This is the very first of my guitar student profiles I’ll be sharing on the website.

I’ve found that people looking to learn guitar get a lot from being able to read testimonials and read about other peoples learning experiences. I teach a wide age range and abilities of students and people start lessons, and continue for very different reasons.

So what can I say about Rifka, (…or Riffy… as she is often called. A GREAT name for a guitarist!). Riffy has been having lessons with me since she was 6. After starting on a classical guitar she is now mostly seen with an electric guitar. She has great playing ability, skills and techniques. We have fun in the lessons whilst working at the moment through Rockschool Grade 2 Electric Guitar book and she has a great sense of music.

Here’s what she has to say…

1) How long have you been playing guitar?
I have been playing guitar for about six years.

2) Why did you begin guitar lessons?
I started guitar lessons because when I was six I loved the colour pink and my dad and I went to a car boot somewhere, I can’t remember where, and there was a pink-purple guitar and because of the colour I had to have it especially because it had a pony on it. My dad said I could only have it if I got guitar lessons and so I did. Now I play guitar for fun and because I don’t like pink as much I now have a red and white guitar.

3) What do you enjoy most about the lessons? and playing guitar?
I enjoy finding new songs to play and Jo helping me sound good. I also enjoy learning different techniques and styles that you find in some pieces of music and in some grading tasks.

4) What do you find the most challenging about the lessons? and playing guitar?
Some of the things I find hard include: mastering new techniques (even though I like it once I’ve mastered it), moving up a grade book and remembering scales.

5) Do you have any advice for people who may be thinking about having lessons in playing guitar?
If you own a guitar or know someone who has one that you could borrow, then try lessons out and then decide whether you want to continue.