and laid out, so you can take your own journey... Exactly what I was looking for in an online program."
Angie Pagan
"I thought: I've got to do this. And what do you know? - I'm getting better!"
Ron Cain
"Other programs are nowhere near as comprehensive. I can't believe how much I've learned and how well I'm playing.I couldn't be happier!"
Chris Fluck
"I was surprised at how much personal attention I get in this program. I get very specific feedback.. very objective and wonderfully personalized tools that help me overcome my [challenges]. "
Elizabeth Bochynski
"Amazingly helpful to keep me in the chair…moving my progress forward…and having a great time doing it!"
Adam Price
I find the personal attention quite astonishing. And wonder of wonders, I'm playing more beautifully!
Leslie Ives
"The results are so good. My playing right now is much more relaxed - I really enjoy my practice. Thanks to Allen and his team for the marvelous work."
Hashim Al-Sadah
A fantastic resource [that] gets your brain thinking in ways that really gets results.
Lindsay Chambers
"Now, thanks to the Woodshed®, I'm able to produce a more beautiful sound. The techniques I learn, I apply them to the pieces I learn. Thank you, Allen Mathews and your team."
Sylvia Moodie-Kablalsingh
"The Woodshed® Program is excellent. It's structured, organized, and there's no guesswork on what you need to practice. I also wanted to learn how to read music. And I'm learning that. I'm very excited."
Chuck Fish
"[I like the practice logs] where you can check your progress. This is very effective. When learning something, it's very important not to be alone. And with The Woodshed®, you can always ask for help. I'm in the right place to learn guitar."
Bruno Arsac
"A great educational experience... and a good value.
It's a comprehensive approach to learning classical
guitar. You'll be impressed."
Dr. Steve Dosh
"Truly the best gift I give to myself every year."
Paulette Hummel
"The best investment I have recently made."
Roger Bergstrom
FAQs
Ready to Begin?
You've seen the structure. The testimonials. The clarity that comes when every practice session has purpose.
You can keep searching for the missing piece, or you can follow the path that's already working for thousands of adult learners.
Start Playing Beautifully