At age 6, Alec Holcomb picked up a guitar and began his lifelong journey in music. Taught by his guitar-enthusiast father, Alec says he quickly became dedicated to his craft. For lessons with skilled classical guitar teachers, Alec frequently traveled up to 8 hours for training. Following his passion for music, Alec studied at prestigious institutions, including The Curtis Institute of Music and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
Now, as an adult, local guitar teacher and creator of Alec's Classical Guitar Studio in Carmel, he says, "I love how a student's understanding and love for music evolves."
To be around other passionate players and teachers in his younger days, Holcomb entered classical guitar competitions. He won and placed in many national and international competitions; most notably, as a finalist in the Guitar Foundation of America competition in both 2017 and 2019. He's performed on NPR's "From the Top" radio program, and was named one of 10 Rising Stars of the Classical Guitar by Acoustic Guitar magazine.
"Playing in competitions let me learn from incredible guitar players and inspired me to grow as a guitarist," explains Holcomb.
"The classical guitar is one of the few instruments that shines on its own. Because it can play the parts of many instruments at once, it's possible to create complete, expressive music by yourself. It's a wooden box with strings; however, what you can do with it is virtually limitless. The sound you create is entirely analogue, created by your hands. It's one of the few instruments where the sound directly reflects your touch."
After several players reached out after watching Holcomb's online performances, he began teaching online. "Teaching was immediately fulfilling," he explains. "I was having fun with students, and it took pressure off my own playing."
A few years after he began teaching, Holcomb relocated to Carmel. During May 2025, he established his guitar studio at 712 Adams St., Ste. 137, to expand his teaching and offer in-person and online lessons.
"Practicing the classical guitar is an excellent tool for cognitive development in younger learners, and its challenges help learners stay sharp. The guitar teaches creative problem-solving, process-oriented thinking, memory development, mindfulness, fine motor skills, discipline, patience, emotional expression and regulation, confidence, music appreciation and more."
One of Holcomb’s teaching philosophies is to allow students a break from online distractions and screens. “The guitar offers a path out of that cycle. It’s an analogue activity in which you literally can’t make progress unless you slow down, focus and create moments of peace for yourself. Students find their time with the guitar is a retreat from the noise, where they can connect more meaningfully with the present. These moments of gentle awareness compound over time, rewiring the brain to enjoy long-term, complex tasks again.”
Another unique aspect of his teaching is that Holcomb doesn’t teach from any curriculum. He says he approaches each student as an individual, following their curiosity and excitement wherever they lead, while offering his experience and guidance along the way.
“A student’s progress is my priority, because with such a complex instrument, it can quickly become overwhelming," says Holcomb. "But by breaking down ideas to their simplest forms, using efficient practice methods and developing healthy mindsets, each layer of playing this instrument falls into place, putting students on a steady path of progression toward their goals.”
Holcomb encourages students to meditate before playing to clear their minds and find a time of day when they can focus and connect with the guitar emotionally. For some students, it’s after the kids are in bed; for others, it's in the earliest hours of the morning.
“I want to help students reconnect and live in the moment. To do that, they need to find a quiet place and time where they are ready to take a moment for themselves," he says.
In addition to helping new students find their footing with the guitar, Holcomb works with advanced players who feel stalled after years of playing. He says his experience helps students identify gaps in their understanding that may be limiting their progress.
“Even for experienced guitarists, there can be blind spots that are holding them back,” Holcomb explains. “Some of my favorite moments in teaching are discovering those gaps with a student and watching their excitement return as they find a new way forward.”
His love of the guitar and the community is driving him to build Carmel's arts scene. “One of the beautiful things about the classical guitar is it’s a fantastic instrument for sharing music. The guitar is small enough to take anywhere; it’s the perfect volume for gatherings with friends and family; it can play complete pieces without a band; and it can cover an array of musical styles. In that way, it becomes a doorway to connecting and sharing a moment with others,” he explains.
"Music's given me a lifelong outlet for creativity and exploration, and I want my students to have that same opportunity."
"The most rewarding feeling on the guitar is when the years of effort become second nature, leaving just you, your listeners and the music." ~Alec Holcomb, founder of Alec's Classical Guitar Studio