PRIVATE MUSIC LESSONS
I teach Guitar (electric, acoustic, classical); Piano and Keyboard, Bass Guitar, Ukulele and Music Theory privately to a variety of students of all ages and abilities on a 1-1 basis. I have a 100% pass rate in ABRSM, Trinity Rock and Pop and Rockschool graded examinations.
Grades are only one way of learning. I also have a large archive collection of songs and riffs of many styles and can also transcribe music by ear in the actual lesson. Students receive both a paper and PDF copy of all the music they learn in their lessons.
See here for a list of everything I have taught in the last year!
LOCATION
Lessons are based at my home in Ben Rhydding, Ilkley. Students are currently travelling from Ben Rhydding, Ilkley, Addingham, Menston, Burley in Wharfedale, Otley, Keighley, Skipton, Guiseley, Bolton Abbey, Bradford, Leeds City Centre and more. Additionally I can provide lessons via the internet using FaceTime or Skype. Click here for more info.
Click here to book your first lesson!
FAQ
What happens in a typical lesson?
Things you can expect from your lesson with me:
Will you come to my house instead?
Unfortunately I cannot visit your home to teach but instead provide online lessons via FaceTime or Skype for anyone who cannot travel to me.
Can I borrow an instrument for my first lesson?
Yes you can, I hold a spare guitar and ukulele for anyone who hasn't quite managed to make that first instrument purchase. I also have an amplifier and full-size 88-key stage piano for pupils to use.
Do I have to do grades and sit exams?
Not at all! It's up to you, though many people find that working through grades helps give their learning some structure. Other people enjoy learning their favourite songs alongside new riffs, skills and techniques on a more ad-hoc and personalised basis.
If you do choose to do grades, for classical guitar or piano I would recommend learning how to read music and following the Trinity grade syllabus, for acoustic guitar I have found the RGT syllabus to be the most effective, and for electric guitar, the Rockschool or Trinity Rock and Pop syllabus. I use ABRSM or LCM for Music Theory graded exams. If you wish to pursue grades on the Ukulele, Rockschool and RGT have recently introduced a graded option.
How long should my lesson be?
For adults and older children, an hour. For primary school children I recommend a 30-minute lesson to be the most productive. See the prices page for more details.
Do you offer a free consultation lesson?
I am happy to speak on the phone or email at length or meet in person for a short chat about your requirements prior to your first lesson proper.
Which guitar / ukulele / bass, accessories and books should I buy?
I can give you any information you need during our first phone call and/or lesson. I'm also in the process of creating some blog articles to help out with this. See Part 1 on Classical Guitars here and Part 2 on Ukuleles here - more to come soon!
What are your terms and conditions?
After your first lesson, I will ask you to read and sign a very simple standard contract for your tuition. For further information on terms and conditions click here.
*UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2020*
NOTE THAT ALL LESSONS ARE CURRENTLY ONLINE ONLY DUE TO THE CONTINUING COVID SITUATION.
Grades are only one way of learning. I also have a large archive collection of songs and riffs of many styles and can also transcribe music by ear in the actual lesson. Students receive both a paper and PDF copy of all the music they learn in their lessons.
See here for a list of everything I have taught in the last year!
LOCATION
Lessons are based at my home in Ben Rhydding, Ilkley. Students are currently travelling from Ben Rhydding, Ilkley, Addingham, Menston, Burley in Wharfedale, Otley, Keighley, Skipton, Guiseley, Bolton Abbey, Bradford, Leeds City Centre and more. Additionally I can provide lessons via the internet using FaceTime or Skype. Click here for more info.
Click here to book your first lesson!
FAQ
What happens in a typical lesson?
Things you can expect from your lesson with me:
- Tuition from a professional musician.
- Lessons structured to fit your individual needs.
- Recording facilities (laptop, iPad, professional microphones and music software) to record, playback and analyse your playing, if required. Using software I also can slow down Grade pieces without affecting the pitch to help practice at a slower tempo.
- If you're a smartphone or tablet user I can recommend several free and cheap apps to help your learning including tuners, metronomes and music theory quizzes. (see this blog post)
- Free sheet music and lesson notes to take home or be emailed to you in PDF format.
- A personalised video of any song or technique studied during our lesson on request.
- Chord sequences or riffs transcribed ad-hoc by ear in the lesson.
Will you come to my house instead?
Unfortunately I cannot visit your home to teach but instead provide online lessons via FaceTime or Skype for anyone who cannot travel to me.
Can I borrow an instrument for my first lesson?
Yes you can, I hold a spare guitar and ukulele for anyone who hasn't quite managed to make that first instrument purchase. I also have an amplifier and full-size 88-key stage piano for pupils to use.
Do I have to do grades and sit exams?
Not at all! It's up to you, though many people find that working through grades helps give their learning some structure. Other people enjoy learning their favourite songs alongside new riffs, skills and techniques on a more ad-hoc and personalised basis.
If you do choose to do grades, for classical guitar or piano I would recommend learning how to read music and following the Trinity grade syllabus, for acoustic guitar I have found the RGT syllabus to be the most effective, and for electric guitar, the Rockschool or Trinity Rock and Pop syllabus. I use ABRSM or LCM for Music Theory graded exams. If you wish to pursue grades on the Ukulele, Rockschool and RGT have recently introduced a graded option.
How long should my lesson be?
For adults and older children, an hour. For primary school children I recommend a 30-minute lesson to be the most productive. See the prices page for more details.
Do you offer a free consultation lesson?
I am happy to speak on the phone or email at length or meet in person for a short chat about your requirements prior to your first lesson proper.
Which guitar / ukulele / bass, accessories and books should I buy?
I can give you any information you need during our first phone call and/or lesson. I'm also in the process of creating some blog articles to help out with this. See Part 1 on Classical Guitars here and Part 2 on Ukuleles here - more to come soon!
What are your terms and conditions?
After your first lesson, I will ask you to read and sign a very simple standard contract for your tuition. For further information on terms and conditions click here.
*UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2020*
NOTE THAT ALL LESSONS ARE CURRENTLY ONLINE ONLY DUE TO THE CONTINUING COVID SITUATION.
