My Guitar Journey
2002
Swapped a bike for a guitar!
I grew up on a farm in Horsington, Somerset.
My own guitar learning journey was fairly unstructured. I got my first guitar, an Encore, by swapping away my bike! I started my first band before I'd even had a lesson, and jammed weekly with my two best friends. We would go on to gig locally, performing covers.
My main inspiration at this time was Jimi Hendrix, Rage Against the Machine and Red Hot Chili Peppers.
2005
Brighton Institute of Modern Music
In 2005 I was accepted in to the Professional Musicianship degree course at the Brighton Institute of Modern Music (Sussex Uni)
I was at a crossroads with my career in I.T. and decided I wanted to focus on music.
As a largely self taught guitarist this was incredibly helpful in formalising a lot of skills, techniques and theories.
Although we studied many areas- business, performance, skills etc, I achieved a first in the music teaching module.
2008
Return to Somerset and teaching
After three years in Brighton it was time to return home, and I quickly got to work setting up a teaching business.
I went on to work in eight different Primary and Secondary schools, as well as my own teaching studio.
I also worked running group workshops and had a job writing material for other guitar teachers to use.
2010
Time to Travel!
After working hard at teaching for a couple of years, I realised I needed to shake things up and play live more.
I accepted a position in a house band in a beach bar in Thailand.
We would perform up to three sets, six times a week. An amazing time which allowed me to work on my live playing skills!
After this spell in Thailand I travelled to Japan, where I taught for another year while beginning to write my own music.
During this period I also wrote a series of best selling music instructional books, available in three languages, right around the start of the Kindle eBook revolution.
2012
Back to Somerset!
In 2012 I moved to Bruton, and setup Bruton Guitar Lessons.
I also found more of a balance with my music, teaching alongside gigging with functions bands.
I continue to write and record music with Storied, a band that I share with my best friend (the bass player in the 2005 photo!)
