Michael Haworth Guitar Tuition
"I have been attending lessons with Michael for a number of years after he was recommended to me. During the lessons, he has taught me many elements of guitar playing, ranging from the basics through to some of the more technical aspects and continuing onto musical theory, scales and sight-reading.
I have been able to cover a great number of songs over the years, some suggested by me and some suggested by Michael.
I have also undertaken a number of Rockschool exams and Michael has been very helpful in tutoring me through each chosen track, assisting me with preparing my own solos and suggesting areas of improvement.
Michael is a friendly person and enjoys teaching. He has a passion for all types of music and has always been supportive with my song choices. He has an excellent knowledge and an ability to play and teach a number of instruments, the main one being guitar (in its many guises).
He has always been very patient with me, especially when I’ve struggled with a particular piece or technical aspect and is excellent at trying different methods in order of achieving results.
The cost of lessons is also good value for money and Michael has been understanding during times when it has been necessary for me to cancel or change the frequency of my lessons.
I would wholeheartedly recommend Michael Haworth as a friendly and knowledgeable guitar tutor for all ages, styles and levels of ability."
Anthony
FAQs
Q Do you need to have your own instrument for lessons?
A I recommend that you get your own instrument so you can practise outside of the lesson. The guitar is a relatively inexpensive instrument and there are some very good budget instruments available. If you want any advice on purchasing an instrument, please do not hesitate to contact me. If you are desperate, I can lend you an instrument during the lesson!
Q How much practice should I do?
A It is better to practise for several short periods a week than to practise for one long period. This helps you to familiarise yourself with your instrument. I advise my students who are just starting to practise for 5 to 10 minutes as often as possible and this should be increased as the student progresses. Try to do one small task very well before you move on to the next thing.
Q Do I need to be able to read music?
A Although I do teach music reading it is not an essential requirement to play the guitar, in fact many great guitarists past and present have limited musical knowledge. However, I do believe that understanding the rudiments of music theory can only help your development. The majority of songs that I have taught are written using guitar tablature in conjunction with the treble clef although some pupils work from chord charts and strumming patterns as well as other techniques.
Q Is the bass guitar easier to play than lead guitar?
A Although the bass guitar usually has fewer strings, in many ways it is a more difficult instrument to master than lead guitar. The main roll of the bass guitar is to provide a solid musical foundation that locks together with the drums to drive the band along. A competent bassist must have a good sense of time and rhythm.
Q What type of guitar is the best to learn on?
A Firstly, it depends on the type of music you want to learn. For instance, if you are interested in learning Rock Music, then you probably need an electric guitar. Alternatively, if you are interested in playing chords or fingerpicking, then you are better off getting an acoustic guitar. It is important to note that you can start to learn on any type of guitar and there are some extremely good budget instruments available. If you want any advaice on what would be the best instrument for you, please get in touch!
Q How do I tune my guitar?
A It is a good idea to get a guitar tuner to help you to tune your guitar. Some guitar tuners use microphones to hear you strings whilst other clip on tuners use vibrations. It is also possible to purchase guitar tuners as apps for smart phones or tablets.
Q Do you teach complete beginners?
A I teach students of all abilities and ages. Most pupils are surprised how soon they are actually making music!
Q Do you teach children?
A Yes. The youngest student I have taught is 3 years old, although I feel it helps to be able to recognise letters and numbers. For the really young pupils, I incorporate games into the lesson and the pieces that we learn at first are fun and exciting. I am also fully DBS (formerly CRB) checked and I encourage and welcome parents to sit in on the lessons.
Q What do I need to bring to the lessons?
A Just yourself, your instrument and plectrums if you use them. If you are learning electric guitar, you don't need to bring your own amplifier, I have everything here already for you.
Q What thickness of plectrum do I need to use?
A This is a question that I get asked regularly. Personally, I use medium guage plectrums as I like to be able to play quite hard but they also allow me to feel the strings. I have used different guage plectrumsd in the past and I'm sure I will try different guage plectrums and different materials in the future. It's really all about personal preference and I would advise you to get a selection of different plectrums to try out and see which ones you feel comfortable with.