Information About Brandon - Dalkeith teacher

Personal Description:

I have been interested in music for as long as I can remember. I spent many years as a session musician, working in a variety of styles, before receiving classical training. I attained First Class Honours in my BMus, then focused on composition for my Master's, and a study of flamenco.
I have an in depth understanding of technique, and a life-long interest in how music works. As well as composition and music theory, I teach all styles of guitar, from my early electric guitar heroes such as Hendrix and Peter Green, to Classical and flamenco. My all time favourite guitarist would probably be Julian Bream. I also teach bass guitar - it was the instrument I started out on, after admiring the likes of Stanley Clarke and Cliff Burton.

Tutoring Experience:

I have taught for many years. I've lived abroad, and moved about a bit, but I've always taught. I have had students of almost all ages and most styles. Classical training gave me an exceptional understanding of technique, and some of this is very useful in other styles of music. It really helps when solving problems in passages of any style.

Tutoring Approach:

Occasionally I'll get an inquiry where someone says, 'I may not be a suitable student… ' or words to that effect. Everyone is a suitable student as far as I'm concerned - all you need is the desire to learn and the commitment to practice. The main aim of lessons is for the student to become their own teacher, and I have as many approaches as I have students. Musicians never stop learning as far as can tell, but the idea is for you to gradually overcome different technical problems until you need less and less support to get where you want to go. Sometimes this is best achieved by learning music of the style and standard you want to be able to play or write, and sometimes there are a number of steps to get there. Even if you have no clear idea of an arrival point, and just want to improve your technique - the process is similar.
I am one of those people who loves theory. It makes sense of any composition. It makes improvisation easier. I have students who study theory alongside technique, and can sometimes arrange for group theory lessons when two or three individuals are covering similar ground. If you are only interested in playing you will still need enough theory to find your way around your instrument. If you would like to learn composition, an understanding of theory is extremely helpful, but this can be worked into lessons as we go.
Your goals can change, and that's okay.