10% off block bookings
Guitar lessons
articulation
repertoire building
arrangement
chord-melody
song accompaniment
ornamentation
tune backing
flatpicking
picking technique
double stops
crosspicking
ornamentation
arrangement
chord-playing
repertoire building
triplets
Mandolin lessons
+ tenor guitar, octave mandolin etc
LESSON FAQs
Who are lessons for?
I teach both children and adults.
Where do you teach?
Lessons are delivered from my home in Glasgow, or online on Zoom.
How long are the lessons?
I offer both 1hr and 1/2hr lessons.
When do you teach?
Generally, I teach during the day on weekdays, and I can be flexible with timings
Which styles do you teach?
I specialise in Scottish traditional music but also dabble in Irish, Scandinavian, and American folk repertoire. I don't offer lessons in pop, rock, blues etc, but can teach you REM's Losing My Religion or Rod Stewart's Maggie May on the mandolin if you really want me to.
Do I have to have a lesson every week?
Not at all. You can book a one-off lesson, or a block of lessons which can be spaced out however you like!
Do I need to have experience?
No! As long as you have your own instrument and are keen to learn, you can take lessons with me. It helps if you have an idea of what sort of things (ie tunes, styles, techniques) you'd like to learn before you start.
Do I have to learn by ear? Do you hand out sheet music?
It depends on how you are most comfortable learning. Even if you do want to learn by ear, I send sheet music (PDF) and a recording for your reference.
How much are lessons?
£60p/h for a one-off clinic-style* lesson, and £37p/h for regular lessons. I give a 10% discount when 5 or more lessons are booked in advance.
*What on earth is a clinic-style lesson?
A clinic-style lesson is aimed an in-depth look at one particular subject, question, or area of technique/repertoire. For example, maybe you're not looking for regular lessons, but want specific help with playing triplets on the mandolin, or vamp accompaniment on the guitar. Or perhaps you want to learn more about a particular kind of repertoire, e.g. North East strathspeys!
Why should I trust you anyway?
I have years of experience teaching children and adults, from beginner to advanced, in 1:1 and group settings. I have taught at fèisean all over Scotland, including Fèis Phàislig (Paisley), Fèis Arainn (Arran) and Fèis Gleann Albainn adult fèis in Fort Augustus. I have devised and delivered online guitar courses for Fèisean nan Gàidheal, and I am a regular tutor at Glasgow Folk Music Workshop (GFW) and Falkirk Traditional Music Project. I am also a guest tutor at this year's Glasgow Mandolin Retreat!
10% off block bookings