Bass lessons in Edinburgh

Hello there! My name is Dario, and I teach: - Guitar (classical, acoustic and electric) - Bass - DJing and Music production - Banjo, and - Ukulele Here's some information about me: What is my approach to the tuition? I normally do a short interview during the first lesson, so both the student and I get to know better. I'm particularly interested in the students´ experience with the instrument, their taste on music, and what they struggle most with when playing music. Based on this, I can adapt the lessons accordingly. How long have you been teaching music for? I’ve been teaching music for over 5 years. What instruments do you teach? I teach guitar (classical, acoustic and electric), bass, banjo, ukulele, and also DJing and music production. What music styles do you teach? I can teach a variety of styles (classical, pop, rock, indie, funky, reggae) and electronica (house, techno, downtempo, drum and bass), but it really depends on the students’ music taste. I would adapt the lesson accordingly. Do you offer free consultation? Yes, I do. In fact, I highly recommend it, so new potential students can set clear expectations and get answers to the questions they might have before enrolling in a single lesson or a block. Can I take a trial lesson before I book a block of hours? Yes, you can. In fact, this is what I initially suggest to new students, so they can see how they get on with the lesson, the instrument and me, too. How long does a lesson last? A lesson normally last for one hour. DJing lessons can be longer (an hour and a half or 2 hours), and ukulele lesson for kids are usually 30 minutes long. Do you send homework to students? Yes, I normally do, so they can practice what they were taught on the lesson. Do you offer online lessons? Yes, I do for each instrument and Music production, but not for DJing. Do you offer student discount? Yes, I do. a 10% discount applies to all prices shown on the website. If you want to apply to the student discount, you will have to show proof that you are a student (i.e. a dated student ID). Can you give me lessons in my own house? Depending on the students’ needs, this can be occasionally arranged, but it’s not always possible due to my schedule, which can be tight at some times. An extra charge for transport will apply. Get in touch with me for consultation. Do you teach at the weekend? Yes, I do. I’m open on Fridays from 5pm to 10pm and Saturdays from 10am to 3pm. I close on Sundays. Do you teach children? Yes, I do, from all ages. Parents can come with them to the lesson and wait  inside the studio, if they wish. There is also a tea room inside the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Centre. ****** Background – I started playing classical guitar at the early age of 12, and I received guitar lessons for 4 years. After that, I started messing around with other music genres, such as rock, blues or metal (I had already purchased an electric guitar by then!). I also started to play the bass. – At the age of 18, I became interested in electronic music, starting to both DJing (with Traktor) and producing music (with Cakewalk and Cubase) – I had my first DJ gig when I was 20 years old, and I’ve  DJed in clubs ever since. – At the age of 29, I started teaching music to students. – I moved to Scotland in 2012 and continued to teach music lessons in Edinburgh. Present – I teach music from private studio located inside the prestigious Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Centre at 25 Palmerston Place, Edinburgh. – I record, produce, mix and master audio works to clients. – I make my own music, as well as producing remixes for other producers. – I continuously develop my skills and knowledge in order to keep ahead of new techniques, software and methods.

I have been a self–employed Guitar Instructor, freelance Music Journalist and Musician from 1989 to present. I have taught the RSL syllabus, formerly Rockschool, from 1993 to present. As a guitar instructor working in schools and privately I have taught pupils of all ages, all abilities and in all styles. I have prepared pupils for Grade exams from all the main awarding bodies (Associated Board, RSL, Trinity College, Trinity Rock & Pop) and for both Scottish and English Music exams (Nat 5, Higher, Advanced Higher; GCSE, A level). Former pupils have pursued tertiary level studies on both classical and electric guitar, with some embarking on careers as performers, session musicians, guitar instructors and music teachers. And some pupils just want to have fun! Since March 2020 FaceTime/Skype/etc lessons are available. I have been a member of Musician’s Union since 1989, with the accompanying Public Liability Insurance. I hold an up-to-date Disclosure Scotland certificate and I am registered with the online Disclosure & Barring Service. My Child Protection Training is current, and updated every 2 years. Further qualifications: Associated Board Theory of Music Grade 8 1985 , Associated Board Classical Guitar Grade 8 1986, Trinity College Guitar Duet Grade 8 1987, Trinity Guildhall Snare Drum Grade 8 2010, Trinity Rock & Pop Bass Grade 8 2013, Trinity Rock & Pop Electric Guitar Grade 8 2013, RSL Popular Music Theory Grade 8 2017, Trinity Rock & Pop Drums Grade 8 2017 and RSL Acoustic Guitar Performance Certificate Grade 8 2020. Qualifications: DipRSL Perf – Electric Guitar, LLCM (TD) – Classical Guitar, ALCM – Classical Guitar, BSc in Psychology

I remember being drawn to that classical guitar in the shop window I was walking past on the daily family walks on our holiday in Spain when I was 9. Thanks to my supportive parents this dream became reality and shortly after I found myself in a room in a conservatory that I would attend weekly for the next 10 years. My interest in classical guitar grew exponentially, together with my practical skills as I was attending biweekly music theory classes alongside the guitar lessons. I had no idea what the music world had to offer until I discovered Carlos Santana’s music at the age of 16. I spent much of my free time practicing the electric guitar trying to sound like my hero by using TABs and my ears. It wasn’t long until I found out about the guitar gods such as Steve Vai, Guthrie Govan and Eric Johnson who all had a massive impact on me. I decided to study guitar at BIMM in Brighton, those next 3 years broadened my musical horizons by allowing me to explore more contemporary genres like funk, disco and blues. I learned how to appreciate the simplicity of certain songs, listening out for how instruments work together and how to play simple things well. All in all, I had a paradigm shift from seeing myself as a guitarist to perceiving myself as a musician. In 2013 I graduated and flew out to the Middle East for my first job as a working musician where I’d spend the next 3-4 years performing 6 nights a week in a resident party band. Through this experience, I learned how to contribute to the bigger picture of music when you’re only a small piece of a larger whole. 2017 was the year I spend touring the seas on multiple cruise ships as part of another party band. I felt like I reached a ceiling and needed to settle down somewhere to work on other more varied projects. I am currently based in Edinburgh where I’ve spent the last few years teaching privately, performing all manner of gigs around Scotland and beginning to build a songwriting portfolio. As a teacher, I like to stay away from “textbook teaching”. This means I can personalise my approach to each student’s needs and aspirations. I understand that everyone has different goals, approaches and strengths and I aim to tailor my methods to that. My high level of understanding, attention to detail and varied experience, have led to my students making excellent progress. Music Qualifications & Achievements: I was lucky enough to undergo a thorough musical education at high school where I studied music history, conducting, 4 part harmony writing (SATB) and counterpoint. Additionally, between the ages of 9 and 19, I attended the ‘Centre des Arts Pluriels Ettelbruck’ (CAPE) in Luxembourg where I gained the following qualifications: Classical Guitar – Premier Prix de Guitare Classique Music Theory Harmony & Analysis (Solfeggio) I also have a BA(Hons) in ‘Professional Musicianship’ which I earned at BIMM in Brighton. The most rewarding aspect of teaching for me personally is that moment of epiphany my students have. This is what motivates me to put 100% into what I’m doing.

I'm a professional musician and guitar tutor based in the Midlothian area. After studying classical guitar to a Grade 8 level, I branched out into Rock and Metal, with several years spent gigging and recording with Edinburgh band Holocaust. I have taught music and guitar full-time since 2001 and although I continue to do occasional gigs and sessions, teaching has always been my main interest. I hold a first class honours degree in music from London's Kingston University and am a member of The Registry of Guitar Tutors at London College of Music. With over 30 years experience, I have successfully taught people of all ages and walks of life, covering most styles and levels of ability. Qualifications: HND Music, BMus (Hons)