I like to initially give students a simple and solid foundation on which they can build on. This requires learning to play half a dozen chords with the left hand and a simple strumming rhythm with the right hand. Then we look at playing simple songs by such artists as The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Oasis, Bowie,and many others. Also I like to teach blues and Major scales right from the start and concentrate on playing them clearly and confidently.

As the student gains in confidence we vary the right hand rhythms to more complex patterns, learn more chords including harder bar chords and look at more complex songs with changes of tempo, dynamics and rhythms. Scale knowledge increases to include modes of scales, playing in different keys and starting to improvise solos.

Students at this point can also learn figerpicking, sight reading and tablature reading. When the student is ready after usually about a year we can start to specialize in their preferred style and the student has the choice to pursue the National Rockschool Electric Guitar Syllabus or the National Guildhall Classical Guitar syllabus.

Subsequently students can learn to play in different styles, improve their improvisational skills learning to play solos, slide, bend and vibrato notes. I encourage students to experiment as well with their own chord arrangements and two track melody/harmony writing. Students can learn speed picking where they play solos at blistering speeds and the fundamentals of rock playing using slides and power chords.

We look at many different great artist and emulate their playing including Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmi Page, BB King, Jeff Beck, Carlos Santana and many more not to forget Classical greats such as Stanley Myers, Villa Lobos and Francis Tarregga.

I am a fan of structured learning using top quality teaching resources this is why I use the grade syllabuses for Rock and Classical. However many people prefer to learn to play their favorite songs or have specific things they wish to learn and I am happy to adapt the lessons to suit my students needs and enjoyment. I have a large database of material from the simple through to the complex and have developed a comprehensive knowledge of chords, scales and theory.

I first started playing guitar in 1985 and learned my first few chords from the back of a cereal packet. 5 years later I joined a Rock Band called 'Wunjer' long since faded into obscurity. We played a lot of gigs in the SE of England and London.

After a stint of trying other careers and completing a psychology degree I returned to guitar in 1994 and by 1997 I decided to formalize my skills. I studied with Evonne Bloor in Houghton Leicestershire and had gained a Guildhall Classical Grade 8 by 2000.

I have taught guitar since 1996 when I first started taking private students. Since this time I have taught hundreds of students and raised many from complete beginners to excellent all round guitarist.I started teaching the Rockschool syllabus in 2004 and completed my own rockschool grade 8 in november 2007.

I am currently working in 4 schools in Leicester teaching children individually but have also developed effective techniques to teach children in groups of up to 5 students.

I have also performed solo concerts at the Y Theatre, Loughborough town hall and the David Attenborough center as well as gigs at the Musician pub and the Charlotte in Leicester. I have performed at venues in London, Northern France, Inverness and Edinburgh and Glasgow. I have written and recorded many albums including an album of classical guitar and several albums of contemporary music blending classical, blues and Jazz guitar with cutting edge music technology. You can listen to all this music on my matahari music website.

I currently teach guitar full time working with many private students and groups in Leicestershire Schools. I am dedicated to making learning simple while giving students the knowledge and confidence to get to a really high level of playing.