Mister Marshall Music

Find the joy in the language of music with online guitar, piano, or saxophone lessons 

(804) 869-8723

Start Playing in Your First Lesson

When you take lessons with Mister Marshall Music you will start playing in the first lesson. Getting that immediate satisfaction of playing something for the first time is what keeps folks coming back. That refreshing feeling of doing something new and having a sweet sound go with that feeling is like magic!

Student Plays Ramblin Man - The Allman Brothers Band

Emma is back again crushing another Allman Brothers tune. She nails the solo and is the singer this time. It's super adorable! So proud! This was all done online, if you're wondering how far you can go with online lessons.

Student Plays Cups "When I'm Gone" - Anna Kendrick

This time we've got Ellie and I covering "When I'm Gone" by Anna Kendrick. We've been taking online piano lessons for over a year now. She does such a great job!

Student Plays Blue Sky - The Allman Brothers Band

Emma (young woman in white) shreds the lead guitar and solo on this cover of Blue Sky by The Allman Brothers Band! We've been having guitar lessons online since August of 2020. This is from the summer of 2021 performing with her voice teacher.

Mister Marshall Music Reviews

Kerri H.

Marshall is truly the best guitar teacher I could have hoped for! He is patient, fun, communicates really well, works skillfully with my very real ADD, and I AM LEARNING and PLAYING this instrument after years (decades!) of being stuck at a cursory beginner’s knowledge. I am so grateful he is set up so well to teach online, because we don’t even live in the same city. And all I need is my phone or tablet or laptop. I highly recommend investing in yourself and your creative potential with music lessons from Marshall 0’Leary. Also, his rates are super reasonable.

Emma D.

I have been taking guitar lessons virtually with Marshall for around two years now, and being online hasn’t hindered my learning at all. In fact, I’ve improved greatly under Marshall’s guidance, as he also provides aides outside of our lessons that help me practice throughout the week. Taking lessons with Marshall has been just as fun as it’s been helpful, and I would highly recommend him to anyone!

Nicole D.

I have taken lessons from Marshall for about 2 1/2 years now and it has been a consistent and greatly enjoyed experience! When I first started lessons I didn’t know how to play the saxophone, he was patient with me, explained, and was greatly accommodating. With his help I literally went from not being able to play, so being in the marching band and being third chair in 2 1/2 years. I highly recommend him to anyone looking to either improve their current skill or learn a new instrument!

Hannah P.

I took guitar lessons from Marshall for around 3 years in high school and it was one of the best decisions!  I remember having the best time and laughing with him until my face turned blue. He never added intense pressure, but always kept me on track, and helped me learn to play the genre of music I loved the most. Even 7-8 years later I still remember most of what he taught me and play often. Can’t recommend him enough.

Neha S.

I have been taking piano lessons from Marshall for almost ten years and he's the only teacher who I really enjoyed learning from. He's very patient and takes the time help you with everything you need to know. I think I would have quit learning the piano a long time ago if it weren't for his encouragement and great teaching style. I really do think and he's one of the best music teachers you can find and is probably the biggest reason I have continued learning for as long as I have.

Steve D.

Marshall has been my daughters private saxophone instructor for two years. In that time she has climbed from being a beginner who never played any wind instrument, to second chair of her section in the Douglas Freeman High School Band. Most important, she has loved every minute if it. Marshal's contagious expertise is always presented in a way that was meaningful to her, so she always enjoyed his input as helpful. consequently,  she has experienced very much musical growth, without ever wondering "why is this necessary?" I can not thank Marshall enough for his excellent coaching and guidance of my daughters band experience. I would select him again tomorrow if the choice were mine again.

Justin O.

Marshall is a fantastic teacher. Very patient and engaging. He takes the time to make sure that the lesson is understood and tailors the lessons based on what you want to learn and how you take in information. Highly recommended!

Meet Your Teacher

My name is Marshall O'Leary and I teach guitar, piano, and saxophone over the internet which cuts out travel time for the both of us and makes things flexible. I also tailor my instruction to you as a unique individual with your own taste by asking about your goals, finding out what kind of music you like, introducing you to things you may not have heard of, and most importantly paying attention to how you learn.

I have been playing music since 1986 (earlier if you include my first guitar lessons) and have been a teacher since 2008. When I was 7 I got my first guitar and guitar lessons which lasted about 6 months. Then when I was 10 I got an electric guitar for my birthday and got lessons for almost a year. I kept the guitar around and messed with it some in college learning tabs off of the internet when that first became a thing. I picked up a few songs and reviewed some of my chords but I was more focused on saxophone. I joined band class in the 6th grade playing saxophone and the summer between my 9th and 10th grade I got some lessons so that I could try to get a higher chair the next year. That guy introduced my to John Coltrane and that was pretty much it for me. I was bitten by the music bug and it's been a part of my life ever since. I studied music as a saxophonist at Virginia Commonwealth University and play in a band called Glass Twin that I've been with for over 10 years. That band is what really got me into playing piano, because the drummer would write songs on piano and want me to play what he wrote so that he could see how the drums worked together with the piano part. Having had theory and some keyboard skills training in college I was able to teach myself some more. I did the same thing with guitar teaching myself and checking in with friends that play guitar for advice on how to improve and I started teaching beginners. The more I teach the more I learn and continue to stretch myself as a player and teacher. As a player I've performed jazz, rock, funk, and bluegrass. My students range in age from 7 to 70.

I really enjoy those "ah ha" moments when the light bulb comes on and I get to figure out the puzzle of how to get someone to learn something new especially if they didn't think they could do it.

I love teaching and can't wait to see what makes you tick!