Bath Guitar Studio

John is a brilliant teacher! I really recommend his lessons; he is very patient and encouraging, and provides lots of helpful materials for learning! I feel safe in the knowledge that I am learning to play under supervision of an experienced teacher, and I really look forward to my lessons. I have a whole new appreciation for music, and have grown to love playing guitar even more than I did before! More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

Definitely recommend John as a teacher. He really seems to tailor the lessons to you as an individual and chooses songs that teach you the important skills while also being well suited to your own own musical tastes. Also I appreciate that he varies the skills that you learn so it stays quite fresh and interesting. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

I have been learning to play the lute with John for about a year and a half. It was great to find a lute teacher close to where I live. John is a very patient and encouraging teacher and his knowledge of the lute, its history and repertoire is fantastic. He is flexible in terms of the frequency of lessons. I look forward to my lessons with him very much. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

John has been great, helping me to take my first few steps with playing the guitar. I am a complete beginner to playing any sort of musical instrument, but with John's tuition and patience I am beginning to gain confidence. I always look forward to my weekly lesson. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

Decided to learn the ukulele having never played a instrument before. John is an excellent teacher with lots of patience. He explains things clearly and encourages you to learn the correct way. So enjoying my lessons - thanks

Reviewed on Google Maps

Having taken a break of two decades since messing about on the guitar as a teenager, taking guitar lessons with John has been a fantastic experience. John has been an invaluable teacher. He's calm, encouraging, and the lessons feel individually tailored to the goals I want to achieve. Under his guidance, I'm making fast progress, and I'm really enjoying the lessons. I can't recommend him highly enough. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

John is a great teacher. He is very patient and lets pupils progress at their own pace whilst keeping them interested. My seven year old daughter seems to be getting more and more enthusiastic about playing the Ukulele

Reviewed on Google Maps

I have been having lessons for the past year with John, after my wife purchased lessons as a birthday present.

Each lesson introduces music of increasing difficulty, new techniques and challenges.

I enjoy each lesson with John and he has shown me what I am capable of with a guitar. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

I've been going to John for nearly three years, firstly for Ukulele lessons and then recently he persuaded me to move up to a Classic Guitar. I've never touched a string instrument before in my life. It has taken a while, but in the time I have been having lessons I have learned to play the Ukulele and am well on the way to making music on the Classic Guitar.

John has been extremely supportive of my efforts to become proficient with both instruments. He has a fantastic style of teaching. He is patient, always ready to explain in simple terms as well as demonstrating what it should really sound like. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

John is a fabulous teacher and has taught me for a few years now. I was anxious to begin with but John was so patient that I felt at ease and gradually gained confidence. John teaches each person individually with an understanding of why they want to play and of their needs. I would warmly recommend him as teacher. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

As someone who had never played an instrument (apart a painful experience with a trumpet at school) up to the age of 53 I thought there was little hope. But after receiving a ukulele last Christmas I decided I had better had some lessons if I was to get anywhere.

In a relatively short time John has patiently shown me what is possible with the ukulele and also showed it can be a serious instrument. I always leave his lessons feeling enthused and am surprising myself with my musical progress.

If you are thinking a taking up an instrument just do it (I suggest the ukulele because it is so versatile) and get some lessons with John. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

I am coming late-ish to learning a musica­l instrument, being in my 50's. And for t­he last couple of years I have picked up ­a guitar in January only to put it down a­gain in Feburary. ­

This year was no different expect that in­ March I decided to really give it a go, ­and having checked out guitar tutors in B­ath booked a free 30 minute session with ­John - what could I lose? ­

Well I lost nothing and have gained a lot­. John is clearly not only well qualified­ to teach guitar (amongst other stringed ­instruments) but he seems to have a genui­ne passion for teaching and, important I ­think, tailors lessons to the sort of mus­ic I like, which has kept me motivated an­d keen to go back for more. So even if I ­arrive at a lesson a bit disappointed tha­t I still haven't made it to Jimmy Page l­evel that week, I leave wanting to try ou­t whatever we have been working on as soo­n as possible. And that means I practise ­more, and I need to (don't we all?). ­

Thanks John More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

The best way I can review John's Bath Guitar Studio is by this set of circumstances: We have to walk far, often in the rain, on a school night, and on an evening where the kids have other opportunities available to them. When we asked them if they wanted to stop going there for tuition so as to avoid these issues they both shouted "NO! We want to keep going to lessons with John!"

Compared to lessons at school they say he is more knowledgeable, more helpful, and provides more interesting musical options. He provides the opportunity to try instruments like the lute and ukulele that are not as widely taught. There is also the kind offer of sweets and stickers for the kids, and coffee for the adults. The fact that we go well out of our way sums it up best. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

Great teacher with a laid back style, he breaks down every step and makes every lesson enjoyable! My son has picked up many skills!

Reviewed on Google Maps

With excellent knowledge and patience in abundance John has guided me through a vast range of music. He was quickly able to asses my skill level, found music that I would enjoy playing and kept me motivated at times when my progress seemed slow. I can highly recommend John as teacher! More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

John is the best ukulele teacher in the whole wide world because he always helps me with putting my fingers in the right place. He is also very patient and kind. I look forward to my all my future lessons with John. (Livvy Sowton, aged 7) More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

After a break of more than 40 years, I decided that I should stop thinking about playing the guitar again and just do it. John was the first guitar teacher I contacted and I have been taking lessons with him now for almost a year .

John took the time to find the style of guitar-playing that fitted my ambition and and continues to encourage and support me at my regular lessons with hints on technique and suggestions on what to play. My questions on music theory are always answered patiently and with examples and notes to reinforce the learning points. My chosen style (fingerstyle jazz) is quite challenging, but I feel I'm making progress.

John has a phenomenal breadth and depth of experience both as a player and as a teacher. He teaches students of all ages with the same patience and good humour.

Highly recommended. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

When I first considered getting lessons for the ukulele I had no idea how helpful they were going to be. John is a fantastic tutor - extremely patient and good at explaining things, as well as being very lovely in general. Along with the uke I've learned to play the guitalele, and even a little bit of guitar. Incredibly good value for money! More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

Having tried on and off for years to learn using teach-yourself books, with only moderate success, I finally took the plunge last May and started taking regular lessons with John. What a difference he has made. Within less than a year his calm, confident teaching and boundless enthusiasm have inspired me, and his ability to convey musical ideas and demonstrate them with skill and knowledge have helped me to achieve a standard which I never thought I would ever reach. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

I have been taking guitar lessons for over six months, as I always wanted to learn classical guitar, but did not have much time in the past. I can honestly say that I thought it would be a difficult thing to do, as I could not even read music, but John's patient approach, encouragement and knowledge made it possible. I can already play Bach's little Prelude in C Minor pretty well; it gives me a great sense of achievement and makes me really happy. Thank you John for all your help! More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

I have known John as a fellow teacher for over thirty years and have been impressesd by the energy and enthusiasm he puts into providing lessons for his students, which are tailor made to meet their requirements. His easy going manner helps bring out the best in his students and he offers very good value for money. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

I could just about twang a rubber band when I started with John and was sceptical that anyone could teach my sausage fingers to pluck a recognizable tune from my cheap classical guitar.
That all changed on day one. John's patience and good humour immediately put me at my ease; his clear teaching quickly demystified some guitar basics for me and gave me confidence. At the end of the lesson, which flew by all too quickly, he played a couple of pieces on my guitar because I wondered whether I should invest in a better one. Those few minutes convinced me that I didn't; they probably saved me the price of the next ten lessons!
At 55 I've probably left it a little late to be the next Julian Bream but with John's help I'm sure I won't be the last to say, "You're never too old to learn!" More...

Reviewed on Google Maps