Why Teaching Guitar is Great

Playing guitar is without a doubt one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. Music for me is all about expressing a mood or feelings through the use of sound. My preferred tool for making sounds we call music has always been guitar (something about the subtle nuances from an instrument with strings, and how they are so responsive to what happens internally.)

I never realised until I started teaching about 5 years ago how it would change my perspective of music and change my life. You see, there is an amazing paradox that you get back tenfold what you put out. I have learned as much from teaching as I have studying guitar and music, and I have been lucky enough to study with some very knowledgeable mentors (whilst I was studying my Music BA at Wolverhampton University and also the year before when I studied at A.C.M in Guildford).

My first teaching job was at a 6^th form college in Fareham in 2004, coaching groups in preparation for their BTEC performances. Things that you may take for granted can be a big deal for musicians just starting out. Although some musicians were almost beginners, and some were quite advanced and I had to match to the level of the class I was teaching. I quickly realised that having the know how, the musical knowledge is only half the story, and learning how to relate to people, how to pass the knowledge on to them is a new skill in itself. I was a beginner, not to music, but to teaching. The role I had to fill seemed a bit daunting but I always like a challenge, and there was this incredible sense of satisfaction from seeing my students transform over a few weeks. Five years on I continue to feel a sense of satisfaction from seeing my students achievements that I haven't quite found in any other role that I've performed.

I have always had a fascination with how people learn, and how the human mind works. This natural curiosity keeps me growing as a person and musician, and leads me to explore new ways to help my current students to learn in ways that are engaging and empowering for them. The results from this are that many of my students achieved their musical goals and seen excellent results from grades that they've entered (see testimonials for examples).

The challenges of keeping people motivated and finding those ways to inspire them keeps you on your toes and keeps you growing. As I mentioned what you put out comes back to you ten fold, and teaching guitar is a great thing to do.

Advice On Buying Your First Guitar

 Many music shops offer guitar package deals to save £££'s.

There has never been so much choice when it comes to buying a guitar these days. Even guitars designed with the beginner in mind have improved in quality to the point that some professionals will use those models as a back up in live performances. Unfortunately, It is still possible to end up with a bad purchase, so I will be giving you the low down on what to look out for when buying your first instrument, and the best places to buy from.

What to avoid:

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  Don't buy guitars from catalogue stores. They won't be set up properly for playing and as a result they can end up costing more. The staff in these places won't have any knowledge of what they are selling you either, so they can't advise you on the best guitar for you. I have taught several students in the past that bought from these places, and they have experienced problems from poor build quality to tuning problems which need to be sorted out by the local guitar repair man/music store.
  
• 
  
  
  
  
  Avoid buying second hand (unless you know someone who has a good experience and knowledge of guitars who can try the guitar out for you and give you their insight.). The reason I give this advice is that unless you already have some experience and understanding of guitars there is a good chance you may buy an instrument that is not suitable for the music you want to play, or worst case, unplayable and beyond repair. If you do have a friend or know someone who is an experienced guitarist then with their advice you can find a suitable instrument and save a bit of money buying pre-owned/second hand.

Where to buy from:

You can buy a good beginner guitar new from about £100.

There are several music stores in Southampton/Hampshire that have experienced and knowledgeable staff that can advise you an instrument that is suited to your budget and the style of music you wish to play. Prices will start from about £100 - £200 for a good beginner instrument that will last you many years. Many stores offer starter packages or bundles including tuner, cable and amplifier to save you money.

Here is a list of local music stores to check out:

Becketts Music

56 Commercial Rd

Southampton. SO15 1GD

02380 224827

www.beckettsmusic.co.uk

Digital Village

St Mary's St. Southampton. SO14 1NR

02380 233444

www.dv247.com

Music shops will have a good selection of guitars to try out

first

.

Fret Music

11-13 Church St
SOUTHAMPTON,

Hampshire

SO15 5LG
023 8077 4433

www.fretmusic.co.uk

The Music Shop

1 Bitterne Road

Southampton. SO18 6AZ

02380 437939

www.southamptonmusicshop.co.uk

The Guitar Store

64 Commercial Rd. Southampton. SO15 1GD

02380 339668

www.gtrstr.com

Hayward Guitars

Stockbridge Rd

Winchester. SO23 7BZ

01962 850555

www.haywardguitars.com

Nevada Music

12 Fitzherbert Spur
Farlington, Portsmouth, PO6 1TT
023 9220 5100

www.nevadamusic.co.uk

If you can't afford to buy your dream guitar:

The arts council runs a scheme called 'Take It Away'. This is a way to purchase your instrument and pay back instalments without paying interest. For more details phone 0845 300 6200 or visit www.takeitaway.org.uk.

Why Learning The Guitar Is Good For You

Learning a musical instrument is fun and it's good for you, it's official! There is scientific evidence that people who develop musical skills use parts of their brain that are neglected in non musicians. Playing and listening to music is exercise on the whole brain requiring abilities to recognise pitch, pattern processing, co -ordination and memory. For the full scientific reasoning behind this check out Philip Bells recent report into learning music and how it can improve your brain functioning HERE....


Even without considering the science evidence in support of music, and look at it from a lifestyle perspective, there a few things more satisfying than learning to play an instrument, playing your favourite songs or composing your own. Guitar is one of the most accessible instruments to learn. It's continuing to grow in popularity and with the wealth of tutorials, resources and popular bands using guitars in their music, there has never been a better time to learn guitar.