Guitar lessons in Exeter

Alongside my career as a dedicated academic in Psychology, Medicine, and Statistics, I have always nurtured a deep passion for music. Music is more than just a hobby for me—it is the true heartbeat of my life. With over 15 years of guitar experience, I have developed a strong foundation in multiple instruments, including Piano, Bass Guitar, and Vocals. This diverse musical background has shaped my approach to teaching, allowing me to offer students a well-rounded perspective on musicianship. Throughout my journey, I have had the privilege of working with various musical societies, most notably the Bath Society of Young Musicians (BSYM). At BSYM, I took on a leadership role where I, along with another colleague, helped guide and mentor younger guitarists. My responsibilities included teaching individual guitar parts, assisting with their overall instrumental development, and facilitating their integration into ensemble playing. I also helped them adapt to performing within larger orchestras. This experience allowed me to witness firsthand how teaching music is not just about mastering technique but also about fostering creativity, confidence, and collaboration. In addition to my teaching experience, I have contributed to the world of music journalism. In the summer of 2016, I briefly wrote music articles for LoudStuff, an online magazine dedicated to promoting and reviewing musical works. This opportunity helped me gain a deeper appreciation for the music industry from a different lens, enhancing my ability to critically analyze music and communicate my ideas clearly to a broad audience. As an advocate for music and art therapy, I strongly believe in the healing power of music. There is immense value in utilising music as a therapeutic tool to promote mental and emotional well-being. My background in psychology allows me to understand the profound connection between mental health and the arts, and I am passionate about exploring how music can serve as a positive force for personal growth and healing. In my own musical career, I am the vocalist and guitarist of a progressive metal band, where we strive to push the boundaries of the genre. We are currently finishing work on our first studio album, which has been a thrilling creative endeavour. Being part of a band has given me a deep understanding of collaboration, performance dynamics, and the nuances of creating original music. These experiences enrich my teaching style, as I am able to offer insights into songwriting, band interaction, and live performance. As a guitar teacher, my goal is to inspire and guide students on their own musical journeys. Whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your skills, I aim to provide personalised instruction that caters to your unique goals. With a holistic approach to teaching, I focus not only on technical mastery but also on developing a deep, personal connection with the instrument. I believe that music is a lifelong companion, and I am committed to helping each student discover their own passion and potential through the guitar.

Nothing can substitute one-to-one learning. If you are a complete beginner, an intermediate player, or an experienced guitarist that has hit that ‘musical brick-wall’, I can tailor a guitar tuition package that will target the areas of your playing that need the most attention. In your lessons I will use Tablature ( a system of lines, numbers and symbols specific to the guitar ) and Standard Notation ( as used the world over in practically every genre ) to assist with the practical, hands-on noisy stuff! Many budding guitarists are keen to just ‘plug n play’ which is great to a point, but even a little music theory can help open up endless possibilities which make a huge difference in your development as a musician. I do encourage playing ‘by ear’ especially when considering improvising or jamming along to backing tracks or with other musicians but what notes will fit the chords that are being played? What key is the song in? What scales / modes / intervals etc. would fit? It all sounds very daunting if you are just starting out, but when broken down, the theory behind playing the guitar well can be easily learned with the minimum amount of time. With an understanding of how music is written, how chords are structured, how melodies are produced, how harmonies are found etc, you will quickly learn to get those fingers to go where you want them! Please take a look around my webpage. If you are a newbie, I hope you will find it informative but it really is just the start of what will quite possibly be a long love affair with such an expressive, individual instrument. If you are already a guitar player chances are you are hungry to learn more, play more and generally improve your technique. I you prefer the thump and low end of a bass guitar, I can help with that too ! And let’s face it, guitars are cool! Shannon