Lesson Pricing and Terms

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How much are lessons?
The hourly teaching rate is:

£20 per 30 mins - Peak Rate (weekdays - 3pm onwards)

£35 per 60 mins - Peak Rate (weekdays - 3pm onwards).
£30 per 60 mins  - Off Peak (weekdays - 10am till 3pm)

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How can I pay?

Monthly advance payment via bank transfer is preferred.

E.g. a block booking of 4 x 30min lessons would be £80.
 

Will the rate change?

The hourly rate may occasionally be revised to accommodate increases in operational expenses. Any change to the rate will be communicated at least a month before they take affect.

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Where are the lessons taught?

Typically online via Zoom or at my residence.

I will travel to your home for an additional fee if viable (Depending on location). Please ensure that there is enough space made available for two people to sit comfortably without distraction. If lessons are booked for a minor please ensure that there is a responsible adult present.

How long will lessons last for?

Lessons are typically 30 to 60 mins.  Custom durations are viable depending on availability.

How long will I be having lessons for?

Lesson could last for months into years depending or your personal goals, drive and ambition. It is said that it take 10.000 hours to master something and it could take 4 times that to master music.

Can I cancel a lesson and how much notice do I need to give?

Yes. I require 48 hours notice to cancel or re-arrange a lesson.

Lessons missed within 48 hours will still be chargeable and failure to attend multiple lessons may result in cancellation of our  learning agreement.

Practice/Effective Learning

How much practice should I do?

Regular practice is essential when learning a musical instrument. Ideally you should aim to practice between 2-6 hours a week. The more you practice the quicker you will progress. The quicker you progress the more fun you will have. Failing to practice will result in slower progress and may lead to lessons being cancelled.

How long should I practice for?

At least 20-30 minutes at a time. Playing guitar is a physical activity and hence it is good to allow time to warm-up and cool-down during a practice to avoid straining. Additionally practising for longer periods will help you develop better finger strength and stamina sooner.

 

Should I take breaks when practising?

Yes. ideally you should take a 5 minute break at least every 30 minutes. e.g. change posture, stand up and walk around, have a drink or a snack. This will help with concentration and reduce the chances of developing bad posture.

What is good Focused Practice?

Focused practice is working specifically on the things you do in your lessons. Practising songs, licks, scales, chord changes etc at a manageable pace in deliberate fashion.

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What is Noodling:
Noodling is jamming along with a tune you've been able to play for ages, running through bits whilst watching TV, picking the guitar up for 5 minutes whilst you wait to go out. Though it is great fun and beneficial to play your favourite licks and tunes it important to not confuse (Noodling) with focused practice of things you’re are working on in lessons.

How often should I practice in a week?

Try to spread your practice time out over at least 3 days per week and make sure you practice within two days following your lesson. It can be tempting to cram practice in just before your follow-up lessons but only doing this will result in forgetting important information from the previous session.

 

What should I do if playing begins to hurt?

It is natural to feel some discomfort whilst learning new things chords/riffs/scales and playing difficult things. You may experience sore fingers and mild aches in your fingers, thumbs, hands, arms, neck and even back. This is to be expected as you adapt to your instrument. However please consult me if any of these sensations persist or if you experience any sudden shooting pains.

 

How should I sit/stand?

Everyone develops their own unique style and this can effect preference on sitting, standing and strap height. However, posture is important and if sitting, you should always attempt to sit with your pelvis bones sat on the edge of your chair. Keep your pelvis the same height or slightly higher than your knees. This aids keeping a straight back and neck. Your arms should feel comfortable and your wrists should be straight, this will allow the best movement in the carpel tunnel and reduces the possibility of strain.

 

How loud should I be?

It is important to be able to here your self clearly when practising. electric guitarists should plug in whilst practising. however you should only ever be just loud enough. playing loudly without suitable ear protection can damage your hearing. Additionally the volume and repetition can lead to upsetting people within ear shot. Always use ear protection when rehearsing in group situations or attending loud gigs.

Practice/Learning Aids

 

What aids can I use when practising?
There are many useful practice aids that will help you progress.
 

Tuner - Having a well-tuned instrument will make your playing sound more musical and help you develop a more critical ear more quickly. In time you will learn to tune your instrument by ear, without a tuner, but it is best to use one to begin with. (Make sure you have tuned your guitar before a lesson to make the most of the time).

Music stand - You will most likely learn to play music from memory but whilst learning a music stand will help avoid bad posture and eye-strain.

Music books - Song books, tuition books and grading books are all useful learning tools and will aid becoming more self-sufficient.

Work Sheets - I produce a variety of worksheets (chord, tab, song, scale and theory sheets). These will be used and updated weekly as you learn.

Apps & websites:

Metronome/Drums Loops - These can be fantastic for developing a solid sense of rhythm.
Tuners - As Above

Speed and Pitch Shifters - (Yamaha HTR, ABRSM Speed Shifter etc) enable you to slow songs down and to a more manageable speed.
 

Chord Books/Tab Sheets - Brilliant resources for finding new and interesting things to practice.
 

Media Browsers/Data Connection - Though not essential to lessons, having access to audio visual media can be a great aid. especially if working on grading material. Please try to ensure you have access to a CD player, Laptop, iPad, Phone etc during the lesson. Alternatively I can bring suitable devices.