Barrett Simms wearing a navy shirt and black vest smiling at a microphone with his maple electric Strandberg guitar.

About your instructor

Wm. Barrett Simms
I discovered my love for guitar at the age of eleven and played in a band throughout high school and college. While I almost majored in music, I ultimately chose a different path, earning a degree in biochemistry and molecular biology. For decades, my passion for performing music took a backseat to a demanding corporate career. Even though music was always in my life. It wasn't until a road trip with my wife that my love for performing was rekindled. Inspired by this rekindled spark, I re-dedicated myself to daily practice. 

When the pandemic hit, I made the bold decision to leave the corporate world and fully embrace music as my career. I began performing regularly, even performing over 100 shows in a single year. While performing was an incredible experience, the lifestyle and long hours started to compete with my home life. That's when I shifted my focus to teaching, starting with guitar, and then adding drums, piano, and ukulele lessons.  

I still love performing and can be found at the Ruby Bar every third Friday from 7–9pm. It's a fantastic place, unlike anything else in Round Rock. Come see me! 

You can also stay in touch via wbsimmsmusic.com and follow me on Facebook or Instagram to see where I’m playing out next.  


We recommend all students

Start with a music discovery session

Our 15-minute music consult is a relaxed, no-pressure opportunity to explore music lessons for you (or your child). Meetings are held in our music studio so you can get a feel for the space, ensuring it’s a comfortable, welcoming environment where you (and your child) feel safe and supported.

During this session, we’ll chat about your goals for the lessons so that we can find the best starting point. We’ll also discuss musical interests—favorite genres, songs, or artists—and how we can make lessons engaging and fun by incorporating those. By the end of the session, you’ll have a clear understanding of what to expect.