✓ Play 12 pieces of exciting Spanish Guitar Music from fiery flambouyant flamenco in pieces such as Fiesta and Grenadinas to the famous Malaguena, the romantic La Catedral and the haunting sounds of Soledad which draws on Andalucia’s amazing Moorish legacy. All these pieces are exciting to play and listen to and perfect for performing to family and friends and as recital pieces in public concerts.
• A Classical Guitar is the ideal instument for this course although the 12 pieces will work ok using a 6 Steel String acoustic guitar. An ability to read standard music notation is not essential as all the music is presented in easy to understand TAB form. Each of the pieces can also be learned by following the indivdual lectures. All the music in this course music can be printed out in both forms, by clicking on RESOURCES in each of the ‘Music Scores and Helpful Notes’ lectures.
• This course is designed for Classical, or even other Fingerstyle guitarists of intermediate standard who have reached a minimum Grade 4 (Associated Board or Trinity-Guildhall) level of playing. A knowledge of basic chords is an advantage.
I’ve called upon my 35 years experience as a guitar teacher to create the DISCOVER CLASSICAL GUITAR and FINGERSTYLE BLUES GUITAR MADE EASY courses. I believe that that fastest progress is made by presenting students with a structured progression of varied and exciting music.
I’m as passionate as ever about teaching guitar, I find it wonderfully rewarding to witness the joy, enthusiasm and sense of achievement that learning this instrument brings.
Since studying the classical guitar under Antonio Albeniz at the Guildhall School of Music I have taught the instrument, on a one to one basis to thousands of students. mainly in a number of Kent schools, but also to many adults, some well into their 70’s.
My students have played in countless concerts as soloists or within ensembles and many have chosen to perform on the classical guitar as part of their GCSE and A level recitals with some choosing to study music in further education using the classical guitar as their primary instrument.
I am the Musical Director of the Ashford Guitar Ensemble and Verano and Otono Guitar Quartets, and numerous other guitar ensembles, many of which have gained National and International recognition. These Ensembles have reached the finals of the National Festival of Music for Youth on 18 occasions since 1986 and been invited to perform at the Schools Proms at the Royal Albert Hall five times. In November (2016) my Verano Quartet plus Emmanuel on Violin – brought the house down at the Royal Albert Hall with their performance of ‘Irish Washerwoman’. Since 2017 my Otono Quintet has reached the National Finals three years running.
I have enjoyed leading concert tours to Europe and USA and I have also been appointed to the post of Music Director of Guitar at a number of Music Summer Schools.
Another great pleasure has been to host master classes for my students with some of the world’s finest guitarists including Craig Ogden, Gary Ryan and Juan Martin.
I believe music is for EVERYONE, not just those with natural ability, the important thing is to simply enjoy playing the guitar whatever your level and whatever your aspirations.
I like to think that my experience and love of music comes across in every lesson and truly believe that although you may never have picked up a guitar, with a little application you will be amazed at what you can achieve.