Minnetonka Music

04/07/2026

Music should make sense.

That is not why I teach music.
I teach music because it matters.
And because it is much easier to understand than most people have been told.

I do not teach “music as therapy.”
I teach music.
How it works.
How to hear it.
How to use it.
How to make it work for you.

The side benefits are a bonus.

Music is like Tai Chi for the brain:
easy, natural, and powerful.

I have limited openings for lessons.

Once you start lessons, your lesson rate is locked in for life.
If you have taken lessons from me before, you can return at your original rate, subject to availability.
That’s like buying gasoline at 25 cents a gallon.

My book is almost finished. I’ll let you know when it’s out.
When the book is released, lesson rates for new students will go up.

Message me if you are interested.

03/28/2026

Most beginners learn the first few notes of “Smoke on the Water.”
That’s a start. But it’s not the song.

Here’s what happens when you understand how the music works and turn a fragment into something you can actually play and make your own.

Private guitar and piano lessons with Bob Bushnell
Hopkins • local in-home • live online
MinnetonkaMusic.com

03/25/2026

Music has been a long road for me—teaching, performing, writing, and constantly rethinking how music is taught. I’m putting fresh energy into lessons again, and I’m glad to be back at it.

I’m back.
After many years of teaching, performing, writing, and rethinking how music is taught, I’m putting fresh energy into lessons again.

Private guitar and piano lessons are now available in Hopkins, in your home locally, or live online.

Many teachers show you how to copy a song the way someone else played it. I can do that too. But my real goal is to help you understand how the song works, so you can turn it into something you can actually play, enjoy, and make your own.

No registration fee, no sign-up fee, no contract.
Prepaid lessons don’t expire, are transferable, and lesson times are flexible.

If you’ve been thinking about lessons for yourself or someone else, message me or visit MinnetonkaMusic.com

03/25/2026

I’m back.
After many years of teaching, performing, writing, and rethinking how music is taught, I’m putting fresh energy into lessons again.

Private guitar and piano lessons are now available in Hopkins, in your home locally, or live online.

Many teachers show you how to copy a song the way someone else played it. I can do that too. But my real goal is to help you understand how the song works, so you can turn it into something you can actually play, enjoy, and make your own.

No registration fee, no sign-up fee, no contract.
Prepaid lessons don’t expire, are transferable, and lesson times are flexible.

If you’ve been thinking about lessons for yourself or someone else, message me or visit MinnetonkaMusic.com

08/09/2022

WHY MUSIC?
Music is necessary for all people of all ages. Music is at least as old as language.
Music stimulates the right and left brain and increases memory capacity. Students who are actively learning music do better in school. Elderly think clearer.
Friedrich Nietzsche: "Without music, life would be a mistake." A little extreme? Maybe not. Most philosophers throughout history seem to agree; Plato, Confucius, Einstein...
Albert Einstein's wife said when he was working on the Theory of Relativity, he would come out of his room and play the piano for about a half hour and then return to continue working on his theory. He said, "I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music."
Plato said, "Let us describe the education of our men. What then is the education to be? Perhaps we could hardly find a better than that which the experience of the past has already discovered, which consists, I believe, in gymnastic, for the body, and music for the mind."
Confucius put music as the second most important thing to teach. The most important being "Ceremonies".
Don't just learn music, understand it. It's easier. Traditional music theory is cluttered with misdirection and unnecessary information.
Remember, we don't work piano or guitar or violin or erhu, ...we play it. It should be fun.
-Bob Bushnell, owner and founder of Bushnell's Minnetonka Music.

08/09/2022

FIRST LESSON IS FREE. (Limited to available space.)
Very flexible schedule. Online only for now.
Call or Text: 952-474_EARS (474-3277).
or email Bob at [email protected]
No Contracts. No commitment.

08/10/2021

Bushnell's Minnetonka Music has room for a few students. Lessons, for now, are online. I will send a link you can open in any browser. computer or tablet with camera and microphone are essential. There are whiteboards we can use, you can download pages.

Sign up by emailing: [email protected]. I will send more information (pricing etc) or calling 952-474_EARS (474-3277).

THE FIRST LESSON IS FREE. Limited to available space.

WHY MUSIC?
Music is necessary for all people of all ages. Music is at least as old as language.

Music stimulates the right and left brain and increases memory capacity. Students who are actively learning music do better in school. Elderly think clearer.

Friedrich Nietzsche: "Without music, life would be a mistake." A little extreme? Maybe not. Most philosophers throughout history seem to agree; Plato, Confucius, Einstein...

Albert Einstein's wife said when he was working on the Theory of Relativity, he would come out of his room and play the piano for about a half hour and then return to continue working on his theory. He said, "I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music."

Plato said, "Let us describe the education of our men. What then is the education to be? Perhaps we could hardly find a better than that which the experience of the past has already discovered, which consists, I believe, in gymnastic, for the body, and music for the mind."

Confucius put music as the second most important thing to teach. The most important being "Ceremonies".

Don't just learn music, understand it. It's easier. Traditional music theory is cluttered with misdirection and unnecessary information.

Remember, we don't work piano or guitar or violin or erhu, ...we play it. It should be fun.

-Bob Bushnell, owner and founder of Bushnell's Minnetonka Music.

12/23/2017

Give the gift of music! Open 'till 5:00 on Christmas Eve!

12/19/2017

Give the gft of music! Mention this ad and get 10% off your next purchase!

12/14/2017

09/18/2017

Awesome! Thanks to UN1TY for the freestyle themesong for Minnetonka Music!! Live from our new Deephaven store.