GUITAR (Beginner
and social playing)
The key to
teaching and learning is to have fun. No one is motivated to take up a
leisure activity that promises to be hard work, boring, and uninspiring.
I try to make
it fun and enjoyable, and give you a good grounding in the basics. I
generally focus on social playing skills when people first start playing. After
just a few short months you’ll be able to play along with well known pop and
rock tunes; and be able to play along with other players at a similar level.
Tunes include selected songs by: Green
Day, Nirvana, Guns and Roses, Kid Rock, Matchbox 20, Metallica, Pearl Jam,
Smashmouth, Police, Nickleback, Santana, The Beatles, Crowded House, Oasis, The
Eagles, CCR, and many more.
For social
players who want to progress to band level playing it’s really a matter of
continuing your tuition. All the things that you have learnt as a social player
apply to playing in a band as well. The main difference is that you with
need to master bar chords, more advanced strum patterns and understand the
different stylistic techniques for a variety of different kinds of music.
GUITAR ( Band
level)
If you’ve
already mastered the basics of social playing you are now ready for the
next step. More advanced skills are needed to handle the demands of band
playing, particularly if you are looking to audition for bands, rather than just
casually play with friends.
At this level I
generally teach more advanced chords and techniques on a style by style basis;
and begin working on lead guitar skills, practical theory, technique, ear
training, and listening skills.
At this level I concentrate on exposing
the student to the unique rhythm styles involved in a wide variety of
commercial styles i.e. Blues, Funk, Soul, Hard rock/Metal, Reggae, Pop/Top 40
etc. Once a student develops an interest in a certain genre I tend to explore
their interest in more depth.
LEAD GUITAR
(Intermediate to Advanced)
I
help you learn all of the scales licks and tricks that will allow you to play a
wide variety of styles i.e. Blues, Classic Rock, Metal/Hard Rock, Southern Rock,
Latin Rock, Jazz Fusion, and a wide variety of other styles. The emphasis for
players at this level will be learning the correct techniques and skills needed
to achieve virtuoso level playing; High level Theory, Pentatonic and Modal
scales, and Ear training.
Some
of the guitarists/styles I'm familiar with include:
SRV, JOE BONAMASSA, GARRY
MORE, SANTANA, DAVID GILMORE, YNGIE MALMSTEEN, JOE SATRIANI, ROBBEN FORD, LARRY
CARLTON, DUKE ROBILLIARD, AL DIMEOLA, JOHN McLAUGHLIN, FRANK GAMBALE, ALVIN LEE,
ERIC CLAPTON, JOHNNY WINTER, BB KING, SCOTT HENDERSON, DICKIE BETTS,
RORY GALLAGER, BUDDY GUY, DUANE ALLMAN , RITCHIE BLACKMORE, MICHAEL SCHENKER,
PAUL GILBERT, ANGUS YOUNG, JIMMY PAGE, STEVE VAI, ANDY TIMMONS, ERIC JOHNSON and
many more.
GUITAR (High
school elective)
If you been
playing for a while and you’ve taken music as an elective subject at school, I
take a slightly different approach. In addition to making sure that you have
good strong basic band skills, I also teach students to read music. When playing
with an elective ensemble at school you generally need a wider skill set than if
you were just playing socially or in an amateur band.
If you don't already play
guitar and intend to take music as a year 10 elective, start private lessons in
year 7 or 8. Guitar can be physically more difficult than some instruments and a
year or twos' head start helps take a lot of the pressure off those
important year 10 performances.
GUITAR (career orientated.)
Generally
people who are thinking about being involved in the music industry in a serious
way have already been playing for a while. When you come to me for this kind of
advice I do a number of things for you. I assess and critique your playing, and
talk to you about what you hope to achieve; and what interests you. I also give
you an idea as to what the professional industry requires, and where you stand
in relation to that standard. We then work out a study plan together to help you
achieve this goal.