What makes me qualified?? Why am I teaching guitar?? Why do I tell you guys to try somthing new? In this short blog post hopefully you will find out the answers you want to know. And if theres anything I missed, don’t hesitate to contact me.

I have been playing the guitar since the age of 11 when my mum first brought me one and helped me learn accompanied by the likes of Marty Schwartz on youtube. A brilliant teacher might I add. After two years I began rehersing with the church band , this gave me my first taste of live performance and even reading chords of a sheet, this exposed me to a whole new range of musical development in terms of performing and playing with confidence and well as professionalism.

Naturally I wanted to uphold the best possible standard of profesionalisum in music, I didnt really find anything else engaging or interesting so I gave most of my  attention to learning new music and new songs with my band in high school as well as learning more about music theory with my private tutor and even discovering my love for Jimi Hendrix when I first learnt purple haze. I often stayed after school with my band in the rehearsal room practecing and learning new things, always pushing myself until we eventually got told to go home.

College was one of the most exiting things to have happend in my life thus far. Getting to study music full time was like a dream to me, even if it was a challenge with so much to learn about so many different areas, not just performance. I joined a new band that got a lot of paid gigs round the essex area and even featured on Braintree TV several times. I continued my private guitar development with a tutor and my music theory knowledge was growing every single day. Not only growing but then being put into practice with my band, used to wright new songs.

My current course Ba popular music is somthing I started two years ago now, directly after college, and its been non stop development and professional practice preparing me for the world of music. Somthing I now feel fully prepared for after a GCSE, college diploma and soon to be university graduate. On the course I have continued my private tuition and had a packed timetable full of learning new things, from the likes of music theory classes to business and history classes. My time spent at university has made me a completely new person ready to share my knowledge and excitement about music with anyone thats interested.

The tagline try somthing new! Stemmed from all this. Music was the best thing for me when I was little and trying somthing new was somthing that changed my life. This is why I felt it appropriate to use as the tagline for my new business in the hopes of inspiring and bringing joy to others.

I am teaching guitar because I want to give somthing back, I want to help others learn in a similar way I was helped and give them the joy of playing an instrument. Playing an instrument is not only fun but hugely rewarding, there’s always somthing new to learn or master. For me this helped take the stress away from my other GCSES and all in all helped me achieve the really good grades I got.

I am qualified to be teaching you guitar because I have had private teaching for over 7 years. As well as extra music lessons and theory on top of that. Whilst gigging in a professional rock band getting paid for my work. I have had extensive and multiple music theory classes every week at college and university for the past 4 years. Try somthing new today! With my current offer, 20 percent of all my packages. This means a lesson with me would only cost £20 so why not try it today!

Hey guys I got this question in a recent guitar lesson regarding the correct way to hold a guitar pick. My student was holding it with two fingers and a thumb and found this comfortable. (This is very common amongst beginners) the answer to the question varies for me its both yes and no, but I always make sure people are playing the way they want too in my lessons even if thats not always the right way. The important part is that I make sure they know there’s a better way of doing it.

The problem is that If people that don’t hold there pick properly don’t change to a better grip then further down the line its going to be very difficult to play properly and fluently especially with things such as tremolo picking and even basic things such as strumming are not going to sound as good as they possibly can.

However on the other hand I will always ensure that my students are comfortable and playing the way they want whilst learning in the way that they want. Music is about fun and since this student was just playing for fun and to develop there music theory knowledge I answered the question by saying no, it doesn’t matter right now play how is most comfortable to you, but try somthing new! By practicing holding the pick the way I have now shown you only because although not a problem now if you don’t change it will become a bad habit and inflict your playing ability.

Hey guys new offer on my guitar lessons! 10 percent of when you buy 5 lessons together. 20 percent of when you buy 10. This offer will stop next Monday. Contact me on Facebook, Instagram or email me at stephenrossguitarteach@gmail.com

Standard rate is 25 pounds an hour so booking 5 lessons together saves you £12.50

Booking 10 lessons together save you £50 pounds! Any enquirers just let me know on any of my socials! Have a great day.

Hey guys just a quick update about my upcoming ep. I have been grinding really hard over the past few days on making this EP sound as best as possible from home and without access to a studio.

This has proven a real challenge for me as working with logic for long periods of time stresses me out at the best of times. However I’m really looking forward too getting some constructive feedback from everyone so please follow me @stephen_plays_guitar on Instagram for any updates regarding the EP or too hear some sweet blues guitar in the mean time.

The EP will be released in around two weeks now so stay tuned and stay safe.

As a life long linkin park fan and a huge fan of Mike Shinodas work both with and after linkin park it pains me too have too critique this album.

For the sake of this blog post im going too be directly comparing this album to the post traumatic ep written just a couple years before. Having seen this album performed live I can say with 100 percent confidence the album is extremely well written and thought out. The songs hit home emotionally and are written about personal and meaningful things in mikes life, one being the passing of best friend Chester. This new album was clearly not thought out and just seems like a assortment of decent ideas all muddled together. The album feels rushed and poor quality in comparison too Mikes previous work. In fairness I know he got a lot of the ideas from his followers who co wrote these songs with him, but it seems strange too release all of these jumbled ideas under an actual album.

“When I start, I usually have very little idea of where it will go. What comes out is a product of the viewers” this quote from Mike really provides some clarity on why the album turned out the way it did. Its very unpredictable and chaotic the whole way through and for the most part features only beats and synthetic instruments. Not too mention the repetitive nature of every single song with only a middle eight section too offer any new material.

Comparing this too post tramatic with popular hits such as “over again” and “about you” ft blackbear, you would never imagine that its the same artist. Post tramatic is well written with great harmony and rhythm throughout. Its well recorded and the rapping is especially good throughout. He’s put thought into getting big names such as Black Bear and K Flay on the album too help ensure the successes and sales. He also released three of the songs months before the release too maintain the excitement about the album. The album broke records for Mike getting number one on its debut for top rock albums in the US, And sixth for album sales.

The only song that comes close too that achievement is “open door” on volume one that has over a million streams. Its also substantially better than the other material on the two volumes and features a whole band and vocals with backing vocals. All in all the song sounds professional and sounds very well recorded and pieced together, just like his earlier work.

Concluding this post, its a decent album just could have been much better. I respect the idea and understand that he got most of the ideas from his twitch following and original game boy sounds, and that he was clearly going for a nostalgic sound. Hopefully he goes back too his old style rap for the next album.