About

About	My name is Michael Semark (Mike). I’ve been playing guitar for over 10 years and teaching privately and at a small music school in Reading since 2022. I am confident in teaching a diverse range of styles, from singer/songwriter-folk music on acoustic guitar to rock and metal on electric guitar, and am passionate about helping my students achieve their musical goals. I teach all levels, from absolute beginners (age 5+, unless requested otherwise, please get in touch!) to advanced guitarists (grade 8+, or any rock/metal/pop/jazz specialists, again, please get in touch!), and am confident in helping my students find their own unique voice on the instrument. I also teach music theory if you are interested in understanding the underlying mechanics behind music, as well as improvisation and composition, and ways to memorise and make sense of the guitar fretboard. I am DBS certified and a member of the Registry of Guitar Tutors, and have taught over 2000 lessons to hundreds of students over the years. I also currently hold a 100% merit/distinction rate for students who are taking their Rockschool (RSL Awards) grade and/or performance exams. I’m currently based in Basingstoke, Hampshire, and teach private 1-on-1 lessons from my teaching space at home; my main space is upstairs, but I can teach downstairs if you have accessibility requirements. I can also teach online via Zoom if required. If you are in a band/duo or are interested in group lessons, please get in touch, as I can accommodate if required. Feel free to contact me if you need any more information ([email protected]).
Location	243 Abbey Rd, Basingstoke RG24 9EG, UK
Geolocation	51.279494,-1.0914958
Instrument(s) Taught	Baritone, Composition, Guitar, Improvisation, Music Theory, Songwriting, Ukulele
Where do lessons take place?	Teacher's Location, Online

Prices

30 minutes	£23
45 minutes	£33
60 minutes	£44
90 minutes	£66
Other Lesson Prices	(Lesson prices are according to the 2026 Musicians’ Union rates.)
Discounted Introductory Lesson	Yes
Preferred Payment Currency	🇬🇧 Pound sterling (£ GBP)
Lessons Frequency	Weekly, Fortnightly, Flexible Schedule
Payment Plans	Pay-As-You-Go, Block Bookings, Monthly
Payment Methods	Cash, Check / Cheque, Online Bank Transfer, PayPal, Contactless
Cancelation & Rescheduling Policy	Cancellations made within 24 hours of the booked lesson are not refundable as it is then too late to fill the slot; otherwise, cancellations are fully refundable, or payment is not required.

Contact

Lessons

Genres

Genres Taught

Blues, Country, Folk, Funk, Hip hop, Jazz, Music for Children, New-Age Music, Pop, Reggae, Rock, Ska, Soul music, Traditional Music

Sub-Genres Taught

Acid Jazz, Ambient, Americana, Bossa Nova, Chillstep, Death Metal, Dream Pop, Emo, Experimental, Garage Rock, Grunge, Hard Rock, Indie Folk, Industrial, Lo-fi, Metal, Metalcore, Neo-Soul, New Wave, Post-Grunge, Post-Punk, Power Metal, Psychedelic Rock, Punk Rock, R&B (Rhythm and Blues), Shoegaze, Singer-Songwriter, Smooth Jazz, Southern Rock, Speed Metal, Stoner Rock, Surf Rock, Synthwave, Viking Metal, Yacht Rock

Qualifications

Reviews

Supported Learning

Languages

Professionalism

Professional Affiliations

Musician’s Union

Performance Opportunities, Performance Coaching & Accompaniment Services

I can provide accompaniment services for students preparing for performances or exams if required.

Please Note

Disclaimer and Feedback

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Teaching Fees: Compare the fees with other teachers in the area. Ensure the fees are transparent and reasonable. Check if there are any additional costs (e.g., materials, exam fees).
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Level(s) Taught	Beginner (up to Grade 5), Intermediate (Grades 5-8), Advanced (Grade 8 and above), Professional Musicians/Teachers
Youngest Age Taught	5
Class Sizes	One-to-One (Individual)
Graded Exam Preparation	RGT@LCM, RSL Awards (Rockschool), Trinity Rock & Pop

Qualification	Registry of Guitar Tutors [MS5224]
Year	2025

First Name	Michael
Last Name	Semark
Username	michaelsemark
GUID	028f298e-e388-46e6-b46d-8f0e3ab52136
User nicename	michaelsemark