Why learn the guitar?
The guitar is the coolest musical instrument. It just is. Most people would love to be able to pick up a guitar and do something with it. Whether it’s belting out a favourite song with friends, singing with your kids, learning an old classic that you’ve always wanted to play, or simply using it as a method of personal meditation, the guitar delivers it all.
My aim is to give you the skills that let you build your relationship with the guitar in the way that you want to, and at your pace.
My Background
My name is Justin, and I picked up my first guitar when I was just eight years old. I come from a large musical family (four boys, with my father a classical pianist), and my brothers and I all took piano lessons from very early on. But to my young mind the quiet teaching rooms seemed a far cry from the fantastic and uplifting thrill of the music I was hearing.
My brothers were excelling, but it just wasn’t working for me. In sheer frustration, I gave up. On my 8th birthday however, my parents gave me an acoustic guitar, and suddenly all of the red lights seemed to turn green.
Sharing my Passion
“A friend for life”
During lockdown, I taught a couple of friends how to play online. One of them in particular was really struggling with the isolation and loneliness, and the guitar provided her with a critical psychological focus. “It’s the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done,” she told me. “You’ve introduced me to a friend for life”. It doesn’t get any better than that, and is chiefly why I decided to become a full time tutor.
There has been so much written on the positive link between music and mental health, and I can personally testify to a lot of it. For some further reading see
https://www.guitarworld.com/features/how-playing-guitar-can-benefit-your-mental-health
http://www.guitartherapy.co.uk/therapeutic-guitar.html
https://guitargilly.com/5-reasons-why-playing-guitar-helps-your-brain/
Proficiency and Theory
Of all the instruments, the guitar is probably the easiest to achieve a basic proficiency. I try and take the focus away from music theory, but there is inevitably some level of theory embedded into everything.
I try to focus on developing the ear through listening and practical application. Revealing the theory rather than leading with it. Too many people give up when the theory overwhelms the sense of fun. I constantly work to keep that in check.
My Classes
My classes are held on a 1 to 1 basis at my home in Cheltenham. Tutorials are 45 minutes long. Age range is typically 12 years +, though exceptions can be made. Parents of teenagers are welcome to sit in on tutorials. Lessons can be online, though I strongly advocate personal tuition.
I teach absolute beginners, know-a-few-chord-ers, rusty’s who want to get back into it, and people of all ages who just want a fun bank of tunes they can reach for and have a sing song. With a little application, anyone can be a campfire hero!