Ten years ago, during a difficult time in his life, Nick Stolte picked up his brother’s old Ibanez guitar that had been collecting dust. While he always had a good ear and a love for ‘70s music, it was at this point when it clicked that he was meant to be behind an instrument. Soon, The Musicians Woodshed came into the picture.
“I scheduled Nick for his first lesson and paired him up with his first teacher, Ryan Holley,” says The Musicians Woodshed Director Gina Bretzke. “From starting with guitar to now being in the recording studio, he’s definitely come out confidence-wise. Music has given him his purpose and he’s become a great ambassador for The Woodshed.”
Despite his struggle with anxiety, Nick has performed at showcases and open mics throughout Central Texas. That includes an especially memorable time playing at a festival in McDade, where his grandma lived.
“We’ve seen his growth musically through his hard work. More notably, I’m seeing a lot of emotional and social growth from him,” says drum instructor Travis Woodard. “For Nick to be doing the adult band project is fantastic. He was the catalyst in us doing an adult show because he was the one asking about it and lit the fire to add that to the program.”
Someday, Nick hopes to join a band of his own. Until then, he looks forward to continuing to refine his instrumental and songwriting skills through lessons at The Musicians Woodshed.
“The people here are very supportive and push you to do your best,” says Nick. “The whole musical journey, with the addition of therapy, has helped me get past my social anxiety and pressures. I’ve learned to get out in public, be myself, and not worry about anything else.”
Get ready for Nick Stolte’s first original song, “The Veil,” coming out on April 26th! Keep up with his musical journey at nickstoltemusic.com and themusicianswoodshed.com.