Ryan Johnson, MM, MT-BC

Husband/father, guitarist, songwriter, & board-certified music therapist

Photo of Ryan at a Gig

In the 8 years that I have been working as a music therapist, I have seen the power of music at work in the lives of those that I serve. Growing up, I learned metal and percussive fingerstyle songs, playing in metal bands and church bands, and studied classical and jazz in school. With time, I became an accomplished guitarist. Having those skills has proved very useful in my music therapy sessions. From playing funky-fresh music during physical therapy sessions; to accompanying vocal excercises on guitar; to improvising chord progressions to a patient's personal hymn; to adapting anime chord progressions to make the songs easier to play; I have discovered multiple ways to breathe life into sessions through most music therapists' primary instrument - guitar.

Playing guitar has brought me to “the highest of highs” and through “the lowest of lows.” It’s helped me cope with the loss of my parents; has brought me and my wife together; makes my daughter dance; and is what I use to serve others every day.

Learning guitar was one of the most important decisions in my life, and I want to share what I’ve learned with others!

Riffs with Ryan is dedicated to helping music therapists grow in their guitar skills to serve their clients and ignite joy in playing guitar. I’d love to offer you my FAVORITE, EASIER ways to play the four major barre chord shapes (on me)!

Thanks for visiting!

Ryan

Ryan is the creator of Riffs with Ryan, a website that provides high quality guitar resources for music therapists. He is a board-certified music therapist who has worked in a wide variety of populations, both young and old, an actively gigging guitarist, songwriter, studio guitarist, and guitar teacher who wants his life to have a blend of three things he’s passionate about:

  1. Helping others
  2. Playing guitar
  3. And teaching

Ryan knows how difficult it can be to find time to practice and grow in guitar skills as a working music therapist and husband/father, but it is possible in small, consistent “bite-sized nuggets”, and that’s what he wants for others in their “guitar journey”!