Information About Mark - Birkenhead teacher

Personal Description:

I've been playing the guitar for thirty years, and teaching guitar for 15 years.
During this time I've taught hundreds of pupils in seven primary schools and one secondary
school. I've also taught several adults. I have an enhanced DBS and I love working with kids. I have a great rapport with them and
love seeing their enthusiasm as they learn their favourite tunes on the guitar.
As well as teaching the guitar I have been a songwriter and composer for thirty years and
have recorded two albums professionally: one as a solo project and one with my band
7Storeysoul. This is a nine piece funk and soul band which I have
run for the last 18 years. During this time I have worked alongside some of the top funk, soul and ska musicians in Leicester who have played with
famous artists including The Specials, The Beautiful South and Mark
Morrison.

Tutoring Experience:

I have 15 years experience of teaching adults. 10 years experience of teaching in primary schools. I have taught hundreds of primary school pupils in total - some of them for 5 or 6 continuous years. In addition to being a music teacher I also worked for ten years as lecturer at Loughborough University and The University of Leicester. At
Leicester University I designed and ran my own course on Popular Music and Society for two
consecutive years. I have a first class degree and an MA from York University, and a PhD in
the Sociology of Music from Loughborough University. My MA dissertation was on UK Pop
Music and Everyday Life and my Doctoral thesis was a study of the Acoustic Music scene in
Leicester'

Tutoring Approach:

I don't do grades but offer a fun, informal and structured approach. Pupils I teach will learn up to an advanced level, including all the chords they will need to know, chord progressions, improvisation, advanced techniques etc. My lessons, while following a clear structure of informal tests and
fun competitions (which ensure pupils know as many chords, scales and techniques as
possible) are always fun and are always tailored to the individual pupil's musical interests. This basically means
any song or tune they want to play (within reason!), I will work it out and teach them!