About Us

Mission Statement
  • At MGA our mission is to give individuals the music training and encouragement needed to effectively learn and enjoy playing music on the guitar.
  • We promote music as a shared experience in our studios, at home and in the community.
  • We use progressive methods to develop a firm basis for advancing.

Our Faculty
Stephen Miller
Playing guitar since 1969 Stephen brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to his sessions from the most basic elements to advanced techniques and interpretation. “My greatest challenge is to remember the process of learning from my own stages of growth and to stay focused on the fundamentals that work”, says Mr. Miller. “Many of the methods I have experienced are full of obstacles rather than steps to learning. They don't make sense in practice and performance. It has been my goal to remove obstacles and design a method that gives the essential building blocks in a clear and progressive way”. This goal has lead to the instructional series Guitar Academy by Stephen and Joellen Miller that has been successfully used to teach thousands of students at Notre Dame, I.U.S.B. and at Miller Guitar Academy.

Stephen also has taught guitar at Notre Dame since 1986. He has performed in several states as a soloist and with ensembles of all sizes including the South Bend Symphony. He has composed for many instruments and ensembles including the guitar. He holds degrees from Indiana University and The University of Redlands, CA. in Guitar and Composition. His guitar teachers include Dick Wisner, Terry Graves of the Defalla Trio and William Kanengiser of the L.A. Guitar Quartet. His composition professors include David Barton, Wayne Bornsteadt and Barney Childs.

Joellen Miller is co-creator of Guitar Academy and with her husband Stephen owner of Miller Guitar Academy. Joellen studied with Stephen at Notre Dame for four years later also teaching guitar classes there. She currently teaches beginning classes at Notre Dame and adults and children at Miller Guitar Academy. Her years of experience in the business world and as a mother of three gives her unique gifts in relating to students and their families. Joellen has been instrumental in developing the children's program and arranging student performances at Barnes and Noble, Bethel College and The Mishawaka Penn Public Library.