Flexible, affordable, professional music lessons
Based in Muswell Hill, LondonCALL ME ON ZOOM
Playing guitar and bass guitar isn’t easy - but I can make it as easy as possible with efficient practice advice.
About Me
I'm a guitar and bass guitar teacher based in Muswell Hill N10, North London. I started playing guitar over forty years ago, initially having a formal classical training for several years.
Since then I have played guitar or bass in a variety of bands, recording and gigging in the UK and occasionally overseas as far afield as Singapore. The live work has covered most styles of music from rock through to jazz.
More recently I have focused on studio work, recording and songwriting using my home-based digital multi-tracker.
everyone will learn to play guitar or bass guitar in a different way and this is crucial to my approach.
My Philosophy
Everyone plays for a different reason, whether it’s to sing songs around the campfire, stand in the spotlight on stage at Madison Square Garden or put music to the lyrics they write. Similarly, everyone will learn to play guitar or bass guitar in a different way and this is crucial to my approach.
I always tailor my teaching to suit the individual student with a clear focus on their targets, whether it’s starting from scratch or improving on what they can already do (several of my students are now performing and song-writing and two have been accepted into the Royal Academy of Music).
The best style, after all, is the one that keeps you playing.
STYLES & TECHNIQUES
I can teach a variety of styles, all backed up by the solid technical skills I have from classical training, including reading and writing music. I can also show you how to develop your songwriting skills. For learning guitar I recommend starting with classical but will not be in any way insistent.
The best style, after all, is the one that keeps you playing. I will never crowd you, my job is to make you as good or as unique a player as you can be, not ‘as good as’ or ‘like’ me. If you end up better than me that’s more than okay as far as I’m concerned.
If I teach you well, then even 10 years from now you will have the right technical, musical and improvisational skills to teach yourself more things.
Location
I teach from home in North London, N10 – although thanks to my Zoom lessons some of my students come from as far afield as Las Vegas and New Jersey! Contact me with any questions you might have. If you are interested in taking lessons we can arrange an uncharged meeting for half an hour or so where we can discuss what you want to achieve in more detail. This allows me to get a sense of you and a better idea of how to teach you.
RATES
Lessons are charged at £60 per one hour session and £45 for a half hour session.
PARENTS
I teach students of all ages and skill levels, and references can be easily provided.
Songwriting
Songwriting is often perceived as a kind of mythical ability, available only to a select few charmed individuals when it is, in fact, really only bashing about making noise until you come up with something you like the sound of... well, kind of!
Of course, if you come for a songwriting session we can look at traditional and conventional approaches and song structures within various genres but mostly I aim to de-mystify the process and help you to find your creative 'voice'.
Sometimes, attention to musical rules and formats can unlock the creative process, or at least give you a start-point - other times they can block it and there are always ways around this. Crucially, you will not find me using the word 'can't' - it has no place in the creative process. If you like the sound of something, who can argue that you're wrong?
RATES
Songwriting lessons are £60 per one hour session.
Recording
I work with a digital multitracker using up to 30 channels, and can record bands and singer-songwriters.
The set-up is ideally suited to singer-songwriters and vocalists, although for bands with live drums there is the possibility I can bring the recording equipment to you.
Also, if you have a melody or lyrics but can't play, I can assist in developing high quality demos of your material. I can also record GCSE coursework.
RATES
Recording rates are £60 per one hour session. Call for prices for full day sessions.
Videos
Contact
Contact me with any questions you might have. If you are interested in taking lessons we can arrange an uncharged meeting for half an hour or so where we can discuss what you want to achieve in more detail. This allows me to get a sense of you and a better idea of how to teach you.
Ross Merrin form
