Silent Night

My excellent Year 6 guitar student and I worked out a few festive tunes at the weekend and I did some nice little lo-fi recordings on my phone.  Here’s our Silent Night (via MySpace).

Merry Christmas!

Wiltshire Music Connect Associate Provider

I’m now an official Associate Provider of instrumental tuition with Wiltshire Music Connect, the music education hub for Wiltshire.

That means I’ve demonstrated the skills and experience the hub is looking for in the county’s instrumental tutors, as well as having an up to date DBS check and child protection training.

I had to apply and be interviewed for Associate status as you would for any other job.  The interview included giving a demonstration of an aspect of my teaching, so I showed the panel a few things that school children have been asking to learn in lessons recently: songs by Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift and The Vamps.

I’m really chuffed to join the WMC team!

You can see my profile on their site here.

School children discount on guitar lessons in Salisbury

If you’re under 18 and in education and looking for guitar lessons in the Salisbury, Wiltshire area I’m offering a discount at the moment as I have some availability on weekday early evenings or Saturday lunchtimes. I could come to you or you to me.  So email me to discuss.

Can! Neu! etc

There was a tremendous programme about the experimental German bands of the late 60s and 70s on BBC4 at the weekend — it’s called Krautrock: The Rebirth of Germany (despite the fact that at least one of the bands featured point out what a horrible term Krautrock is).

Catch it on the BBC iPlayer at http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/nf10k/ while you can.

Astrud Gilberto — One Note Samba

Something to help with a lesson: This is Astrud Gilberto singing One Note Samba (with Stan Getz I think.  It’s written by Antonio Carlos Jobim anyway).  Bit different from the guitar arrangement but you get the bossa nova rhythm.

Not much in the way of visuals on this clip I’m afraid.  Still, great song.