Lessons
- My Teaching Philosophy:
Each
student is an individual, with their own musical goals and
influences, and as a teacher I view my job as instilling
the skills necessary to help you, the student, reach those
goals.
However,
it's not as simple as sitting down on the first day and
running through a transription of "Stairway To Heaven"
or "Through The Fire & Flames"- there are
some core skills needed to be a good all round musician.
The
basics I like every student to become familiar with include:
Knowledge
of basic open major & minor chords
Understanding
of movable barre chords & power chords
Understanding
basics of improvisation
Ability
to interpret tablature, rhythm and chord charts so to effectively
communicate with other players
Ability
to pick out basic rhythms, chord sequences and melodies
by ear
To
this end I use a mixture of technique orientated exercises
and songs (including student suggestions) to demostrate
these techniques, ranging from The Beatles to Hendrix to
AC/DC to Nirvana and the Kings Of Leon. This list is always
evolving and I make a point of tailoring each lesson to
the individual student.
FAQs:
Q:
Do you offer grades?
A: Yes, with both Rockschool and RGT exam
boards for electric, acoustic and bass guitar, and Trinity
College for classical guitar
Q:
Do I need to read music?
A: Not necessarily- many successful guitarists
are poor readers. Mostly I teach my students how to read
a chord chart, how to read rhythm and interpret tablature.
However for specialised disciplines like classical and jazz
I teach students how to read standard music notation
Q:
Do I need to buy any books?
A: You're welcome to buy any books you
want, and there are many very high quality publications
on sale, but my lessons have their own printed materials
so you don't need to make any other purchases
Q:
Do I need my own guitar?
A: Yes. For advice on buying a guitar,
read my article on Choosing Your First Guitar HERE
Q:
What if I can't attend?
A: A minimum of 24 hours notice is needed
otherwise full fee will be charged. This is standard practice
amonst RGT registered teachers- after all we plan our lives
around our students so this is basic courtesy! I can offer
HD video lessons via Skype
and webcam, however
Lesson
packs to buy:
