Your questions answered!
The following information is relevant to people who are interested in having lessons at Doghouse Music:
Where do the lessons take place?
At Doghouse Music in a teaching room.
How much do the lessons cost?
£16 for a half an hour lesson on a one to one basis, or £14 during off peak hours (10am-3pm on a Thursday subject to availability)
When do lessons take place?
Lessons are available on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10am - 5pm (subject to availabilty)
Would you come to my house and teach me?
This is also possible but you will have to contact me for my availabilty and for costs.
I want one lesson every two weeks, is this possible?
No, this is difficult as it requires another person who wants exactly the same time on each alternate week. This may however be possible in the future.
I want to have lessons with my friend, can I do this?
I only offer lessons at the shop on a one to one basis; this is the most effective way of learning as you can progress at you own pace without any distractions.
Do you provide an instrument for the lesson?
I do not provide instruments for the lesson, it is important that you/your child have their own instrument in order to practice. However if you have an electric guitar you will not need to bring an amplifier or guitar cables as I have them in the room. You can purchase a guitar from Doghouse Music for as little as £49!
What do I need to bring to my lesson?
You will need to bring a guitar and yourself, if you have any songs that you would like to learn feel free to bring them along too, oh and if you have a plectrum...throw that in the case too!
What Guitar will I need?
My advice would be to play whatever guitar you want to play, if you are desperate to play an electric guitar and you are given a classical guitar...the chances are that you won’t practice and it will end up in the loft!
If you want to play an electric guitar - learn to play on an electric guitar
If you want to play an acoustic guitar - learn to play on an acoustic guitar
You can buy a guitar for as little as £49 from Doghouse Music.
Primarily all six stringed guitars do the same thing and are the same to play, with a few different techniques and styles.
The most important thing to ensure that you do when purchasing a guitar is to make sure that you buy one that is the correct size. To guarantee that you do this I recommend that you buy your guitar from a credited music store (Doghouse Music - Bexleyheath), here they will be able to advise you. I would advise you not to buy your guitar from a chain store or supermarket!
I would advise that everybody buys a guitar tuner, they are inexpensive and will save you so much time when tuning a guitar, learning to play on a constantly out of tune guitar can be very demoralizing!
Do lessons take place in the school holidays?
Yes if you want them to, there will be the occasional week that I will be away from time to time however.
How many lessons will I need to book at a time?
For your first booking I ask that you place a block booking of four lessons, after this is it possible to book two at a time but lessons must always be paid for at least a week before the lesson takes place.
What if I want to cancel a lesson?
It is fine to cancel a lesson, all I ask is that you give me at least 24 hours notice either by email, text or phone call and I will rearrange that lesson to a more convenient date. If you are unable to give 24 hours notice you will lose the credit for that lesson.
What will I learn?
Within reason you can learn whatever you want to learn. I will take you through all of the basics in a structured way but if there is something that you want to learn in particular or a style that you want to be able to play I will tailor your lessons towards that.
Can I do graded exams?
Yes, I am a registered guitar tutor with the RGT, therefore am able to offer RGT graded exams. Exams are internationally recognised, All RGT graded exams are accredited by the Qualifications & Curriculum Authority (QCA), and UCAS points are available for grades 6-8.
Will I have to practice?
You do not have to practice....but do not expect to improve quickly without it. Most of the learning is done at home, 15-30 minutes every day is perfect to start with. It is important to practice in short periods but to do it often to build ‘muscle memory’.
How do I book/pay?
The easiest way to contact me is through the contact form on this website (top right of the menu bar) alternatively you can email me directly or give me a call.
I accept payment in Cash, by Cheque or online via Paypal, your first booking will need to be a block of four lessons and will need to be paid a week before the lesson takes place.
If you have any further questions or want to book some lessons please contact me today!