Sam Rankin

I am a professional guitarist, composer and producer. From prestigious concert halls to sticky-floored gig venues, via busking for pocket money on the streets of Manchester as a teenager, I have performed music for as long as I can remember in all sorts of styles and contexts. I was fortunate to work in front of a camera presenting acoustic guitar video content for worldwide retailer Gear4Music for a number of years, and have recorded and produced music for a lot of brilliant artists. I also compose music for moving pictures, having worked on award-winning short films, and TV, with pieces featured on BBC One, Channel 5 etc.

I absolutely love teaching, and the opportunity to share the joys and riches of music with other people. Over the years I have taught a wide range of people with many different goals; I’ve coached students through graded exams (ABRSM, Rock School etc) and into higher education, taught private lessons and workshops across the UK and internationally, founded community music groups and choirs, and enjoyed helping people of all ages take their first steps into playing music. The motivation behind all my teaching is always the same: I believe that music should be joyous and world-expanding, and I feel privileged to help others discover that for themselves.

My teaching style has been described as kind, enthusiastic and inspiring. I tailor my lessons and materials to the goals and tastes of each student, making good use of their favourite songs or artists where I can.

I am equally happy to teach acoustic, electric and classical guitar lessons. Students needn’t have an expensive instrument on which to learn – I am a big believer in the importance of skill development over gear – though I am happy to advise on matters of equipment if helpful.

I teach primarily from my home studio in Hull, but can also offer online lessons – again, I am happy to advise on technical practicalities if this is preferable. I try to be flexible as I can in arranging lessons for a time and frequency that works for each student. Private parking is available for anybody who wishes to drive to their lesson.

I have a particular passion for making music theory accessible even to those who feel daunted by it, with a focus on creative applications as opposed to the purely academic. This can be woven into lessons as much or as little as each student finds useful (or indeed, can be made the main subject if desired!).

I also offer lessons in composition, music production or songwriting (or any combination thereof). Typically I will present and demonstrate new techniques, then set creative tasks and offer feedback to help each student grow in confidence and find their own musical voice. Often there are no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answers being chased here; instead, it is a way to find inspiration, workshop ideas and discover new ways to express oneself.

Finally, I also teach mixing, and the digital audio workstation Logic Pro. Whether it’s by working on the fundamentals of mixing, or by diving deeply into lesser-known tips and tricks, my aim is to equip my students to produce high quality, more professional sounding mixes.

Don’t hesitate to contact me if you’re looking for enjoyable, encouraging and personalised music lessons. I look forward to hearing from you if so!