Have you always wanted to play an instrument, or wished you’d kept on with your lessons? *** It’s never too late! *** Anyone can learn to play an instrument. All it takes is a little regular practice, access to the music you enjoy, and effective guidance from a professional who tailors lessons to your needs. I am a friendly, enthusiastic, and patient teacher, with over 35 years’ success in teaching and playing, several years of which include teaching music by Skype. I teach all standards, from complete beginners to advanced, and all ages - my youngest student is 4 years old and my eldest is 87! I provide one-to-one tuition via Skype to students of all ages and abilities, all over the world! Play just for fun, or follow a more formal path by taking ABRSM examinations. Learn at your own pace, take your playing in the direction you want, and enjoy a real sense of achievement as you progress. Why choose me as your teacher? I have a highly-effective teaching style and focus on being as flexible as possible to meet the needs and wishes of my students, whilst ensuring maximum progress. Whilst some students want to take exams as a measure of their development (I have a 100% pass rate and most of my students pass with Merit or Distinction), exams are not essential and many of my students play just for fun. In addition to the well-known advantages of learning any musical instrument (improved coordination, fine motor skills, problem-solving skills, patience, etc.) there are additional benefits to choosing an experienced and qualified teacher: * Make continuous progress at your own rate – Lessons are tailored to your needs, gently moving you forward at a pace that is comfortable and right for you. * Learn from a friendly, experienced, and qualified teacher – I am a graduate of the Royal College of Music and a qualified class teacher, with experience of teaching music and instruments at primary, secondary, and adult education levels, in class, group, and one-to-one tuition. With over 35 years of success in teaching, you can rest assured you are in good hands. * Play the kind of music you enjoy – Although originally classically trained, my tastes are varied and my approach is to teach a technique that will enable you to play whatever style of music you most enjoy. Once you have learned the basic techniques you choose the music you want to learn. * Explore a wide range of musical styles – If you aren’t sure what style of music you prefer, or just want some variety, we can try music from a range of styles and cultures – again, you choose! * Develop skills that will enable you to play any music you want – You will learn a technique that is not specific to one particular style. Once you have learned the basics that technique can be applied to any style of music you want to explore. * Have fun through success! – Everyone enjoys doing things they are good at. The skills I teach will ensure your continued success and enjoyment ... providing you practice regularly! Learning Via Skype: I provide one-to-one tuition online via Skype and have been doing so for a number of years. This is a highly popular and successful method of learning, as is shown by exam results, which remain equally as high as with in-person lessons, and most who have tried both methods prefer it. I have students all over the world of all standards, from complete beginners to Grade 8 and beyond, who have been learning with me in this way for many years. All my former face-to-face students have moved to online lessons, and they are extremely happy with the opportunities for learning that it offers them - including additional learning aids that weren't available with face-to-face lessons: * I take videos during the lessons for students to constantly refer to when practicing between lessons. * I can show things from a variety of different angles, which wouldn't be possible to show if the student and I were together. * I have a view that shows an animated keyboard or fretboard along with the real instrument that highlights each note in real-time as I play it, which has proven highly popular and helpful both during lessons and in videos. * I take detailed notes during each lesson and provide the notes to each student after lessons, so there is never any doubt as to what we are learning. * Every student has a personal online folder into which I place lesson notes, music, marked theory, etc., so there is always a complete record of what has been covered. All my students agree that with the new opportunities offered by modern technology, lessons are even better than they were in person. Add to this the convenience of online lessons - playing your own instrument instead of the teacher's, not having to travel and battle with bad weather or traffic, not to mention the time saved, etc. - and they have all decided to keep lessons online. In the first Skype lesson, we can check things such as internet connection, positioning of the webcam, lighting, etc. Why not try it? There is nothing to lose! About the lessons: I teach essential technical skills that will provide a solid grounding in playing the instrument (for the Guitar the technique is variously known as acoustic / fingerstyle / Spanish / classical etc. - N.B. not electric or playing with a pick). For all instruments, this involves learning the basic notes and techniques relating to the instrument and will enable you to play whatever style of music you want – in fact, many of the best rock and pop musicians trained this way! All lessons cover: * Reading music notation * Right-hand and left-hand instrumental techniques * Basic musical knowledge and understanding * Correct positioning * How to practice effectively Other (optional) elements include: * Advanced instrumental techniques * Music theory * Ear training * Preparation for more serious study (music examinations) Music: For complete beginners, we will follow a specific course that is designed to introduce you to all the key techniques required to master the guitar. This will be supplemented with additional music as needed, giving you a truly individual and tailored approach. For those who have mastered the basic techniques music will be chosen in consultation with you, based on the styles of music you prefer, the playing standard required, and the technical elements that feature in the music. This may include: * Published music of any style * Music you enjoy from a CD, MP3, YouTube video, etc. – I can transcribe and arrange them to suit your technical ability * Folk and other song arrangements * Accompaniments to songs you enjoy * Preparation for ABRSM graded examinations The main aim is that your lessons are fun, you are motivated and inspired by the music, and that (with a little regular practice!) you continue to make steady progress. Whether you are a complete beginner or an advanced musician I can help you to develop your skills and enjoy making your own music. I look forward to hearing from you! About me: I have been playing musical instruments for most of my life, having come from a musical family, and have been teaching for over 35 years both in class, ensemble, small group, and one-to-one situations. I am a graduate of the Royal College of Music, one of the top institutions for music education in the world. Though my specialism was the classical guitar, I also studied the piano and violin and was the first guitarist to be awarded the G.R.S.M.(hons.) degree. I have since delved into other styles (banjo tunes, jazz, rock, Celtic folk music, alternate tunings, etc.) and other instruments (harp, banjo, melodeon, small-pipes, ukulele, steel pans, flute, saxophone, etc.). I am also a qualified teacher (P.G.C.E. London University Institute of Education) and have held the post of Head of Music at both primary and secondary school levels. I achieved a Master of the Arts degree (MA) at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, with distinction. As a musician, I have performed all over: as a soloist, in a duo, as part of a small chamber group, and in larger choirs and orchestras. I have also published a range of music repertoire and arranged music professionally for a varied range of instruments, and my work has been published in respected music magazines such as ‘Melody Maker'. My full list of qualifications is: MA. PGCE, GRSM (hons)