Musical Instrument Tuition
One to One or Online
I give lessons in electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass guitar, banjo, mandolin, harmonica and ukulele in my studio in Harlow, Essex. I tutor all ages from beginner to advanced in pop, rock, blues, country and folk styles. I am a member of the Registry of Guitar Tutors and Have taught RGT Electric and Acoustic Exams up to Grade 8. My fees are £30 an hour. Lessons can be "one to one" at my home studio, or "Online".
Teaching Strategy
I am a great believer in teaching students what they want to know as well as what I think they need to know. Each lesson is tailored for the student’s needs at that time. He or she may be a complete beginner, struggling to play basic chords or an advanced player seeking to explore improvisational techniques. Music theory is also covered, again dependent on the student’s realistic needs.
Where appropriate, students are given clearly typed chord and scale diagrams, along with written transcripts and audio recordings of songs/exercises they are working on. This is important in enabling them to practice efficiently between lessons.
Electric & Acoustic Guitar Lessons
In guitar lessons, beginner students are taught basic open chords and scales. They are then shown how to apply them to simple tunes. Most guitar lessons incorporate set pieces of popular songs, but a student is more than welcome to bring along a tune which interests him or her. More seasoned guitar students are taught how to improvise over standard chord progressions in a variety of styles including blues, rock, pop, reggae and country. Use of string bends, double stops, tremolo technique, finger picking, application of the capo, alternative tunings or slide guitar can all be covered. Relevant music theory and notation (including Tab) are incorporated in all of my lessons.
Ukulele Lessons
The Ukulele has been gaining worldwide popularity for decades now. The word “Ukulele” is Hawaiian for “Jumping Flea”. In 1879, a Portuguese immigrant grabbed his Branguinah (akin to the world’s first travel guitar) jumped from the boat onto the Hawaiian shore to break the ice with the Islanders. The locals shouting “Ukulele” or “Jumping Flea” referred either to the musician’s finger-speed on the fret board or his exuberant dancing as he played. If the Hawaiian Royalty hadn’t adopted the instrument as a national symbol, it may have disappeared from history. I teach this modest but effective instrument. Experienced students may even join my Ukulele troupe: The Phoenix Ukulele Band.