Children’s Guitar Lessons
Guitars come in all sizes and with simple one finger chords and melodies so children of any age can begin making music right from day one.
Musical engagement has been shown to be wonderfully beneficial for small children in many areas including motor skills, emotional intelligence, reasoning skills, concentration, creativity and social intelligence.
When is a good age to start?
In short, I would say any age is a good age to start. I have taught many children from the age of 5 with positive results. Some children (as with any age) inevitably take longer to get going than others, but still benefit from the relationship they develop with the instrument, which ultimately pays off in the end if they are given the opportunity to persevere.
How long should lessons be?
For very small children, some parents often question whether a one hour lesson will be too long. I have found that for most people of all ages, including very small children, that an hour is perfect. A longer lesson allows for a gentler, more relaxed pace, which in turn means greater opportunity for fun, creativity and experimentation. For others, however, a half hour lesson may be more appropriate. The only way to really know for sure is to just try and see how it goes.
For small children only (up to secondary school age) I offer a 45 minute lesson, in addition to the usual one-hour or half-hour lessons. For prices please go here.
When can the lessons be?
Lessons can be taken after school during the week or at weekends. For many children, a regular slot is preferable and his can be guaranteed by pre-booking, or I can also offer a more flexible arrangement to suit you.
Do you teach grades?
Yes, there are so many grades to choose from these days; electric or acoustic, you can opt for a traditional balance of repertoire and scales, arpeggios etc, or if you prefer, you may choose to do exclusively performance. If you don’t like the songs in the book, you can choose your own. You can even perform your own originals. Furthermore, it is now also common to video the exam yourself and avoid the pressure of a live performance. There is really something for everyone.
Do you teach music theory?
Yes, I have my own syllabus of theory for complete beginners to advanced harmony and improvisation. Much of this is different, but complementary to what is covered in the grades.
Can a parent sit in on the lesson?
Of course, if you like. Some smaller children like for a parent to sit in for a few lessons until they get comfortable. Please be aware that I do not have a waiting area here so, if they are not sitting in, most parents will wait elsewhere. There is a large Sainsbury’s just over the road and a Burger King 2 minutes away.