About Jo

My aim is to focus on keeping the learning enjoyable and to ensure that progress is being made.

I am an experienced guitarist, songwriter and guitar teacher

I offer high quality tuition with a professional attitude, enthusiasm and patience to people of all ages and abilities. Beginner to advanced. Children’s guitar lessons, adults guitar lessons and everyone in between. Face to face and online guitar lessons.

My teaching style is based on the individual student. Each person has their own motivation as to why they want to learn to play guitar and most importantly their own style of learning. I aim to communicate the lessons in a way that makes sense and is relevant.

Six questions I ask people when they enquire about guitar lessons

As somebody who is being paid to teach I like to understand peoples hopes, motivations and goals when they get in touch about lessons.

I initially assess where the student is coming from in terms of their interests, goals and motivations and develop that over time. I find songs they are interested in learning relative to their current ability and then weave in theory and technique.

I like to make sure the student is getting what they are interested in and that they feel encouraged. My aim is to focus on keeping the learning enjoyable and to ensure that progress is being made. I also teach guitar grades (RGT@LCM, RSL Awards, Trinity) and music theory grades (ABRSM) when requested.

I have experience in preparing students for MAP tests for high schools in the Liverpool area with successful places at Liverpool College and St Edwards. I have prepared students for Music Theory Grade exams resulting in places at LIPA (degree course). Additionally I have prepared and worked with students gaining successful places into LIPA Sixth form and LMA.

Jo’s Biog

Background

I Graduated from LIPA (Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts) in 2002 with BA(hons) in Performing Arts Music. I specialised in Performance as a lead guitarist.

I have been dedicated to playing guitar since 1995 and have been in a variety of bands/duos/solo projects: covers and originals. From acoustic blues to 80′s and most things in between.

Career

I play electric and acoustic guitar, lead and rhythm. I have played lead guitar with a number of original artists as well as performing for their studio recordings and International tours. I write/record/perform my own songs (alternative acoustic blues) and self-released my debut album Cycle Grace Pulse Break in December 2010 and Chasing Tales EP in 2013 (Winner of FATEA Magazine EP/Mini Album Award 2013). In November 2014 I won the Liverpool Acoustic Songwriting Challenge competition with my song Riches to Rags.

Teaching

I have been teaching guitar to private students since 2002. I have also worked in Liverpool music schools teaching a range of ages and abilities. 1 – 1 lessons from ages 6 to adult.

Mentoring

I was involved in a project called Girls Into Rock as a mentor with Sense of Sound. For this I co-led workshops in songwriting/musicianship/band work. We got the band (14-18yr olds) gig-ready with their own original songs and also ready for the recording of their songs in Parr St Studios, Liverpool. I also mentored for Get Real Academy at LIPA for 5 years.

In 2019 I mentored for Bangin’ Pans, a project to inspire, nurture and support young female musicians in creating music. This culminated in performances at Threshold Festival, Liverpool. I have experience in leading guitar workshops with adults as well as children. I spent 6 years teaching guitar at Enterprise South Liverpool Academy, to name but a few.