Prior to going fully pro in 1981 I was a full-time art teacher as well as a busy semi-pro musician. Kept my hand in with a few part-time teaching and lecturing jobs amongst the gigs in the 80s/90s. I've also done the odd bit of supply teaching but, to be honest, it’s not much fun and I don’t do it anymore.

Been teaching guitar for a l-o-o-o-n-g time (around 40 years!) and ukulele since around 2000. In the last few years demand for ukulele lessons has soared – I now have more ukulele pupils than guitar pupils, some of them travelling from quite a distance away. Being one of the few ukulele teachers around is a factor in that!

I'm an approved teacher of guitar and ukulele by Surrey County Council and a member of their Surrey Arts Teaching Panel (their only ukulele teacher). I am CRB checked.

1-TO-1 or 2-TO-1 PRIVATE LESSONS


– acoustic guitar (not classical)

– electric guitar

– ukulele


Options: 1 hour, or 40 mins. for children, especially beginners

(All private lessons are at my home in Weybridge. Sorry, I no longer travel out to teach people in their own homes)

Practical, hands-on approach, some theory as necessary but not too heavy, and no exams. Emphasis on developing listening skills, memory, good playing techniques; eliminating bad habits, encouraging good habits.

Industry-standard recording equipment and software available. Some of my pupils have recorded their own CDs!

SPECIALLY FOR SCHOOLS

With its small size, cheapness and relative ease of play the ukulele is becoming very popular in schools. I have become increasingly busy with regular tuition locally as well as one-off workshops in schools all over southern England. Another big plus for the uke is that, as long as it’s in tune, it naturally sounds sweet and harmonious virtually all the time. It’s really quite difficult to make an unpleasant noise with a ukulele, which is more than can be said for many other instruments in the hands of beginners!

Typically the format for a workshop day would involve me working with small groups of children (up to 12 in number if I’m on my own, more if I have assistance) teaching them enough for them to be able to perform at least one song by the end of a workshop session. If I work with the same group for the whole day (with suitable breaks, of course!) it’s often possible to achieve two or even three songs while also being able to spend more time on fundamentals and techniques.

Sometimes a short concert is arranged for the end of the day. This enables the children to show what they have learnt and allows me to demonstrate what’s possible on the ukulele by playing a tune or two myself.

I am a qualified teacher and CRB checked.

WORKSHOPS

Although I can no longer commit to regular monthly workshops I am happy to discuss running one-off workshops for adults, children or mixed. My one-man ukulele events such as “Uke’n’Amaze” and its seasonal version “Yule & Ukuleles” always start with a workshop.

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To enquire about workshops or private tuition, and rates, please get in touch with me via the Contact page
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TIPS FOR GUITAR/UKULELE BEGINNERS

1. If you haven’t already bought an instrument, do RESEARCH and/or seek ADVICE from an expert before you buy.

2. A vital accessory is an ELECTRONIC TUNER. The clip-on, chromatic variety is best. It will work on guitar or ukulele and, if you’re inexperienced, it will save you hours of grief, frustration and bafflement. New strings (particularly nylon, as on ukuleles and some guitars) stretch and go out of tune as soon as they’re tightened up. They’ll need tuning and retuning frequently until they settle down. I don’t want to alarm you newcomers, but this can take days or even weeks. Having a good tuner makes the process a whole lot easier. They cost between £12-£25 in music shops, depending on brand, maybe a bit cheaper online. The brand I like is Intelli, but there are several others. And – it had to happen – now there are tuners that comes as smartphone apps.

3. If the instrument doesn’t already come with a BAG or CASE, buy one. They range from elaborate, solid flight cases costing hundreds of pounds to simple canvas or nylon bags, but whatever you buy should be waterproof. If it’s padded for a bit more protection, so much the better.

4. Don’t let bad habits get a hold. Unless you’re a natural musical genius, get some lessons from a GOOD TEACHER (I would say that, wouldn’t I? – but it’s true). There’s lots of online material and tuition these days: some of it is pretty good, but some of it is really bad – so be careful! Also be aware that much of that online material, especially lyrics, sheet music and tab, is illegal.

5. Keep your FINGERNAILS SHORT on your left hand (right hand if you’re left-handed). I know Dolly Parton manages to play with long fingernails (not sure how!) but she's the exception that proves the rule.

6. Be persistent and PRACTISE regularly. Repeat, repeat, repeat. It’s repetition that makes it work. Memorise as much as possible or you’ll forever be needing to refer to books or bits of paper. The memory is like a muscle: it gets stronger with use.

7. SING while you play. Some people find it hard to do both at the same time and some people actually don’t like singing, or think (often mistakenly) that they can’t sing. But the uke is a great accompanying instrument and the sooner you try the sooner you’ll get used to it.

8. HAVE FUN!

CH, 2011