FAQ

The choice of guitar depends on your musical preference or the person you’re buying for. For young beginners, a nylon-string classical guitar is usually a good starting point. Nylon strings are softer on the fingertips, making it more comfortable for new players compared to steel-string acoustics.

Here’s what I typically recommend for young beginners:
Yr 1 - Yr 2 pupils: 1/2 size classical guitar
Yr 3 - Yr 7 pupils: 3/4 size classical guitar

In my beginner lessons, we start with the key fundamentals, including:

• Open position Major and Minor chords
• Basic Down/Up strumming patterns
• The Minor Pentatonic scale
• Finger independence exercises
• Alternate Picking
• A selection of classic beginner riffs and popular songs

All of these essential techniques are covered in my beginner lessons to get you off to a strong start!

As a general guideline:
15 - 30 mins per day for primary school ages.
30 - 45 mins per day for secondary school ages.
30 - 60 mins or more for adult learners.

If you want to deepen your understanding of rhythm, key signatures, and time signatures, covering the fundamentals of standard notation will be helpful, especially for grasping rhythmic concepts.

Grades are an effective way to assess your current level on the instrument and can provide valuable structure to your learning, even if you don't plan to take the exams. For secondary education students, UCAS points from grades 6 to 8 can support college and university applications.

I cover all the popular syllabuses, including Rockschool, Trinity and LCME (formerly RGT). It's worth noting that UCAS points are consistent across all syllabuses.

Due to an already busy teaching schedule, I am unable to offer home visits. For students in Croydon and the surrounding areas, lessons can be arranged at my home studio location or online.

Many of my students have chosen to take guitar lessons online and continue to progress successfully in this format. This includes students preparing for graded exams, all of whom have passed with excellent results.

With the use of screen sharing technology, both you and I can view lesson materials together in real time. Through the webcam, I can analyze your technique, provide close-up demonstrations, and offer detailed guidance — just like in a face-to-face lesson.

All lessons include PDF materials, audio and video content.

I offer 30 minute, 45 minute and 1-hour lesson slots. Fees will vary depending on the duration. There is also the option to book a block of 5 lessons at a discounted rate.

I do my best to reschedule any lessons that cannot be attended within the same week. However, due to a busy teaching schedule, this may not always be possible.

Last-minute cancellations:
To avoid forfeiting any fees, I kindly ask that students provide at least 48 hours notice for cancellations.