About james

Born into a family of music teachers, James Hargreaves has been teaching guitar since 1998, and has taught extensively across the UK, Europe and the USA. He founded Richmondshire Music School in 2013, he has also worked as a Music Examiner for RSL (Rockschool London) and taught guitar at the Queen Elizabeth College, Darlington.

His musical qualifications include Grade 8 Electric Guitar, Grade 8 Vocals, Grade 5 Bass Guitar, Grade 5 Clarinet, Grade 5 Music Theory, and Grade 3 Piano, he holds a BA (hons) from the University of Manchester, and is currently completing an MA in Music Teaching with the University of York. He is also a member of Mensa with an IQ in the top 1% of the world.

​He spent 2001-2002 on tour in the UK & Ireland with a rock band, and between 2002-2005 he also toured the southern states of the USA as a guitarist and vocalist. He has extensive studio experience both in the UK & USA, where he worked professionally as a studio musician and musical director for 5 years. He currently performs with various local bands in the UK, who have been played on multiple BBC Radio stations.

In 2021 he founded Hargreaves Records, and his debut release the 'Good To Be Back EP' entered the UK Physical Singles Chart at #7.