Some frequently asked questions...

Where do lessons take place?

In my studio near Western Road, close to the Brighton/Hove border.

Click on this link for a map: http://www.multimap.com/s/dIBaUmYB

There are many metered parking bays around the area, or you can park behind a nearby supermarket if you do some shopping. There are also a lot of buses that travel along Western Road including the numbers 1, 2, 5, 6, 10, 25, 49 & 81.

Can you travel to me?                               

Not usually - it is generally better to come to the studio where there is a wide selection of music, equipment and facilities.

What time can I have a lesson?

Teaching takes place throughout the week - often the best times are Saturday afternoons and late afternoons or early evenings on weekdays. Contact us for more information.

Who is the tutor?

Hello - I'm Jon Rattenbury. I've been playing guitars of various kinds for 25 years. I am an active musician as well as tutor and I play in bands, for theatrical shows and as a solo guitarist. I also like to build guitars - I've made two already and I am finishing both a flamenco guitar and working at the early stages of making a Renaissance lute at the moment. My other musical interest is singing and I'm a member of Brighton Festival Chorus which regularly performs with symphony orchestras.

What styles of music do you teach?               

You can have lessons in acoustic, electric, bass or classical/Spanish guitar. Each of these instruments is used in several different styles of music and we can explore a range of these.

Click on this link for a thorough overview of the guitar: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guitar 

What are your qualifications and performance experience?

I have music diplomas in Classical Guitar and in Jazz Studies. As a performer, my experience includes work as a guitarist on a cruise ship, in shows & musicals and in many different bands playing electric, acoustic and bass guitar. I also have wide experience as a classical guitarist both giving concerts and recitals and providing music for functions and events.

Click on this link to read about the cruise ship on which I spent several months playing classical & electric guitar: http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruise/ships/class/ship/home.do?br=R&shipClassCode=VY&shipCode=VY

The link below is a review of a show I recently played guitar for at Brighton's Theatre Royal: http://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/entertainment-guide/REVIEW-Round-the-Horne-Unseen.4715659.jp

This show is going on tour in September & October 2009 - see the Live Music page on this site for more information.

How much teaching & education experience do you have?

I have taught guitar for 15 years and I'm currently a visiting guitar tutor to several colleges in Sussex, including Lancing College and Brighton College. As well as individual lessons I regularly run workshops for bands and have tutored groups of classical guitarists. I also sometimes work as a music examiner for the international music board, Rockschool.

What is the difference between individual lessons and taking a course?

I run 10-lesson courses for beginners in electric, classical and bass guitar. These structured courses come with a CD and are aimed at adults and older teenagers who have not played the instrument before. Payment for the course is due at the first lesson and each lesson will cost less than booking one at a time.

After mastering the basics of the instrument, most people prefer the flexibility of paying for one lesson at a time. With individual lessons, the material covered depends on your own progress and interests - we can aim to play whatever you like.

What is a good age to start playing guitar?      

I usually teach children from 9 or 10 years old, though I have had students start as young as 5. There is no upper age limit! I have taught many adult beginners and returners to the guitar.

What areas do lessons cover?

Lessons are geared towards playing the music that you like to a good standard - along the way, you are bound to encounter questions about technique, interpretation, music theory and presentation. If you have a particular interest in one area, for example improvisation or learning to read music, we can concentrate on this.

How about learning to play in a band?

I always encourage students to try to gain experience playing with other musicians. I often play drums in lessons, as well as guitar or bass, to accompany students' guitar-playing. This helps to improve musical awareness, timing and feel - essential bandskills.

Is it worth taking grade exams?                     

Music exams can be a very useful way to learn with a definite aim and structure - you can also learn the material but not take the exam. I am happy to provide guidance for exams run by several exam boards: ABRSM & Trinity Guildhall for classical guitar, Rockschool & RGT for electric guitar & bass guitar and RGT for acoustic guitar. My students have acheived success up to grade 8 and several have gone on to enter music colleges. See the Useful Links page for more information on grade exam boards.