About Philippe Willems- Founder of FACTS OF M USIC®

Philippe Willems has been giving it his all when it comes to living and to making music. As a performer and teacher, he has traveled the world over. He is operating FACTS OF MUSIC® Productions in the Hollywood, California area (whence he hails), combining writing, composing, and music education.

When he was only two, Philippe's grandfather, who was a reknowned big band leader in Belgium, observed "This kid has ears- he's a natural-born musician," and introduced him to music and instruments. No one encouraged him to play, they didn't need to- his passion for music was very apparent by the time he was seven years old.

His parents didn't want him to focus solely on music, but they didn't discourage him. They agreed to give him lessons and the instruments he wanted- only after fulfilled his obligations at school and around the house.

Philippe was so enterprising that by age 12, he found himself being paid by parents around his neighborhood to teach music to their kids. By age 15, Philippe's grandmother lent him a few hundred dollars to help him buy the guitar of his dreams, and she encouraged him to devote his attention only to making music and to continue teaching, and to repay her when he could.

In Junior High, Philippe and one his childhood friends decided they wanted to go to Music College together when they graduated from High School, and in 1975, they did. They took off for one of the best jazz schools anywhere, the University of North Texas School of Music, in Denton, Texas. The school is distinguished as not only being one of the finest, but it is also the only University and Music College to have been nominated for a Grammy award- not just once, but four times. No other school even claims a single nomination!

After returning to L.A., Philippe got right back into his teaching, writing and playing mode, and many fine opportunities and gigs started coming his way. His students and friends were some of the most talented, recognized and connected people in the business. This led to recording, songwriting and publishing deals, and by the early 1980's he also worked for numerous stars (names withheld to protect the innocent!!!) as a player, producer and musical director. He moved to Las Vegas in 1982 and landed a job as a musical director on the Strip.

In 1997, he finished the Th.M. program (equivalent to two doctorates of standard graduate and post-graduate studies). His concentration in academic ministries with a major in Old Testament drew him through roughly 4-5,000 years of recorded history, and also gave him an overview of how learning and teaching have historically been approached. This had significant impact on how he conducts his guitar lessons, and on his music teaching in general.

From about 1995 to 1998, many changes were implemented into what was becoming the FACTS OF MUSIC® system. These teachings and musical way-of-life have impacted more than a thousand students including the second and third generations currently being taught by Philippe's students. The lessons are conducted in numerous ways, and can be adapted to just about any instrument: guitar, piano, bass, voice, drums, banjo, violin, dobro, mandolin, ukelele, flute, sax, harmonica, etc.

It is Philippe's firm belief that all people can learn musical skills at any age. The FACTS OF MUSIC® system and its results have a proven track record. It has been demonstrated that everyone can learn music and how to play an instrument, and get more out of it IN LESS TIME! And now, in the digital age, you can have more fun than you ever before could imagine! Contact us today for details.

In 2001, the company received its patent on the Principal Register of the United States Patent and Trademark Office in International Class 41 for instruction in the field of instrumental music and entertainment. FACTS OF MUSIC¨ promises to be the new standard in music information technologies, "the new, fast computer on the block of music education and music information solutions."

The company is owned and operated by Philippe, and since 2003, includes a full-service project studio in Woodland Hills (just a beat away from Hollywood).