Information About Lew - Cardiff teacher - (13 reviews)
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References
This is how 2 referees rated Lew:
Reliability
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Instruments Taught
Guitar |
Hourly Fee |
Beginner | £30.00 |
Intermediate | £30.00 |
Advanced | £30.00 |
Expert | £30.00 |
Casual | £30.00 |
Map Location
Personal Description:
Hello! I’m Lew. I teach electric guitar, acoustic guitar, and classical guitar in person in my studio in Cardiff or online. I have both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and I’ve been teaching guitar for over ten years.
I’ve played in bands, performed classical guitar solo and in ensemble, performed as a singer-songwriter, played and sung for cabaret/comedy acts in the West End, and I've also played for various recordings and other projects. I'm currently working on my second album. As a musician I have worked across the UK and Europe, including with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales here in Cardiff.
I’m a member of the Independent Society of Musicians. Guitar teaching is my full time job and I love it.
Have a look at my reviews to see what my students say about me.
Tutoring Experience:
In my teaching career I have taught people of all abilities, ages, and from a wide range of backgrounds. Music is for everyone. If you're wondering if lessons are right for you, the answer is yes.
Adults — Many of my students are total beginners, and many are self-taught people who have not had a guitar lesson for a long time (or ever) when they first come to me and now want to improve their skills. That might mean they want to improve their overall skill and technique, or it might be something more specific like lead playing, finger style, songwriting, singing while playing, etc. If you just want to learn all of your favourite songs, then great! If you want to mix and match the type of guitar from lesson to lesson, that's good too.
Children — I usually teach from about the age of 11 upwards. I used to teach in schools for Waltham Forest music service in London, where I taught over a hundred kids a week, so I have plenty of experience teaching children. My approach is to never dumb down for kids, and to give them all the knowledge and experience to be a good player while keeping it interesting and fun for them. I find that kids usually fall into either the electric/acoustic guitar camp or the classical guitar camp. Both are welcome and I am an experienced player and teacher in both.
For all my students, regardless of age, I have tried and tested strategies which will make sure you keep progressing steadily, tackling all the important aspects of playing while allowing you to explore your taste in music and follow your interest. For example, a recent student of mine went from zero guitar experience to a distinction in his grade 5 exam in matter of 18 months. Another has recently started playing some of his favourite songs again after a few years without playing.
Some of my students have gone on to play in bands and record their own music. The rest enjoy playing for their own pleasure.
Maybe you feel like you’ve hit a wall with playing or don’t know how to move forward. Lessons are a good investment at whatever level you are.
If you're a beginner, I always make sure you'll leave your first lesson being able to play something. People are often embarrassed about being a beginner or an improver, so I always strive to make the student as comfortable and relaxed as possible.
If you're an intermediate or advanced player, we'll work around what you already know and what you want to achieve.
For classical guitar, I have a 100% pass rate for grade exams (ABRSM, Trinity), many of which have been grade 8. That said, there is no pressure to take an exam. I fully believe you can become a fantastic guitar player without ever sitting for a grade exam.
Lessons take place in my music studio or online. I've been teaching on Skype, FaceTime, and WhatsApp for years, even before the pandemic. Lessons can be 60 minutes, 45 minutes, or 30 minutes. Whatever you need, I’m sure I can fit you in somewhere.
Tutoring Approach:
I think it’s really important to let the student lead on how and what they want to learn, so you will have a big say in how you progress. Most of my students learn to play through learning pieces or songs they like which are at an appropriate skill level. In all of my lessons, I really focus on teaching my students the most effective practice techniques, so you're never at home spinning your wheels. Some people are learning a new piece or song every week, while others like to spend weeks really fine tuning everything. It’s entirely up to you what you would like to do.
If you're already working on a song, you're welcome to bring it along to the lesson. You might have a performance or a gig or an exam you need to prepare for specifically, or a certain piece you've always wanted to learn. Give me a shout – there's no obligation to continue having a lesson every week.
If you have any questions for me, please get in touch and I’ll be glad to answer them. Whatever your needs, I’ll work around you.
Tutor Resources: (free to download)
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Availability: Weekdays (all times)
References Available: Yes (✔ On File)
Qualifications:
- Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (2016) - Master of Music (Masters) (✔ On File)
- Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (2014) - Bachelor of Music with Honours (Bachelors) (✔ On File)
Lew's Feedback
Total Amount Of Feedback: | 13 |
Total Positive Feedback: |
I became completely stuck on lesson 4 and the patience that lew showed is a testament to his teaching ability and people skills.
looking forward to my next lesson
Andrew
I have had guitar lessons briefly from someone else many years ago and had given up as i felt very confused with the whole process and just wasn't understanding it at all.
Lew has broken it all down into bit size pieces and has given me the confidence as a older pupil to carry on with the guitar.
I now look foward to the future of mastering my favourite instrument. Thankyou Lew the lessons are a definite 5 out 5 for me!!!