guitar lessons

I have been teaching guitar since 1998, and my qualifications include:
Grade 8 Electric Guitar, Grade 8 Rock & Pop Vocals & an MA in Music Teaching from the University of York.

Lessons are available for all skill levels, from absolute beginners to experienced players.
Tuition is available on Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar, Ukulele and Vocals.
I have been entering students for Rockschool grade examinations for many years and am proud to have a 100% pass rate.

Lessons are available in-person (taught from Richmond, North Yorkshire, UK) or via video call (Zoom/Skype or similar).

PRICE
Music lessons are charged at £15 per weekly half hour session, payable monthly in advance.
Time slots are also available for 45 minutes (£22.50) and 1 hour (£30), also payable monthly in advance.

For more information, or to arrange lessons, please get in touch via
email: jameshargreavesguitar@outlook.com,
 Instagram Messenger: instagram.com/hargreavesrecords
or Twitter Messenger: twitter.com/JamesHGuitar

Here are two examples of my guitar playing

FAQ

What age students do you teach?
I teach people of all ages, adults, teenagers, retirees and children.

At what age can my child start learning a musical instrument?
Children from as young as 5 can start learning a musical instrument - if your child is under 5 please get in touch to discuss.

What kind of guitar should I or my child start learning on?
If your child is a first-time beginner and is in primary school (age 5-11) we would recommend a half-size or three-quarters-size classical guitar (it is always best to get a size of guitar compatible with the size of your child's hands.) The strings on a child's classical guitar are very soft compared to an electric guitar or a steel-stringed acoustic and are kinder to little fingers. Adults can start learning on a full-size guitar (acoustic or electric) as long as it is set up correctly and strung with strings of a comfortable gauge.

Do you recommend any specific beginner models of guitar?
For children in primary school the Jose Ferrer 3/4 Estudiante Classical Guitar is an excellent choice. When a primary school student is ready to move onto an electric guitar a Squier Mini Stratocaster is one of the best options (electric guitars also require a jack-to-jack lead and a practice amp). For adult learners a Squier Stratocaster is a great guitar to start learning on - but most properly set up acoustic or electric guitars can be suitable.

Do you do group lessons?
All lessons are taught one-to-one on an individual basis. This enables students to remain focused, gives them the tutor's undivided attention and always yields the best results and fastest progress.

How much practice should I do?
Adult students are encouraged to do at the very least three 10-minute practices per week. These should be focused practice times working on current pieces set by the tutor, in a distraction-free environment. For a child aged 5-7, three weekly practices will be plenty, but for an older child or an adult I would encourage significantly more.

Should I supervise my child's practice or give them their own space?
This depends largely on the individual child, but as a general rule, children who have some parental involvement and oversight in their weekly music practice sessions tend to significantly outperform those who are left to their own devices (and can therefore tend to daydream and get sidetracked!) However, I entirely appreciate that this will not always be possible and will attempt to accommodate students and parents whatever their individual situation.

Do you teach classical music?
On Guitar / Bass / Ukulele I teach primarily Rock & Pop (including Rockschool music grades & music theory), not classical.

MISSED LESSONS POLICY

What happens if I miss a lesson?
If a student is unable to attend a lesson I need minimum 24 hours notice, or the lesson is chargeable. If a student does not attend a booked lesson without 24 hours prior notice they will be charged for that slot (please get in touch in exceptional circumstances eg medical emergencies). 

What happens if my tutor misses a lesson?
If I am unable to attend a pre-booked lesson due to illness or an emergency, the student will not be charged for the missed lesson. All efforts will be made to give as much notice as possible in circumstances if I am unable to attend and a catch-up lesson can be arranged if required.

What happens if I am late for a lesson?
If a student is late for a lesson with a specifically defined time slot their lesson will unfortunately have to end at the planned time, even if this results in a shorter than normal lesson. If possible, I will attempt to make up the time but this is not guaranteed and is at the sole discretion of the tutor.

What happens if a student comes to a lesson without their instrument and/or music?
If I have not been given 24 hours notice the lesson will be chargeable. The decision to complete the lesson without an instrument and/or music is at the sole discretion of the tutor. 

What happens if my child misses their in-school lesson due to a field trip, school trip, school play, special assembly or other school event?
When students are away on trips, performing in school plays, or participating in other events with specific timings which will make them unavailable, I require 24 hours notice or the lesson will be chargeable. However, various school events frequently happen throughout the year for which parents/guardians are sometimes not given specific timings (eg World Book Day, extended assemblies, sports days, photograph sessions etc). Also occasionally there are in-school events of which parents are not notified. In these circumstances I will do my best to fit in as many students as possible around the event - but I cannot guarantee that I will be able to see everyone. Lessons missed due to in-school events for which specific timings have not been made available will not be chargeable.

Does the parent/guardian have not give notification of non-attendance, or can the child pass along a message?
Unfortunately messages often get forgotten, mixed up or incorrectly relayed when passed along by a young student, so if a minor is going to be unable to attend their lesson, I need 24 hours notice from the parent/guardian, not the child please. 

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