More Than Guitar: The Tommy Armstrong-Leavitt Story

Send Steve a Text Message A lot of guitar careers are built around louder stages, bigger rigs, and the next gig. Tommy Armstrong Levitt’s path gets there too, but it takes a turn that’s both unexpected and deeply moving. We talk through his full arc: growing up on classic records, learning guitar by trading riffs with friends, leveling up through GIT at Musicians Institute, and turning hard-earned lesson-room experience into method books that thousands of players still use. From there, the conversation shifts into the “working music” reality. Tommy breaks down what it takes to teach with consistency, how Chord Camp and Finger Fitness came together, and what self-publishing really looks like when you’re paying for printing, distribution, and inventory. We also get into gear and tone from the inside of the industry, including his work at EMG and the biggest misconception about active pickups: most players judge them by the black covers, not by the clarity, noise floor, and articulation you actually hear in a mix. Then we go somewhere most guitar interviews never go. Tommy shares why he became a certified music practitioner and what therapeutic music in hospitals demands, especially in palliative care and hospice. We talk about tempo, dynamics, reading the room in seconds, letting go of ego, and what it’s like to play when the moment is truly life-and-death. Those experiences inspire his new acoustic release, Lullabies for the Living, built from pieces first shaped at the bedside. If you care about guitar, music education, EMG pickups, music therapy, or using your instrument to serve people in real moments, you’ll get a lot from this one. Subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. CD: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/tommyarmstrongleavitt/lullabies-for-the-living?fbclid=IwY2xjawUeKKJwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMUoxRWVkZEY2SUthbldlVGVzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEet6VLoZ0kk7G-ZhRWy68iwe2dr4QoSMXB_bszSZo1fsuGYAI__AN0kQm3SL4_aem_xmVcpg14BMVVrNOSafWhrQ Learning Materials: https://www.chordcamp.com/tommy YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO2mMZiShcnptcqun0-i2Gg Thanks for being here!! I will continue to do my best to bring you the best, most informative guitar discussions to help you along your guitar journey! Please like, share and subscribe to get the word out about this podcast, and please check out the GuitarZoom Academy if you are ready to achieve your guitar goals!! GuitarZoom Homepage The more you share this podcast with others, the more I can continue to grow this channel and offer the best information and advice I can to you. Thank you! Steve Links: Check out the GuitarZoom Academy: https://academy.guitarzoom.com/ Steve’s Channel → https://www.youtube.com/user/stinemus...  GuitarZoom Channel → https://www.youtube.com/user/guitarz0...  Songs Channel → https://www.youtube.com/user/GuitarSo... .