Teacher
and student

Music is at the center of everything Eric Branner does. Whether teaching guitar, leading the Fons team or organizing music events - music is Eric’s life.

Eric is the CEO and co-founder of Fons, a mobile/web based platform that streamlines and automates payments and scheduling for appointment-based business.

Fons brings together the best business practices Eric and his wife Alyson have developed while operating one of the most successful private music teaching studios in the country. 

Eric is the owner of the Blackforrest Music School in Seattle. He has taught music for more than two decades to students aged 5 to 85 and has reached more than two-million online students through his YouTube channel. 

Eric is the author of The Blackforrest Guitar Companion Book, which features his entire introductory guitar method through a free ebook and video lessons.

Eric founded Camp Branner, an annual, week-long intensive music camp in the Methow Valley for high school students. He also hosts the annual Guitarbeque guitar recital in Seattle and has previously taught at Holy Names Academy, The American Music School and Shenandoah Academy.

Eric performs and records on a regional and national level as a guitarist and singer/songwriter. He is versed in classical, bluegrass, blues, rock, folk, fingerstyle, flatpicking, and traditional guitar styles. Eric has studied with more than 50 world-class teachers such as Keith Stevens, Michael Nicolella, and Steven Novacek. He has also attended masterclasses with luminaries such as David Russell and Manuel Barrueco. Eric has performed at the Northwest Folklife Festival and was a prizewinner at the Northwest Classical Guitar Competition. Eric is no longer available to play at your wedding, unless you’ve been friends for quite some time.  

Eric has previously managed marketing and development campaigns for Seattle Symphony, Seattle Opera, Seattle Children’s Theater, Seattle Repertory Theatre and ACT Theatre.

Eric love the mountains, yet prefers the ocean. Surfing and swimming in the cold waters of the northwest Pacific Ocean are his favorite pastimes. He lives in Seattle with his wife Alyson, two children Huck and Edith and a German shepherd named Cannon.

makes life better

Here are just a few of my amazing memories from teaching, performing and playing over the years.
Keep checking back as we continue to make more!