My Journey
People often ask how I learned guitar — and the honest answer is that it started long before any formal instruction. My interest in the instrument goes back as far as I can remember. I recall telling my sister at around five or six years old that I was going to play guitar one day, to which she offered the entirely reasonable observation that the strings were very skinny. She wasn’t wrong.
The real catalyst came at age twelve or thirteen, when my music teacher played Dire Straits’ Money for Nothing in class. That opening riff stopped me in my tracks. I enrolled in lessons at a local shop shortly after and haven’t looked back since.
Around the same time, I discovered the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the playing of John Frusciante — a formative influence that shaped my ear and my approach to the instrument. At fourteen, I attended my first concert: the John Butler Trio at Belvoire Amphitheatre. Hearing an open-tuned twelve-string guitar played live for the first time opened up an entirely new world of possibility. It was the moment I understood just how much this instrument could do.
Understanding how I learned guitar — through curiosity, live music, and the right guidance at the right time — informs everything about the way I teach today.
About Me
With over two decades of experience on the guitar and ten years dedicated to teaching, I’ve developed a deep and practical understanding of the instrument — one I genuinely enjoy sharing with students at every level.
My influences are wide-ranging, and that breadth informs my teaching. I specialise in fingerpicking and open tunings, and I’m committed to giving students a solid technical foundation while encouraging them to find their own voice on the instrument. How I learned guitar isn’t necessarily the path that’s right for everyone — and that’s precisely the point.
At Foothill Frets, the focus is on putting the “play” back into practice — helping students build confidence, connect with their instrument, and enjoy the process from the very first lesson.
My Teaching Style
Every student arrives with a different background, a different goal, and a different relationship with music. That’s not a complication — it’s the starting point. My approach is built around the individual, not a fixed syllabus.
From the first lesson, I focus on making progress feel achievable. Complex techniques are broken down into clear, manageable steps, so that even complete beginners experience a genuine sense of momentum early on. The guitar should feel like an open door, not a barrier.
Lessons are shaped around what motivates each student — whether that’s learning a favourite song, developing a specific technique, or simply getting comfortable with the instrument. Reflecting on how I learned guitar, the moments that stuck were always the ones that felt personally relevant. That’s the experience I aim to create for every student who walks through the door.
Formative Performances
Performances that shaped how I learned guitar
Ocean
Californication
Money For Nothing
Lenny
Get in Touch Today to Start Your Own Journey
- Flexible options.
- Affordable lessons.
- Tailored approach.
Get in touch to discuss how Foothill Frets can help you unlock your potential. Local, tailored 1:1 guitar lessons with an experienced tutor — for absolute beginners through to intermediate players. Current Working with Children Check held.
Don’t hesitate — fret less, so you can fret more.
