Guitar lessons are one on one and held weekly. We start by giving you the correct foundations and techniques to get started and very quickly learn to play within the context of songs. Once some of the foundations are established, we can tailor the lessons to suit the student’s preferences. 

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If you’re brand new to playing you benefit greatly by establishing good techniques and habits from the start, which will enable you to progress faster and give you fewer issues to fix. If you’re an experienced guitar player sometimes you have to take one step back to take three steps forward. By reviewing and improving your techniques and expanding your musical understanding, you can improve your playing sometimes beyond expectations. In our opinion a good musician never stops being a student. There is always more to learn, and there are always more opportunities to grow.

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Because of Danny’s experience as a recording artist and session musician, students often ask him to help them learn how to write and compose music, how to improve as a live performer, how to sing and play at the same time, how to become a better improvisational player and generally speaking how to further tap into their own creativity. Danny happily covers all of these subjects, addressing them with specific songs, worksheets and books.  

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The important thing to remember is that all of this is available to everybody. All you need is the desire to do it, and the correct strategies and support.  Once you have a good foundation, you can pursue any musical direction of your choosing.

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The Benefits Of Having A Tutor

 

Having an experienced and personable tutor is crucial to truly progress. Learning a skill requires more than just knowledge. Understanding what to focus on in what order and getting personal feedback is something YouTube videos and online courses can’t give you.

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Music is a massive subject and can very quickly become overwhelming. That’s why it’s important to have a tutor who understands how to break things down, put things in plain language, and give you simple steps to follow.

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Learning to play an instrument can be challenging at times, so having someone to encourage and inspire you can make all the difference.  Like a personal trainer, a tutor will give you real-time feedback on your technique, as well as the clarity and encouragement you need to become a good musician. 

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Why Choose Auckland Guitar Lessons?​

 

We think the ideal tutor is someone who has knowledge, experience, an approachable and empathetic personality and great communication skills. Danny has been playing and performing for over thirty-five years, and he’s been teaching guitar for over twenty. What makes him unique is the variety in his career. He’s not just a professional musician, he’s a songwriter, he’s released multiple albums, he’s worked with incredible people, he’s been a band leader, a music producer and session musician.  

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Another important factor that makes Danny a good tutor, is that he struggled in school for a variety of reasons including being an undiagnosed dyslexic. He has first-hand experience being a frustrated and overwhelmed student who struggled to keep up. This has given him an advantage as a tutor, as it’s important to him to meet the student where they are, and work at their pace. If the student doesn’t understand something, Danny will patiently stay on the subject and find other ways of explaining it, that will make sense to the student.  

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Curriculum: A Brief Outline​

 

We teach most playing styles and genres and take a flexible and adaptive approach to best suit the student’s personality and learning style.

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To Start
We first cover posture, left and right arm techniques, understanding rhythm/strum patterns and strategies for changing chords. By the second or third lesson, we start playing songs. We have a long list of songs prepared and the student is welcome to request songs too. As we move forward, we introduce flatpicking, fingerpicking, scales, barre chords, music theory, how to build chords, riff work, improvisation, lead guitar and much more.

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Music Theory
Understanding music theory significantly improves your playing, your confidence and increases your musical potential.  Music theory can feel intimidating at first, but with the right guidance and when taught at the pace of the individual, music theory not only becomes accessible, it becomes a fun and fascinating subject to explore.

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Intermediate & Experienced
Once a student gets to a more advanced level of playing, or if the student is already an advanced guitarist who is looking to take their playing to the next level, the lessons expand into some really interesting territory. Playing music to a high level is very psychological and understanding how to approach a performance or recording with the right frame of mind, and the necessary musical concepts makes all the difference. Understanding more complex subjects like the seven modes of the major scale, soloing over chords and the importance of the use of space, will take you to the next level.

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Band Development
As an experienced band leader, Danny can help musicians who are playing in bands with how to manage and run your band, how to tighten and improve your band’s sound, how to prepare for live performances, professional etiquette, the art of listening and how to work under pressure.

 

 

The Benefits Of Playing Music​

 

First and foremost, playing music is fun. Whether you're drawn to the expressive side, the puzzle of music theory, the gear or the social side, it's rewarding on so many levels.

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In a noisy world filled with screens and algorithms, playing an instrument is a fantastic way to unplug and lose yourself in the joy of creating sound. It's always amazed me how the weight of the world lifts off my shoulders when I sit down to play.

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The benefits go well beyond enjoyment. Playing music is great for your mental health and brain development. It reduces stress and anxiety, sharpens memory and concentration, boosts creativity and confidence, and strengthens the neural connections that can delay cognitive decline as you age. It's no surprise that music is increasingly being used as a form of therapy.

Watch the video below on how playing an instrument benefits your brain, by Anita Collins.

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