BATH GUITAR STUDIO TESTIMONIALS
Supplied by pupils, or parents, in their own words:
“An expert guitarist, and an expert tutor.
I came as a beginner and have enjoyed every lesson, and learned all the fundamentals of guitaring which is necessary at my beginner stage.
Would recommend!”
Jjj
“John is an excellent teacher who helped my son pass his Grade 7 and Grade 8 electric guitar exams. He provided the right level of support and encouragement to help develop and hone the right techniques to make the grade pieces shine.”
Simon Dent
“Been having lessons with John for 6 months now from complete beginner to actually playing songs. John is understanding, patient & very knowledgeable about playing all guitar types, banjo, ukulele & the such like. He has a keen interest in various music genres: blues; folk; country; rock; synths, which he can chat happily about. He also has quite a few fun anecdotes from his life to tell! Great Teacher. Highly Recommend.”
Andrew Hodges
“I was struggling with my guitar progress. I was using all the apps and websites but I had hit a plateau and was making no progress. John assessed right where I was on my journey and quickly had me moving forward and I just keep progressing. He is patient but keeps you advancing. His vast knowledge of music and music history and his mastery of technique are a unique asset in a teacher. Highly recommend John.”
Kevin L. Hart
“John is the greatest teacher I had in my life! Not only because he is a skilful musician and teacher that can teach you all kinds of techniques and genres and can take you to where you want to go musically but also because he is a great human being and empathetic towards others! Plus the environment is always positive! He is the person that made me go back to music and gave me back my enthusiasm when i was ready to quit! Ten stars! Highly recommended!”
Milica x
“John is a wonderful teacher, brought my daughter on leaps and bounds. Always has and happy to print out accompanying lesson material, highly recommended.”
Brian Darbyshire
“John is an amazing teacher, I did know a few chords and simple picking when I
started going to him but he has very quickly got me playing blues, slide guitar, jazz and although I never thought I could, I have become a lover of classical guitar too. I’ve only been going to him for 2 months.”
Ruby
“After years of self-taught frustration, I am now thoroughly enjoying learning the ukulele with John Greye at the Bath Guitar Studio. After only 4 months, John has already helped me improve my technique, skill & confidence – with more to follow. I strongly recommend John as a music teacher – and as a fount of musical knowledge!”
James Slater
“My son started to learn the banjo for his Duke of Edinburgh and after searching we found John. He was a really good teacher and my son picked it up really quickly with him. He was really flexible especially once Covid hit, and he did virtual lessons every week which meant my son didn’t have to stop learning. I would thoroughly recommend him.”
Fiona Clist
“Guitar lessons with John are always enjoyable. He is very adaptable and allows you to choose the music genre whilst showing you lots of great songs. I am really happy with the lessons and John is very flexible with the hours if you can’t make it certain weeks.”
Emma Hudson
“Highly recommended. I can’t fault the guitar lessons, they are excellent. I had been trying to teach myself using on-line video lessons, but reached a block (and had picked up some bad habits along the way). I wanted to learn the style of music I like and John has been organising the lessons so I improve progressively and correcting those bad habits. Very happy with progress. Thanks John!”
Chris Brett
“John is a very professional teacher who I am certain will improve my technique. He has already introduced me to Blues, slide style and a great new finger picking pattern plus new ways of practising at home. He has a very friendly and relaxed approach but doesn’t hesitate to point out any of my short comings, which is something I need a lot 🙂 He is also very flexible if you need to change a day or a time for you lesson as long as you give reasonable notice of course. He will make you a better musician.”
David
“John is a great teacher – after a short time under his tuition my 10 year old son greatly improved his technique after a long period of learning with a different teacher with no progression. He really enjoys the lessons and playing both classical pieces on his acoustic guitar as well as more contemporary music on his electric guitar. Thanks John!”
Naomi Thornton
“I have been wanting to learn string instrument and decided to get Ukulele. At first I wanted to learn ‘how to play Ukulele’ through YouTube etc, but I couldn’t follow it (I am not an internet learner). So in the beginning of the year 2021, I met John from Bath Guitar Studio. He is a great teacher, he taught me how to read music, the basic that helps me accelerate my hand movement. In addition to all related with music, he is also friendly. I will definitely continue learning Ukulele (or possibly guitar in the future) from him. In terms of lesson cost and time, I would say he is flexible and definitely the time you spent with him is a very good value for money!”
Kathleen Hartono
“John is a very patient, enthusiastic and reliable tutor and I would recommend him to anybody who is beginning to learn the guitar or indeed a very advanced guitar player, given his experience.”
Catherine Parker
“After many years of pottering around with an acoustic guitar, I decided I needed a fresh challenge and set myself the task of learning classical guitar from scratch. My lessons with John have been focused predominantly on classical but with a little jazz and folk thrown into the mix. I find John’s teaching style highly effective, and I’m amazed at how my playing has progressed over the last few months. For beginners or those, like myself, that feel stuck in a rut with their playing, I’d definitely recommend lessons with John!”
Mark Wherry
“John is a unique talent as a hugely experienced guitarist and guitar teacher. He has taught both my sons to play the guitar confidently and at their own speed without stress and in a fun and knowledgeable approach. With insights to techniques and anecdotes on great musicians, John encourages you to develop your guitar skill; through responding to sheet music, reading notes and tabs and finding your passion for playing, highlighting the importance of practicing in your own time for the following session. He takes you through different styles from folk, jazz, rock, Spanish and classical, you name it! We would highly recommend Bath Guitar Studio and John for learning the guitar.”
David Moxon
“John has a wealth of experience and has taught me in a way that has kept me practicing and wanting to learn more when others have failed. John’s willingness to adjust the style of lessons to the types of music I am passionate about, makes his lessons fun and kept up my enthusiasm. Fantastic tutor!”
Nevil Poole
“I have just recommenced playing guitar after 18 months or so of not playing. Having had experience of other guitar tutors, I’d say that John is amongst the best I’ve experienced. He is very patient, pragmatic in his approach, and very flexible in tailoring the lessons to what I want to do, balanced with what I need to do. He is also really enthusiastic about music generally. I’m pleased I have started playing again, and pleased that I selected John to help me progress.”
Simon Gledhill
“John is a fantastic and patient teacher and teaches a wide variety of guitar music along with some good background stories of the origins of them. I can highly recommend John to anyone looking for lessons.”
Mark Grigg
“I highly recommend John, a great guitar teacher. He’s very friendly, teaches a wide range of genres/styles (rock, blues, jazz, classical, Spanish), and is good value for money (with a discount if you book 5 lessons). He’s introduced me to loads of great music and has helped develop my technique.”
Liam Stowell
“John is a skilled, flexible and patient teacher. I am a busy, middle aged person who is still working full time and finally got round to starting lessons for the classical guitar. He has quickly understood my goals and how I can best make progress. I look forward to my lessons and after just a few months I cannot believe that I am playing some beautiful pieces.”
Sue Wise
“I can highly recommend John for anyone who wants to play the guitar, irrespective if you’re a beginner or more advanced player. Be aware though, you won’t just rapidly improve but you’ll also be exposed to different genres (if you want) and have a lot of fun along the way, as John’s manner and knowledge around all string instruments and styles are second to none!”
Ed van Rooyen
“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!”
Jess Sowton
“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.”
Beth Boulton
“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”
Paul Goodman
“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”.
Henry
“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”.
Anna
“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”.
David
“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”
Ed and daughter Victoria
“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.”
Les Gower
“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.”
David Wright
“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.”
Amal Sabir
“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.”
Colin Lonsdale
“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.”
Michael Proulx
“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”
Ken Sexton
“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.”
Chris L
“Great teacher with a laid back style, he breaks down every step and makes every lesson enjoyable! My son has picked up many skills!”
Matty Byrne
“John is a really great guitar teacher, and within a short time of going, I have learnt lots, and lots, of techniques and songs. He is super knowledgeable across the range of styles, I have learnt Spanish, Jazz and even some Rock chords. I love going, and I always come back much better at playing and more knowledgeable about what I am learning.”
Oscar ***** (14)
“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 …MoreWith 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!”
Therese
“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 (aged 7)
“John is incredibly patient and takes time to encourage, no matter how slowly you progress.
John makes sure you do progress whilst enjoying the music by picking music with you for you to learn and keep motivated.”
Kerr
“Sam is really ‘flying’ with his guitar playing. A lot of this success is down to John’s coaching.
Within a few weeks (of starting) Sam was playing Jimi Hendrix.
John seems to inspire his pupils by providing them with a number of fundamental music exercises through a diverse range of music: Rock, Blues, Classical & Folk. It’s not all chords and Scales; it’s music.
Most of all Sam enjoys having john as a teacher.”
Andrew (Father of Sam 14)
“Charlotte’s been learning to play the electric guitar with John for about 18 months. He very quickly had her relaxed and able to learn and experiment with confidence. Charlotte’s making great progress and really enjoys her lessons. She’s joined the Blues Band at her new school and enjoys playing in a group as well as solo.”
Sheila (Mother of Charlotte 11)
“Out of the many teachers I have been taught by, John has had the most impressive and professional approach to teaching how to play Guitar by far.”
Dalfino (14)
“We’ve been coming to the Bath Guitar Studio (John’s) for a few years now, always professional, my daughter is now an accomplished & confident guitar player.”
Ian (Father of Alice 12)
“I’d highly recommend John to any parent looking for a guitar teacher for their child. John is talented, enthusiastic and very organised. His encouragement and attention to detail has enabled my son to go from a complete beginner to a proficient and passionate player in just one year.”
Alison (Mother of Mathew 12)
“I have been tutored by John for 2 years, and have stepped up to really playing, as opposed to strumming. Which is a great achievement for me at 60 years of age.”
Sean (60)
“I enjoy my guitar lessons. John is a very patient teacher and always has suggestions as to how to improve on the techniques I find ‘difficult’ He takes the trouble to find pieces to match my taste in music, and will produce a new piece as soon as I am reasonably competent at playing the previous one. It is up to me to put in the required amount of practise.”
Tom (14)
“John is a good teacher who is happy to teach whatever my Son wants to learn to play, as well as the things he should learn. He has patience when he (my son) doesn’t play things correctly. He’s also very friendly.”
Liam (Father of Finn 14)
“It’s been really great to both see and hear Tom improve so much – he even seems to be enjoying himself!”
Richard (Father of Tom)
“Having never played before, and not being particularly musically inclined previously.
I have now been taught by John for 6 weeks and already I can play a variety of different styles of music from blues to rock and some finger picking! John ensures that there is always a friendly, encouraging atmosphere during the lessons and he is very keen to get you playing the styles and pieces of music that you want to.
I am really learning from John and I would recommend his lessons to all.”
Dave Downie 32 – Professional Aeronautical Engineer
“I am a professional musician, and I wholeheartedly recommend John as a good teacher. He is versatile, and can communicate extremely well to his students. Both my sons go to him, and I am very happy with their progress.”
Jason Rebello (father of George & Jacques)
“John is a truly professional guitar teacher with a great depth of knowledge of everything from medieval lute to synth guitar.
He has guided my son through his classical grades in very short order indeed.”
Duncan (father of Louis 11)
“I have been learning Ukulele with Bath Guitar Studio for several months and look forward to every lesson! There is a relaxed atmosphere and I feel productive each session. I have progressed quickly , but at a speed that I enjoy.
I would highly recommend for learning Ukulele and I’m sure any other instrument that is offered.”
Finley (14)
“I started to learn to play the guitar from scratch under a year ago. Thought it would take me longer to play pieces of music, but just as John promised I was able to play the guitar in no time. ”
Jo
“It takes a lot of patience to teach older folk, such as myself. John has it in abundance.
Always providing new work, encouragement and inspiration to help me along the way.
Who said you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
Thankyou John.”
Neil
“I’m a beginner (Ukulele) and first met John when I decided that I really needed help if I was ever to master the instrument.
John has infinite patience and under his tuition I have not only learned a lot, but have had fun.
His encouragement is well received.
An excellent tutor.”
Dave
“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!”
Emma (15)
“I could just about twang a rubber band when I started with John and was skeptical 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!”
Edward
“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.”
Ken
“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!”
Jane
“I’ve had several Guitar Teachers over the years and John is by far the best I’ve known, very organised, patient, kind and knowledgeable – and I’ve progressed more in the last 3 months than I did in the previous 3 years. Highly recommended.”
Keith
“John has been very supportive of my son. He is calm and clear in his approach and as a result my son picked up playing skills relatively quickly.
I would highly recommend Bath Guitar Studio.”
Hanna (mother of Caleb 11)
Bath Guitar Studio
16 Park Street
Bath
BA1 2TE
01225-469459