I hope to release my new First Access to Music Guitar CD by the February half term. It will be accompanied by a free book of music that is on the CD. I hope this music will engage young students starting out with the guitar & show them that it does not have to be hard to be fun when learning to play the guitar. These trax are bangin' & have absolutely no twinkle twinkle little star in them.

Trax so far are;

•  Efee (Reggae)

•  Cuckoo Blues (Boogie Woogie Blues)

•  Sweet Home (Slow Blues)

•  Maria T (Flamenco Rock)

•  Cool Bells (Rock Ballad)

•  Fir Tree Fairy (Music Box)

•  Naomi's Song (Indie)

Happy New Ye.......!

Wait a minute.....it's February! Where did that go then???

So time flies when you are having fun! ;)

Xmas Time

Making it clear now to everyone that I do not have shares in any music shop or instrument sellers of any kind. That said, I just brought an electric tenor Uke from Phoenix Soundworks in Earls Barton for £59

The cheapest I have seen a mahogany cutaway tenor electric Uke is about £180. I bought one straight away & I only went in for a set of strings.

Phoenix Soundworks 01604 466499. Merry Christmas ho ho ho, plink plink plink ;)

Mandolin & Mandola

I am going to be teaching these instrument this year so let me know if you want lessons. Watch out for a new page arriving with Mandy music on it. Not just folk but rock as well. Just got to paste it up. Be here soon.

New work for September

I take the time during the summer break to try out new styles & techniques so as to broaden my own playing style & increase the depth of my teaching. Analysing my styles at the moment whilst practicing what I preach regarding , "Play everything." I have noticed I do not use the Tremolo arm or Whammy bar.

Well , so as you all know. I am getting on with this now & frankly loving it. Its a great tool when used properly but like the bottle neck, it can sound cat if not used properly. Check out my first new piece this summer called 'Trem Inside' in the guitarists study section. Nothing hard here but the expression is were the fun is. Try to look up on the net to find out about all the new symbols & what they mean.

I have also purchased a new guitar tool kit so to all my students, look forward to having your trems set up for you if you want.

Carry on enjoying the summer all.

Because of the unprecedented success or Northampton Rock School, Northampton Music & Performing Arts Services have decided to roll out the same working model to three other centres in Northamptonshire. These will now be at Corby, Kettering & Rushden Rock complimenting the newly named Northampton Rock. For more information, to register your interest & have your name placed on the contact list for starting in September, contact Northamptonshire Music Services on 01604 637117

What a massive success. Seven bands provided nearly three hours of music to a massive outdoor audience. I would like to write here about how proud I am of being able to work with such talented young musicians. The levels of professionalism shown were far beyond what would be expected from such young players & the quality of performance was exceptional.

Very well done to you all.

2/7/2011

http://www.walkintheparkfestival.co.uk/

It's nearly the end of the academic year now but concert season will soon be upon us. My advice to all students comes from the late great Douglas Adams who you all may know because he wrote 'Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy'. Page one of the Guide says, "DONT PANIC!" Good advice :)

The Walk in the Park is free on Saturday so please come & support & enjoy listening to the NRS bands. We will be on stage at 12:15 until 14:45 on Saturday.

Next year will see a change to the format of NRS at the Kettering Road Northampton.

We will split the Saturday afternoon into 2 sessions. The first will start at 14:00 and run through to 15.30 (an hour and a half of playing time) the second will run from 15.30 - 17.00. The first session will end at 3.30 but bands can use the house to compose songs acoustically. the second session musicians can arrive 30 minutes early and do the same.

Therefore, next year there will be positions for eight bands all of whom will have access to drum kits & vocal amplification