Next lesson is 18:30 Wednesday
⚠️ Apologies - we're currently not taking on any new students. It's possible that may change in the future.
Free guitar lessons for children in Caversham every Wednesday at 18:30 🕡
See below for location of Caversham Hall (south hall) and more information about the tutor.
Scroll down to read our comprehensive guitar school syllabus.
Incremental & interactive is the most effective way to learn
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I live in Caversham. I'm keen to contribute to the community offering free guitar and general music lessons for children. I have studied guitar in Spain and performed professionally.
I am a member of the Musicians' Union
I have Public Liability Insurance
I have an enhanced certificate DBS check explicitly for teaching music to children (always with me for review at any time)
Students will learn a range of guitar skills and musical knowledge that will set them up for a lifetime of enjoyment as a musician. They'll be a focus on classical technique on classical guitars covering contemporary and classical repertoire. Classical training is the perfect basis for all musical aspirations because it is highly transferrable to other styles and instruments.
Reading music is a valuable skill to learn from a young age but it is commonly overlooked by self-taught rock guitarists. Learning to play the guitar without the ability to read music can be a limiting factor for musicians with broad aspirations. Although I can play and teach electric rock guitar, it will be a secondary focus.
Inspiration, motivation and aspiration
Buying, caring for, maintaining and tuning the guitar
Effective learning
Planning a targeted routine
Incremental exercises to build technique and knowledge
Relaxation and breaks
Using a metronome
Self-analysis and constructive self-criticism
Technique
Rest stroke (apoyando) & free stroke (tirando)
Different strumming techniques employing thumb and fingers
Pulgar Indice Medio Anular (PIMA) fingering system
Tremolo
Plectrum playing is not usually part of classical guitar but it can be valuable
Alternate picking
Economy picking
Nail care
Reading music
Reading treble clef and rhythm notation
Explanation
Exercises
Highly effective reading drills using flash cards
Learning via notating with pencil and blank staff paper
Counting out loud exercises
Recommended mobile apps including our own app
Tips
How practicing scales and triads helps reading music
Recognising scalar and chordal patterns
Rhythmic exercises that can be done anywhere without a guitar
Tablature
Intentionally a secondary focus to encourage strong ready skills, it can be valuable as a learning aid in some circumstances
Caversham Guitar School library
We have a large collection of great books and sheet music to borrow and work through.
Typical guitar motifs
Rhythmic patterns
Alternating root and 5th bass notes (simple given the 4th tuning nature)
Travis picking
Walking basslines
Chords
Open chords
E shape chords, A shape chords, D shape chords, C shape chords, G shape chords
Barre chords
F etc.
The value of the CAGED system
Extended harmony
7ths, 9ths, 13ths etc.
Flamenco
Phrygian dominant, flat-9th chords...
Compas
Music theory
Importance and value
Rules and creativity
Chords and harmony
Scales
Modes
Construction
Using the tetrachord to build scales rapidly
Visualising scales everywhere on the fretboard
Harmonised scales
Voice leading
Common notes
Scalewise and chromatic movement
Effective tips
Learning bass clef, learning all key signatures effortlessly etc.
Fretboard knowledge
Arpeggios
3 octave arpeggios
Major 7th, minor 7th, augmented 7th, diminished 7th and their inversions from different positions
Various approaches to mapping the fretboard using visual patterns
Constructing scales and chords
Ear training
How different chords sound especially in context
Intervals
Performance
Popular music
Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, Taylor Swift...
Classical music
Spanish romance
J.S. Bach, Cello Suite No1 (BWV 1007)
...
Jazz
Autumn Leaves
Improvisation
Jazz
251s
Chord tones, chromaticism, enclosures...
Constructing bass lines
Joe Pass chord melody style
Arranging for guitar
Transcribing
Ear training
Live performance
Harnessing the power of the internet
Other instruments
Basic piano/keyboard skills are invaluable even for guitar players for many reasons
Transferrable skills and knowledge
How basic singing skills can help being an instrumentalist
Advanced rhythmic techniques
Using fingers and thumbs on the guitar's body e.g. flamenco doble-golpe rhythm
Digital Audio Workstation software
Using Logic Pro X