Friendly and approachable acoustic or electric guitar lessons from a working musician based in Brighton.

Learn more about Chris

• When did you first develop a passion for music and your favourite instrument?

  I first entered the world of music at 8 years old, when I began learning the piano. However, it was at 13 when I first picked up the guitar that my love for music truly took flight. The guitar quickly became my favourite instrument, and my enthusiasm for it grew stronger through my teenage years and beyond.

• Is there a particular type of music or artist that you listen to on a loop without it driving you crazy?

  Probably The Beatles. Shortly after picking up the guitar I learned the chords to pretty much every Beatles song ever released. I still come back to revisit and rearrange Beatles songs when practicing new techniques or new instruments.

• Explain to us the most difficult or riveting course you could personally give to a student of music.

  I have previously taken a student on a journey from learning their first minor pentatonic scale to playing two live gigs at local venues performing alongside myself. During this time we went over a lot of rehearsals and arranging songs from scratch, changing of instruments and roles throughout a set, and even singing on stage for the first time. I also mentored them through a lot of the behind the scenes admin involved in organising a music event from liaising with the venue and arranging a support act to designing a gig poster and promoting on social media.

• What do you think is the most complicated instrument to master and why?

  For me, this seems like a question without an answer… As a multi-instrumentalist, I have gone through the process of learning a new instrument from scratch several times. I think the thing that makes learning an instrument easy is often how common it is within your culture. It will be a lot easier to find resources in English for learning guitar including YouTube videos, books and professional tutors than it would be to find those same resources for learning the Turkish Yaybahar.

• What are your keys to success?

  With music the key to success is always to practice practice practice! Practice new things that stretch your understanding of the instrument, practice the things you already know to consolidate your understanding and keep yourself sharp. Practice with carefully chosen fundamentals that you will always come back to, then practice with no rules at all to see what sounds you can come up with intuitively and train your improvisation skills. However great the teacher, a student that does no practice between lessons will progress at a far slower pace than one who practices (almost) every day.

• Name three musicians you dream of meeting in your favourite bar in the early hours of the morning. Explain why.

  Paul McCartney: As a legend of music, his songwriting and musical innovation have had a profound influence on so many musicians including myself. I'd love to write a song with him, but at this point in his life, I'd be happy to just listen to him tell me stories of his life or tinkle away on an old piano.
  
  Colin Meloy: The frontman of the Decemberists, known for his distinctive voice and narrative-driven songs, this man has an incredible grasp on the use of the English language within his lyricism and songwriting. His down to earth personality makes him seem like someone I could actually talk to at a bar at 3am without it being too weird either.
  
  Nick Drake: His haunting melodies and introspective lyrics have influenced countless musicians. Taken before his time, I'd love to hear all the half completed ideas or songs he thought weren't good enough, as I'm sure there would be some absolute gems. I could talk to him for hours about his use of unconventional guitar tunings, and the emotional depth he brought to his music.

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to music or your days at music school.

  One thing I'll never forget is the first time the band I was playing in went on tour, we went in a convoy of a camper van, a normal van, and a car to hold the people, the equipment and the snacks along the way and had a great time visiting several cities across the UK. It really opened my eyes to how a bands following in each city can have a different perspective of the journey of the individual musicians and how particular songs could be received in different ways depending on where you are playing.

• What are the little touches that make you a Superprof in music?

  What sets me apart as a Superprof is my commitment to making lessons both educational and enjoyable. I integrate various musical styles and techniques to keep lessons dynamic, and I focus on building a strong teacher-student relationship. My wide variety of teaching experience including recent studies to gain qualified teacher status ensures I bring the latest techniques offered by academics in the field of education, but also have the flexibility to adapt a lesson on the spot to keep students engaged, motivated and excited to learn.