A minute with Mike Papapavlou Guitar World Magazine’s Guitar Teacher of The Year

Where do you live?
In the Upper West Side, Manhattan, New York City with my incredible wife Courtland.

What did you have for breakfast?
A warm cup of ‘cafe con leche’ (Almond milk + Instant Coffee) and avocado toast!

Describe your perfect day
Wake up with the sun on my face, read in bed, meditate, have breakfast with my wife, practice guitar, go for a run, bike along a new pathway and so much more!

Best book ever read?
The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. It taught me so many things including, “Your thoughts become things!’

Best childhood memory?
My parents getting me my first (many since then) electric guitar from Evangelismos Music Stores!

What is always in your fridge?
Almond milk!

What music are you listening to in the car at the moment?
I have lived in NYC for over seven years so I haven’t owned a car since then!

What’s your spirit animal?
Tiger. Known for its fiery passion, daring, and fearlessness, the tiger is universally respected and revered for its courage.

What are you most proud of?
Not giving up on my dream of ‘making’ it in the USA despite everything around me (at a certain part of my life) telling me I should stop dreaming and just settle for what’s within my reach.

What movie scene has really stayed with you?
The scene where The Mask (Jim Carrey) starts dancing and singing with the whole crowd of cops that are there to arrest him. As the Mask, he was able to take ANY situation, and make it work out for him!

If you could pick anyone at all (alive or dead) to go out for the evening with, who would it be?
The greatest artist, singer, musician, dancer and philanthropist of them all Michael Jackson! (Didn’t have to think twice about it)

If you could time travel when/where would you go?
80s baby!!

What is your greatest fear?
Knowing that I could have done something but didn’t!

What would you say to your 18-year-old self?
You can be, do and have anything you want in this life. You just need patience, persistence and perseverance!

Name the one thing that would stop you dating someone
A deep negative mental attitude. What you focus on grows.

If the world is ending in 24 hours what would you do?
Call everyone that has had a positive impact on my life and tell them thank you and I love you. THEN have a crazy good party with all the close people in my life!