Andre
A little Hey Joe – a nice easy 5 chord circular song, electric guitar students and our live backing bamd of drums, bass and vocals
And this time a little Lynryd Skynryd Country Rock Cover with Sweet Home Alabama – all the guitars are studsnts
Hi There – and this time a nice easy circular song – Knocking On Heavens Door – live from The Student Show in front of Family and friends
Hi There – Robert Cray band came to prominence during the early 1980s – round the same time as the late Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Here are some guitar students covering Phone Booth off of Robert Cray’s Bad Influence Album.
Hi There – And here’s a few electric guitar students having fun playing with a full band on the Classic Mustang Sally.
Special Thanks to Helena from Fosana Photography for these pictures from the last electric guitar workshop of 2018 – it was a chance to play with other like minded folks, with a band, with a stage and even with lights though without an actual audience –
that would happen at the student show a month later… Here’s the photos …
Are You Interested in Rock, Blues, Indie styles on Acoustic Or Electric Guitar ?
Because if You answered Yes, then this might be one of the most exciting and inspiring things You read this year.
And No It doesn’t Matter what You Might or Might Not Have Achieved on Guitar in January Just Gone.
So How Can I possibly Say That ?
Hi My Name’s Andre and while I have been fortunate to share what I have discovered and learned over the years with 12 through 72 year olds in the Coventry area, and You can see some of them here if You want to…
I have never lost sight of the struggles in learning to play Guitar.
Because I still remember what it was like a long time ago to be in a class for one whole year and still not get it,
Out of everybody that was in that class at the time, I was really the least likely to succeed.
But then I was lucky enough to find a teacher that really understood not only what I wanted to play, but also the struggles, challenges and frustrations in actually playing anything that sounded like Music, and then making meaningfull progress that was motivational.
Students Dan and Milli at First Ever Acoustic Workshop Experience. Dan will go from Beginner to Lead Guitar in Originals Band Temple Black
And that Made All The Difference
Because If You have been struggling with Your Acoustic (or even Electric Guitar), not quite getting it from that book You got or that YouTube tips video (all too easy to just jump from video to video and find 30 minutes fly by and what have you really achieved) then it’s not your fault…
BE=ecause Two tips I can share with You right now, not matter where You are in Your Playing right Now.
- It’s Not about Your technique…. worth saying again… It’s NOT just about technique
Now Yes ofcourse part of it is about technique to be sur, another tip video, another book, and that’s the place everyone looks but that’s NOT the place to start – and yet most people seem to.
Starting a 3 Chord Beginner Song At An Acoustic Workshop Event. A Great way fo Beginners to Meet, Make Music, Enjoy The Process of Finally Making The Music THey All Know Is Inside Them
Now how can I say that, because I probably don’t even know You or Your Guitar Playing ?
Well let me ask you a question – have you ever done something quite well/ okay one day, and then a few days later find that You can’t do that thing either at all, or as well ?
Now this might be for example playing a song or solo on guitar, or it might be some other hobby.
Here’s the thing if you answered Yes – the thing didn’t change – But you did – likely life got in the way and likely you were maybe feeling more stressed a few days later.
And this is exactly the same with Guitar – for example sometimes people tell me they doubt whether they will accomplish anything in a first lesson – and they’re always surprised when I tell them, actually Your challenges start AFTER You are inspired and NOT before… sometimes as soon as the next day, and You deserve to deal with that upfront and in advance.
Why ? Well Imagine if You’ve just played through Your first lesson – You’re inspired – You get the feeling this is achieveable for You And…
You definitely are going to practice the next day or day after….
Students Gary, Mark, Jim and Paul first ever Acoustic Guitar Workshop Experience
And Now Your Problems Star – Why ? – Because And life gets in the way, sometimes even the very next day
You can’t even get to your guitar even though you really want to
And there’s your challenge .. You skip that day… and then because You skip that day, you skip another… and another…If Your lesson was say on a monday, You’re now sliding down to the weekend when you might have more time, except are you now as inspired as You were Monday – and your honest answer is Probably Not.
So what’s the Solution ?
Students Taylor, Jamie, Luke and Shaun’s First Ever Acoustic Workshop Experience
And the solution to this is what I call Maintaining Your Musical Momentum, using your NET (non essential) time for example to do a focussed listening exercise (part of something I call Priming Your Musical Mind).
Now I know this sounds conceptual, and unusual, and yes there are technique things to do as well with both hands, but this is about those times when You are inspired and just can’t get to the guitar and its not your fault.
Because using Your NET time, You do maintain your Musical Momentum, and now you have done a form of practice – You haven’t skipped that day, You’re staying focussed and ofcourse more inspired to practice the next time you have decided.
Having Workshops To Aim For A Great Way To Stay Inspired
I know this may sound a bit of a concept, but until you deal with this challenge AFTER you’re inspired from your first lesson, the danger is you go from lesson to lesson, week after week, with no practice and sadly not the Progress and not the enjoyment that you desreve.
And that leads to Tip Number 2 – Obvious but worth mentioning, because sometimes common sense isn;t always common practice
2. You Do Have Some Time To Practice between lessons – Don’t You ?
Ofcourse life can get in the way, that’s true, and when that happens there is nothing You can do – but I would be doing you a massive disservice if I pretended there was no practice involved – and sometimes its easy for others to let life get in the way – all that time watching TV or online videos, or facebook.
Infact if you prefer to believe that lie that there are shotcuts with no practice – then You’re probably better off going from video to video, book to book, but then how well has that worked for You so far ?
Beginner John’s First Ever Acoustic Guitar Workshop Experience. John Will Go On To Make His Live Stage Debut, with Full Band Age 72
I’m not saying any of this to make you feel bad, but Yes it does take practice – and while some practice can be done away from the guitar, and before You get to playing – You do need to practice between lessons.
And when You are inspired and practicing, including making use of your NET Time (non- essential travel time) for when life gets in the way – then Yes You absolutely can make progress.
So if you are curious to find out more, and feel like you might be committed to practice as well after You get inspired..
Then To Find Out More… Click The Button Below
Yes Please Tell Me MoreAndre
Immersion Lessons, Fun Workshops, OnStage
Giving YOU The Confidence To Progress & Play
And as well as Scott’s journey from Beginner to Beyond, whee he talks about learning Sweet Child Of Mine,
It was Student Jake who went on to perform Sweet Child Of Mine, live with Guest London Guitarist Greg X Playing the lead – with thanks to Kiya for helping out on vocals..
And Student Jake would go on to even perform Sweet Child Of Mine, alongside Student Luke at the finale of our Rockin Nuneaton Town Centre, one saturday afternoon… with a quite spectacular feedback ending as well..
Students tell me it is when they have Fun Goals to aim for, that they get the most out of not just their lessons, not just their workshop experiences and also the chance to take part in different live performances if they want to – but they also they feel inspired to Practice.. and even take part in different music formats – while both Jake and Luke, and Scott really liked Rock – it was getting introduced to, and having the chance to really explore the blues that helped take their playing to new levels, and yes going from beginner levels to way beyond..
And here in the centre You can see Jake and Luke doing exactly that, On Acoustic Guitars..
So If You’re feeling At Least Curious or Maybe even a little Inspired by Finally Turning Your Guitar Potentiality Into Actuality… Then…
Yes Please Tell Me More
Andre
Ps Because It’s In The Moment Of Your Decision That Your Destiny is Shaped.
Hi There – Excited as just got the tickets yesterday.. because as well as the workshop events, open mikes, and live performances that can help keep students inspired between their Guitar Lessons, and yes keep them focussed and really motivated to practice (very different to going from youtube video to video)
Another great way to stay inspired is to come along to Our GuitarINSPIRE events –
now past events have included the Guitar Heroes Show At Belgrade Theatre in Coventry, and last Year there was not one but Two Classic Rock Shows – one back in February 2017 – and Then Coventry’s First Ever Summer Classic Rock Show.. which some students even got to experience playing at
But In April we’re going to see Joe Satriani in his special G3 event – G3 means where 3 major cutting edge Guitar Players play their own sets and also join forces for a big grand finale
(I even remember the first ever G3 – Uk tour in 1997 – with Steve Vai and Uk Acoustic Maestro Adrian Legg which was at The NEC – when The NEC did more gigs)
But just In case You Don;t know who Joe Satriani is –
- he was a one time teacher to Metallica’s Kirk Hammett (even taught him during their second Ride The Lightning album – proves that those who are serious about playing and improvement are always looking for coaching)
- Joe also famously taught Steve Vai – who launched a solo career as well as featuring with WhiteSnake in the 1980s, Dave Lee Roth (when he went solo after leaving Van Halen)
- Joe’s landmark album Surfing With The Alien went top 40 in the 1980s in the USA, which was remarkable as at the time it was mainly Dance Music – at that time Guns and Roses had also broken through, if you remember Appetite for Destruction, featuring their classic single Paradise City.
But Joe who launched his landmark Surfing With The Alien Album way back in 1987 – will be joined By Dream Theatre Prog Guitar Maestro Jon Petrucci – as well as Ex-Scorpions Lead Guitar Player Uli Jon Roth..
Students not only tell me that coming to these events is a great way to socialise and stay inspired, but we’ve even featured this more advanced Shred Playing – alongside more beginner level guitar at various workshops and our special themed events..
Infact we have had our more advanced students featuring Joe Satriani style numbers on 3 occasions
Surfing With The Alien Twice, and also a Satriani Inspired Instrumental – where more advanced students had fun learning how to improvise and play together..
So before G3 in April – here’s a litle revist of our own G3 – when Students Luke, Nick and Sohrab – took turns soloing ona Satriani inspired original – something we like to call Satch Surf..
And here’s Guitar Student Luke Playing Surfing With The Alien, Rocking a London Stage At Autism’s Got Talent
showing his new confidence and self esteem… with special thanks to Dad Mark for the video footage..
And we even had Surfing With The Alien At One of The Annual Student Shows –
- this time with 4 student guitars with Jake and Dan middle of stage area on rhythm,
- Sohrab (on stage) and Luke (far right) sharing lead guitar – phrase by phrase with even a nice harmony towards the end ( at the 3 minute mark) where the two lead guitars play their solos in unisons,
- with students Dan and Jake keeping the rhythm throughout…
- a very tight performance, showing how yes practice (because ofcourse it takes practice), right patient guidance and ofcourse persisitence can and do pay off…. and absolutely are worth it..
So Excited about G3 where even more students might JUST get inspired enough to start thinking about adding some Shred Virtuoso style guitar to their playing..
Til G3 Time
Andre
Ps Feeling Inspired ? Go On Then…
Yes Please Tell Me More
Retired HeadMaster Arnold Playing The Blues At His First WorkShop
Because Retired HeadMaster Arnold discovered You have to beware the schitomerization of ICan’tTation..
It’s all too easy to get caught up watching videos and thinking I’ll never be able to do that.. or that’s impossible,
infact in this video at..
At 1 min 12 sec in video above You will hear Student Arnold Say this…
” …. Where I Think aaaaah I’m not Going to be able to do that, But then I do….
a great of deal of pleasure and satisfaction that comes from doing something that…
You didn’t think You could Possibly achieve….and that’s happened on several occasions in my lessons with Andre….”
So If You’ve had a quick look at Arnold’s Journey,
And You’re feeling curious to know more, then..
Yes Please Tell Me MoreTil Next Time
Andre
Ps Because It really is time to “AARGH I Can’t” No More – That’s what Arnold Thought anyway!
Hi There,
And so what happens, when someone adds Fuel to their Guitar Fire, and really develops the Desire to Aspire.
Well some might say the Answer can be found in the highlights of Student Helena – who developed the competence and the confidence, so that she went from 3 Chord Beginner Song To Beyond,
And How only 2 years after her 3 chord stage debut, Helena went on to play Lead Guitar on The Classic 1960 Instrumental hit – that had many people rush out and go buy a guitar for the very first time.
Proving sometimes You Just need some kind of goal, some kind of experiences to aim for or Else without a Goal, all too easy to Just be digging a deeper Guitar Hole, getting into playing ruts or just going round in circles
Because If Helena Can….
Yes No More Stopping At The Bar For Me Please Tell Me MoreTil Next Time
Andre
Exciting News on Izzie Derry,
She guested at Coventry’s First ever Summer Classic Rock Show last year – and also at our annual student show 2 years ago –
Not forgetting that she also supported X Factor Winner Olly Murs at Birmingham Genting Arena, last year also – ahead of The Coventry Classic Rock Show.. Well…
Well she now has a full band, based out of Brighton and will be on tour in March, finishing at The Tin, Coventry 31st March – this is where she also released her first album GoodBye last Year.
Here’s a sneak peak of what to expect in March, taken from the Live and Lyrical Show…
And here’s Izzie guesting, with former student Josh of FlatBadger, playing lead guitar at Annual Student Show..
And Izzie without band Guesting at Coventry Classic Rock Show last Summer with he original Song Keep Walkin’
Izzie is now based and studying Music in Brighton, though her next Coventry show, and first one in Coventry with her new band is At The Tin, Saturday March 31st – If You like what You heard, do yourself a favour and stick that date in your diary.
Andre
Ps So in case You’re wondering why was Izzie guesting at Coventry Classic Rock Show – well… because after the Guitar student part of the show, she did backing vocals alongside Emma, and David as part of The Coventry Summer Classic Rock Show Finale…
Andre
Ps If You Like what You Heard, then Do Yourself a HUGE Favour..
here’s a link to buy tickets to Izzie’s only Coventry show on her march tour,
her first with Her New Full Band –
Her Show supporting Olly Murs At Genting Arena was only Solo – this is FULL Band
Izzie Derry At The Tin On Saturday 31st March
https://www.seetickets.com/event/izzie-derry/the-tin-at-the-coal-vaults/1195721