what happens in a lesson?

If you are a total beginner, the first few sessions we’ll spend away from the guitar, learning the musical basics - be prepared for some singing!

Once we get onto the guitar, we’ll spend a few more weeks looking at the building blocks of each key on the instrument. We’ll spend a lesson working on a concept, and I’ll leave you with a new piece to practice the idea home.

For intermediate learners, most of the lesson is spent developing your technique and playing pieces, which is after all what we’re aiming for.

I’ll try to gear most of the music around what you want to play. As you progress, the choice is increasingly yours.

If you are already a competent player and an aficionado, we’ll be working on music that you want to play. I’ll recommend related pieces and exercises to help you onwards.

In each lesson, we’ll also look at some of the skills that go into playing music.

One of the best skills we can acquire is sight reading - that is, being able to open a score and play straight from the page. (It’s also a quite tricky skill to pick up on the guitar, because of the nature of the instrument.) I teach sight reading from the very beginning, and you can expect to read new music in every lesson.

I also integrate a basic understanding of harmony into the way that we’ll learn. I’ll stress that I never teach music theory in an abstract way; I won’t make you memorise key signatures. You’ll pick up a working knowledge of music through doing it.

do we do grades?

Not as a matter of course. We’ll generally be guided by your preferences and what you need to develop.

However, if you’re especially keen to take grades, that’s fine: I’m happy to prepare you for exams. I’ll integrate the grade pieces and other requirements into the lesson, so we’ll also be working on other skills and pieces of music.

do we perform?

Absolutely - but no pressure. Performing is one of the best ways to improve as a musician.

It’s my intention to run a guitar and lute club in London. I’ve had some very happy times running a club in Bath - Plucky Devils. We met every month or so to perform for one another. These gatherings were extremely warm, friendly and informal: it’s an opportunity to share the music you’re working on with others who are in exactly the same situation.

I’ll keep you posted on this!

I also keep in touch with my roots at the West Sussex Guitar Club, and for the last few years I’ve had students enter their guitar festival in Bognor Regis. This is an excellent chance to perform for a new and warm audience, and to hear professional feedback.