Kevin Jones
Age: 50
Lives: Oberlin
Occupation: Owner of The Woodshed Lesson Studio 15½ W. College St., Oberlin

How long have you been the proprietor of the Woodshed?

I will have been here four years on April Fool’s Day.

Why should someone take music lessons?

You hear something you like and you want to be able to do it. People want to play what they like.

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Some circles regard music as another language?

In terms of the language, you have to figure out ways to get there. In order to speak that language you have to learn basic chords and scales. If it’s done in the context of the song or the music that you want to play, it makes it a little more motivating to learn. I try to take things a step at a time and I try to save steps. My father was a carpenter and when I worked with him his big thing was learning how to save steps and not waste a lot of time with wasted motion. By moving slower, you’ll get there quicker.

What instruments do you play?

I play guitar, bass, banjo, dobro, mandolin, ukulele—just about anything with frets on it — I don’t play violin or cello, keyboards and drums.

Occasionally you’ll have guest artists play at the Woodshed?

Yes, just last Friday I had Jonathan Edwards who was a hero of mine. Years ago, I lived in Washington, D.C., and I used to do a lot of opening acts. He was always the most engaging, appreciative guy.

What songs is he known for?

“Sunshine” — “Sunshine go away today, I don’t feel much like dancing” — and “Shanty” are his two best known songs, but he has a lot of lesser-known material that’s very good quality music.

Who else have you opened for?

John Sebastian, Roger McGuinn, Doc Watson, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Kingston Trio and some others.

What’s the scope of the Woodshed?

It’s primarily a lesson studio, but it’s also a store for instruments and musical supplies. And it’s a performance menu, either an open stage where people can just jam — sometimes we don’t even make it to the stage, we’ll just sit in the chairs — or “bigger” names like Jonathan Edwards or Melissa Greener from Austin, Texas, and Grammy-winning producer John Jennings (will perform).

What’s your preference — Bob Dylan acoustic or electric?

Whatever song I’m listening to by Bob Dylan at the time. It’s not a controversy for me.

Do you have a desert island five albums?

I guess “Blood on the Tracks” and “Highway 61” by Bob Dylan, “Rubber Soul” by the Beatles, “Houses of the Holy” by Led Zeppelin, and an acoustic blues album like “Sweet Baby James” by James Taylor.

Do you have any material you have written or recorded?

I released a CD, “Nobody’s Father,” with Mary Chapin Carpenter and John Jennings singing and playing on it. It’s on Taxim Records. I have another one in the works called “Raising the Ebenezer.”

Would you like to mention your family?

Yes. My wife, Marcia, who works at Career Services at Lorain County Community College; my daughter, Hannah, who is a student at Oberlin; and a son, Garyn, who’s a musician and he’s taking classes at LCCC.

Chronicle photographer Chuck Humel shines the spotlight on the people of Lorain County each week. Know someone worthy of 15 Minutes? E-mail chumel@chroniclet.com.

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