You can choose up to five workshops a week plus one joy of the jam class which you’ll join every week for 4 weeks so that you can get to know the same group of people. Create yourself a mixed bag, but don’t overwhelm yourself.
Booking onto one off workshops and longer courses
First you need to take out a membership here once you’ve done that you’ll need to head to the Student’s Corner page of our website where we store all of your learning material, plus the course sign up spreadsheet. You’ll need to request and be given access the first time you enter
Check below or here on how to choose which level is right for you. And see below for a brief description of each course
Beginners
8 Week beginner programme for those who have never played before. See our dedicated beginners Academy page for a full write up. Not, the beginners classes are not part of membership and can only be booked through the beginners academy
Beginner’s Step up
In this 3 week course we’ll be preparing those who may have just completed a beginners 8 week course, or those who are feeling a bit nervous about joining jams, with the skills to start jamming songs with others. This course is part of membership
Improvers
Bridging the gap between open chords and just about getting ‘it’ to feeling confident with your barre chords, scales and improvisation. All players from previous improvers courses are welcome to attend as the material is always new
Intermediates
CAGED, advanced rhythms, hybrid chord and lead work, improvisation using the major scale, chord extensions
Advanced
We’re going deep on the fretboard by running through chord progressions in a jazz style, taking on two songs with a soul vibe (to be confirmed) learning how to swing 9th chords in authentic style, and enjoying extended weekly jams. They’ll be modal pit stops and some of the freakiest arpeggio work you’ll have ever encountered. Highly recommended for the player with some time to practice.
Joy of the Jam
Facilitated jams – Breaking songs down and playing them for the fun of it.
Improver level Blues
Taking on one new song each week along with a collection of blues turnarounds, leads-roaches, licks and tricks. This workshop has a link with our blues jam hosted every two weeks at St Elmo’s, Kings Cross.
Intermediate level blues
Each week you’ll learn a new song, extended riffs and solo’s, pick up improvising ideas and take on some of the more swing based, higher end ideas within blues rhythm playing.
Beginner’s Bass
Ever wanted to be a lip pouting, vest waring cool as heck bass player? Just like Sting?! Ever wanted to slap those strings like the funkiest mother funker that ever strode across this green and groovy planet? Just like Flea?! Well here’s your chance, .
We love the six-string guitar, but boy do we love the bass as well. Is there any finer feeling than hitting that lunar note and letting it ring out long and low? We don’t think so.
You’re coming in from the very start, hitting root notes, and then working your way up to arpeggios, classic riffs and excellent technique.
Improver level Bass
You’ll be working through arpeggios outside of there boxed and caged systems, taking on some funk and learning extended song (full rather than riffs.
Rock Classics
Making small ideas sound big. Expect lots of 5th chords and face melting solo’s
Pedal Paradise
You’ve got the guitars and the amplifiers (maybe), and now you realise that pedals are also part of a guitarist arsenal. Join us for this workshop on guitar pedals where every session we’ll dive deep into different guitar effects and how they work, as well as learn a song that uses such effect.
Songwriting and composition
How to find the idea, create the spark and see a song from inception to completion using tried and tested writing techniques and tips and tricks from some of popular music’s biggest song writers. A four week course.
Funk
You’ll be working your way through three classic funk songs, eight funk riffs and having ongoing discussions about key funk players.
First Solos
Look at you! You’ve done the work, got command of your fingers and now you’re ready to tackle your first solos
Solo Ideas 1
Incorporating 3rds into your soloing. Why would you want to do that? Because they sound GORGOUS. And, also, taking a mindful approach to your soloing is the way to move your improvising and solo work away from that liner sound.
Solo ideas 2
Incorporating 6ths into your playing you flash git. 6ths sound like what heaven might sound like if heaven was not a half pipe as the post punk band OPM predicated and instead was a massive guitar.
3 Big Riffs
Over 3 weeks we’ll be delving into 3 massive riffs from history ‘s biggest riffers
Dynamics on Guitar
Dynamics can be described as the energy level of the music at a given point within a song. If a band were to come out and play only at its highest/peak energy level, it would get very boring, very quickly. A song must have peaks and valleys, emotional shifts, and builds and breakdowns, in order to maintain a listener’s interest. So join us for this course on dynamics where you will learn how to get the best sound and range out of your guitar playing.
