Information About Sam - Waltham Forest teacher -

(7 reviews)

Personal Description:

Hello, I'm Sam: I'm a conservatoire-trained professional musician and a devoted guitar and lute teacher. I trained at the Royal College of Music, and enjoy a very busy performing and teaching career. I play internationally, including at some prestigious venues like Wigmore Hall and Vienna Konzerthaus.

The instruments I teach are classical guitar, renaissance lute, baroque lute and theorbo. I also offer music theory sessions and performance coaching.

I live in Wanstead, where I teach, swing dance, and grapple with a mild coffee addiction.

Tutoring Experience:

I've taught privately and in various school and further education contexts for the last 8 years. I teach students of all ages and levels of experience, from complete beginner to expert. I currently teach guitar at University of Bath and at Monkon Coombe school, and am a deputy teacher at Junior Guildhall.

Since 2020 I've run a very successful early music scheme for teenagers, and in 2024 I joined the teaching staff at Benslow LuteFest.

I'm happy preparing students for Grades, GCSE and A Level exams, and DofE.

Tutoring Approach:

I'm professional but very easygoing: I believe that inspiration and a light touch are the best vehicle for learning.

Most of the lesson is spent developing your technique and playing pieces, which is after all what we’re aiming for. I’ll try to gear most of the music around what you want to play.

If you are a beginner, I’ll need to be more prescriptive in order to work on the basics. As you progress, the choice is increasingly yours. If you are already a competent player and an aficionado, we’ll be working on music that you want to play. I’ll recommend related pieces and exercises to help you onwards.

We also look at some of the skills that go into making music, such as sight reading and an understanding of harmony. I'm never abstract in my teaching - you'll pick up a working knowledge of music by doing it.