I offer relaxed, informal, supportive but professional one to one guitar tuition here at my home in St. Albans. All levels are welcome including adult beginners. My fee is £20 per hour or £10 per ½ hour. Pay as you go. Best wishes from:Bob Houlston
Tel: St Albans 01727 851809
Did You Know? It's FUN and it's GOOD for YOU! Learning a musical instrument is good for people of all ages and can significantly improve mental focus, ordered thinking, mental alacrity, adaptability, dexterity, co-ordination and concentration. My guitar playing tutorials have been put together to achieve three tasks:
• Educate
• Entertain
• Empower
I will educate you on the basics and most common tasks in guitar playing, in an entertaining manner... so it keeps your attention (and doesn't put you to sleep). My tutorials are designed specifically for empowering new and relative new users and are therefore simple and easy to follow, not difficult or complicated.
Music has the power to soothe the most savage beast. When we need soothing we like soft melodies but loud metal music gets us pumped, music from the 80's makes us feel like dancing and there is country music for when we're feeling down. In all of it's forms, there is nothing else like music to put a spring in our step and a song in our hearts. It is my belief that music is really important to the human condition. Music adds joy to your life. Whether you are turned on by classical, rock, hip hop or jazz, something beyond the everyday melodramas occurs when we hear music. We still love music from centuries ago because it connects to something eternal and beyond words. Music is a powerful force, not just as entertainment, but as a healing and life-enhancing tool.
Becoming a musician is one of the most exciting and personally rewarding things an individual can do. It has been years now since I first picked up a guitar and never put it down. I've reached the musical goals I set for myself back then. YOU can do the same. You DO have potential far beyond what you have achieved so far. The vast majority of you probably don't have any idea what your true potential really is. Over the years, I've had many excellent students but the ones who went the farthest in music (and those who are happiest about their playing) are the people I was able to convince that WE ALL possess massive amounts of potential. All we need to do is obtain the right tools (this is where a good teacher comes in), learn how to apply them (this is where a great teacher comes in) and have the desire and work ethic to make it happen (this is where YOU come in!). Your potential, my passion.
The ones who make it and become real musicians are not always the best players, not always the most intelligent people and not always the most creative ones either. No. The students who make it are always the ones who have significant desire in beyond what the others have. They have the persistent, relentless drive to become a musician and the solid work ethic to back it up. These are the ones that virtually always make it. It's all about dedication and practice.
New horizons are the great unknown and a challenge. They demand a certain amount of courage to deal with. Once faced they become part of our individuality and character. Most people that consider themselves to be truly happy are the ones that moved forward towards their goals. They are the ones who did significant things to get the results they wanted out of life. Most who fail are the ones that gave up too early and didnšt give it 100% of their effort. Where will you be in one year? In five years? In fifteen years? Hopefully, you will be able to say you are "Happy". Read on...
Music is the language of the world. I am an experienced Rock 'n' Roll guitarist with thirty five years of gigging under my belt leading to the development of a guitar sound in some way influenced by the following: Dave Gilmour of Pink Floyd, Slash of Guns 'n' Roses, Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits, Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin and Gary Moore of Thin Lizzy. I was educated at Francis Bacon Grammar School St Albans and have passed City & Guilds 7307 Teacher Training stage one. I have attended the Dacorum Borough Council Child Protection Workshop and hold an all-clear enhanced certificate of disclosure as issued by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). I have public liability insurance via my Musicians' Union membership and I am a member of the Registry Of Guitar Tutors. I have twenty years guitar teaching experience of all levels from beginners to professional gig grade. I have successfully taught children from age eight years through to adults of all ages. For children under the age of eight years I recommend the piano as the best instrument to learn first before progressing to the guitar. "Keyboard experience will teach the elements of practical harmony and soon sort out their natural musical inclinations." Source: Telegraph newspaper. I teach a wide variety of guitar styles from Jim Reeves to Jimi Hendrix. I believe in the hands on approach to teaching which I have found the most successful with all kinds of students. I have created a popular and critically acclaimed online resource of free guitar playing tips and tabs at my web site: www.houlston.freeserve.co.uk If I had to compose a mission statement it would include a desire to work honestly with those who simply love quality. If you require guitar tuition and live near St. Albans UK then I could be the guitar tutor for you.
The guitar is the ultimate rock instrument - versatile, mobile and effortlessly cool. There are several types of guitar, the most common being the steel-stringed acoustic guitar, the nylon-stringed acoustic guitar (also known as the classical or Spanish guitar) and of course, the electric guitar. The basic skills required to play are transferable to either version. One of the joys of learning the guitar is that it is an instrument that needs no accompaniment. I can have you strumming and singing your favourite songs in weeks and then show you the tools needed to start composing your own material. For the purist guitar player who wants to play lead, you too can be playing your favourite riffs promptly.
I love to see people realising their potential and being able to play songs they want to play but never thought they could. Attend my guitar lessons and hear yourself play to your heart's content. Eventually, people may express their admiration and say to you; "My goodness, where did you learn to play guitar like that?" Typical comments to be heard in my studio are: "I never realised it could be so easy Bob" or "Thank you Bob, you've really helped me". I want YOU to experience the same happiness and utter joy as I did when I finally learnt to play guitar at a professional standard.
My main musical activity is rock 'n' roll. However, all basic aspects of contemporary guitar playing are covered in my tutorials: acoustic, electric, lead, rhythm, bass, finger picking, strumming chords, classic rock, Spanish / classical, reading music if required but not essential, tablature, blues, country, melody, improvisation, power chords, wah-wah, bottleneck slide, artificial harmonics, tuning, tremolo / vibrato, EBow, multi effects, tapping. My electric guitar tutorials focus on practical music making and the skills you need to play in a band. Satisfied customers are my future.
Music is my first love. Early influences include melodious guitarist Hank Marvin of The Shadows and blues guitarists; Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac, Eric Clapton of Cream and Rory Gallagher of Taste. The guitar is without doubt one of the most worthwhile instruments you can learn. My lessons are geared towards individual progress and development. Paul McCartney, Keith Richards and "God" are not teaching guitar in St Albans but I am. Get smart, I offer a practical approach to learning the guitar in a relaxed informal atmosphere. Playing guitar is a whole lot of fun, so why not try to learn it. "John, if you learn to play a musical instrument you will always have friends." - John Lennon's mother.
"Educationalists claim that music can make us happy. It is sometimes recommended as a form of therapy that can relieve stress and take our minds off our problems. Music may indeed provide all kinds of benefits to people, but, above all, it provides an experience that is important in and of itself." Source: Telegraph newspaper.
Education's purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one. Quality music tuition has been shown to have a significant impact on children. Why music education? Learning a musical instrument can bring incredible reward and satisfaction. There is also research that the benefits of learning an instrument can include:
• Improved concentration
• Improved co-ordination
• Relaxation
• Improved patience and team-working
• Boosted self-confidence
• Improved verbal, perceptual, numeric, spatial and motor skills
• Improved reading, spelling, maths and listening skills
If you consider education to be expensive, consider the cost of the alternative... Remember, music makes you smarter - probably!
Why do YOU want to learn how to play guitar? Do you want to play for personal pleasure? Would you like to be cool? Perhaps you want to be a star! Whatever your reasons are, I've designed my cutting-edge guitar learning method with YOU in mind, so that you will get immensely satisfying results FAST. Fulfil your dream, learn to play...
Learning the guitar can be a fun and extremely exciting process. The instrument is used in a wide variety of music ranging from heavy metal and rock through to blues, folk and classical. Whilst I concentrate specifically on the style that each individual student wishes to learn you can be sure that every aspect of professional guitar playing is catered for. As I encounter new styles I modify my own teaching method to the needs of each individual student and that way everyone benefits. When you are finished with me you will feel like you have a new confidence. It is your decision which style you choose, but I can assure you that you will be prepared for every single one of them. Obviously it takes years of practicing to achieve mastership in rock, blues, folk or classical but the solid base to learn further, which you will certainly obtain at my guitar lessons, could not be overestimated. So if you want to play well, but you have not yet decided what exactly you want to play, come to me and you will find very soon what style you like the most, what you have the feel for and what you are best at. Think of me not as a teacher but as a fellow traveller of whom you ask the way.
I've always enjoyed teaching and talking about music, the guitar and the music business. I have a wealth of experience and felt that someday I would like to share that knowledge face to face with music enthusiasts. Now is that someday.
The past 35 years of my musical career has been spent gigging and learning to navigate the complexities of the music business. Through all of this my main focus was to identify and cultivate a unique musical voice, acquire business and financial independence, while striving for spiritual equilibrium.
Looking back through the years, I can identify with pivotal periods of growth and various circumstances or techniques that inspired moments of clarity. In my tutorials I share these discoveries with people in hopes to inspire them on their own path in music.
I talk about the importance of setting practical goals, the power of visualization and positive attitude, and how to break down your goals into achievable steps. I touch on everything from the core of creative expression to the mechanics of making your ideas real in the world. I even touch on the music business and some things I feel a young musician should know in order to protect themselves and develop independence in the industry.
I enjoy playing the guitar, composing and gigging but I equally enjoy sharing my experiences with folks who are interested. The success of my guitar tutorials has exceeded my expectations. But most of all it's tremendously fulfilling for me when I see people's eyes light up when they make that connection between what I'm saying and how it can take shape as an inspirational tool in their life.
The philosophy of Steve Vai - Lord of the Fretboard - and his approach to music has been an inspiration to me together in playing my guitar, writing this text and life in general.
If you want to become proficient at guitar playing fast, but don't want to spend hours and hours battling your way through incredibly boring books, waste several days watching colossal DVD courses or attend incredibly expensive special classes...
...Then I know *exactly* how you feel!
When I first started to play my guitar I just wanted to be able to dominate some simple tasks QUICKLY. I did NOT want to become a genius. I just wanted to feel comfortable doing the most common tasks with my guitar and to play those favourite unforgettable songs. What I wanted to know was the shortcuts... not everything, just the simple stuff that I was most likely going to use, for example:
• I wanted to 'capture that special moment' and be ready to play songs at anytime, because these moments usually show up unexpectedly!
• I wanted to know which equipment can be added to create special effects if you needed them....
• I wanted to know and understand the blues scale and how this affects my improvisation...
• I wanted to understand what 'chord families' are to obtain the best progression for my songs...
• I wanted to play jaw-dropping solos over various chord sequences
• And many other basic tasks - I'm sure you know what I mean.
If this is the way YOU feel about guitar playing, then don't worry any more... I have the answer for you :-)
ANNOUNCING: "I am your guide to guitar playing skills!"
Since I started to working in music it has become my number one goal to show people how simple guitar playing can be. You see my guitarists' training tutorials have been refined many times since I first created them, so that now it is a very lean, mean package. It's designed to do just ONE THING, and do it WELL. It's whole purpose is to teach you how to master the basics of guitar playing with just 15 mintues a day practise. There's no fluff, no tutorials that cover topics you'll never use, no wasting of your time at all.
It simply goes for the jugular :-)
I have found over the years in music that guitar students have just one aim... ...and that is to get as competent and confident with their guitar as quickly as possible! You see, it's one thing to be good at music, but it's another thing completely to be able to actually TEACH someone how to get good at it.
(I know some amazingly talented guitarists, but it would be impossible for them to teach you anything... they simply don't remember what it feels like to be a newbie, so they can't relate to what a newbie needs to know, or how they feel.)
This very reason is what makes my guitar tutorials the ONLY choice for you... (if you're a newbie, or relative newbie - live near St Albans UK - and want to master the basics FAST.) You see, my guitar tutorials have been designed NOT by a musical "genius" but by a teacher! THIS is the reason why so many other people (people just like yourself) have become competent and confident guitarists with just 15 minutes a day practise using the skills learnt at my guitar tutorials... ... and why *YOU* can too!
"The Fastest and Easiest Way to Accelerate Off Your Guitar Plateau." Finally! There's never been an easier way for you to accelerate off your guitar plateau to become a guitar pro. If you're like me, you love guitar and want to play all of your favourite songs and leads ... yesterday! You want to skip the slow boring struggle and discover hidden shortcuts to guitar greatness. I know. I've been there... That's why I have put together my amazing Speed Learning System. My tutorials contain all of my years of experience as a pro-guitarist and all of my tips. All of my insider techniques. All of the secrets (even the ones that pros like me took years to learn). Everything! So, if you want to lift the lid on your own phenomenal playing ability then prepare to push your creative envelope out of the box, with fun and enjoyment, by contacting me. This will ensure the shortest possible route from inspiration to actual sound. Allow me to help you stay ahead of the curve and elevate your guitar playing to the next level. My style of presentation is for the newbie or relative newbie user. If this is you then you have no more excuses :-)
Guess what --- I'm not always the teacher! Yep, I do teach what I'm good at - guitar control and basic to intermediate lead guitar, rhythm guitar and blues... I am still working on the advanced stuff myself. So, while I am a teacher (some people say a good one) I am also a student. I think every great player will admit to being a lifelong student of the guitar. We are all somewhere on the path in our musical development. So with that in mind, I invite you to check out all my TABs via Home and pick the one that suits you the best for where you are at on your path right now...
In an ever-changing world, I am proud to assure you that I am committed to providing guitar tutoring services and studio surroundings that reflect my reputation for care and quality in all that I do. I will teach you with passion, patience and determination. I look forward to hearing from you.
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** # Bob Houlston **
** _#_ Guitar Tutor **
** ( # ) St Albans UK **
** / O \ Tel: 01727 851809 **
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