Question 1

What age can my child start guitar lessons?

Accepted Answer

Around seven or eight is a comfortable starting age for most children, mainly because hands need to be big enough to reach comfortably around the neck. Some younger children do brilliantly on a small-scale guitar. If you're unsure, get in touch and we can talk it through.

Question 2

Does my child need any musical experience first?

Accepted Answer

Not at all. Most students arrive as complete beginners who have never held a guitar. Everything is taught from the ground up, at the pace that suits them.

Question 3

Where do lessons take place?

Accepted Answer

Lessons take place in schools across Cambridgeshire and privately in Ely and Cambridge. Get in touch and I'll let you know what's available near you.

Question 4

What guitar should we buy?

Accepted Answer

Start with something playable rather than something expensive. For younger children a 3/4 size nylon-string classical guitar is comfortable and kind on the fingers. Older beginners often prefer a steel-string acoustic or a simple electric with a small practice amp. The store page has my current recommendations at a range of budgets.

Question 5

Acoustic or electric?

Accepted Answer

Whichever one your child is excited to pick up. Electric is easier on the fingers and great for rock and pop; acoustic is more portable and needs no amp. The core technique is the same on both, so there's no wrong choice.

Question 6

Do we need an amp?

Accepted Answer

Only if you go electric. A small 10–15 watt practice amp with a headphone socket is plenty for home. The headphone socket is the part most parents end up grateful for.

Question 7

What else do we need?

Accepted Answer

A clip-on tuner, a few picks, a footstool or support for classical playing, a guitar stand so the instrument stays out and visible, and a spare set of strings. All of them are inexpensive and all of them make practice easier.

Question 8

How long is a lesson and how often?

Accepted Answer

Weekly lessons work best. Most younger students start with a 20 or 30 minute lesson, and longer lessons suit students working towards higher grades. Get in touch for current rates and availability.

Question 9

What happens if we miss a lesson?

Accepted Answer

Let me know as far in advance as you can and I'll do my best to rearrange. Missed lesson and cancellation policy details are in your MyMusicStaff portal.

Question 10

How do we track progress?

Accepted Answer

Every student and parent has a MyMusicStaff portal with lesson notes, practice logs, resources and the lesson schedule. You can log in any time using the Student Login button at the top of the site.

Question 11

How much should my child practise?

Accepted Answer

Little and often beats one long session. Ten to fifteen minutes on five days a week does far more than an hour on a Sunday. For students preparing for a grade, twenty to thirty minutes a day is a realistic target.

Question 12

How can I support practice at home without nagging?

Accepted Answer

Keep the guitar on a stand in a room the family uses, agree a regular time attached to an existing routine, and ask to hear one thing rather than checking whether practice happened. Praise the effort and the small wins — the progress follows.

Question 13

Does my child have to take exams?

Accepted Answer

No. Exams suit some students brilliantly and others not at all, and plenty of my students never sit one. When a student wants a target, grades give them a clear one.

Question 14

Which exam board is right for us?

Accepted Answer

Rockschool suits students who want to play rock, pop, blues and metal on electric or acoustic guitar. Trinity and ABRSM classical suit students drawn to nylon-string classical repertoire and fingerstyle technique. All are fully recognised, and Grades 6 to 8 carry UCAS points.

Question 15

How long does a grade take to prepare?

Accepted Answer

Typically six months to a year per grade, depending on the level and how much practice happens between lessons. We only enter for an exam when the playing is comfortably ready.

The questions parents actually ask

Getting started

Equipment

Lessons

Practice

Exams

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