a man playing the guitar while sitting on a couch

Structured Lessons vs Casual Lessons: Which Is Right For You?

What's the difference between structured and casual guitar lessons, and which approach is right for you? In this article, I explore the strengths and challenges of both lesson styles, who they work best for, and why I ultimately prefer a blended approach that combines clear progression with learner autonomy. Whether you're a complete beginner, a busy professional, or an experienced player looking to develop your own musical identity, understanding these approaches can help you get more from your lessons.

Man in apron holding electric guitar in courtroom with judge, police officer, and audience.

Fender changed music forever, so why are they so scared of innovation?

After watching discussions from Rett Shull, Tim Pierce, Thomas Blug, and Rabea Massaad, I wanted to take time before sharing my own perspective on the Fender lawsuit controversy. This isn’t just a conversation about guitar body shapes — it’s a conversation about innovation, legacy, quality control, public perception, and what happens when companies stop evolving with the times. From trademark disputes to the role smaller builders play in pushing the industry forward, this piece explores why so many players and builders are questioning Fender’s approach, and why protecting history should never come at the cost of future innovation.

Woman holding vines escaping a flooded, collapsing library with books falling

Collecting Intentions

Many guitarists struggle to progress because they never clearly define what they actually want to improve. In this post, I explore the idea of “collecting intentions” — identifying meaningful goals on the instrument, learning how to prioritise them, and using honest self reflection and recording to turn those intentions into measurable progress.

Child playing guitar with adult guidance using music sheet

Supporting Children to Practise

Some children do not naturally develop the drive or self-discipline to practise independently. This is a common challenge in modern life, where attention is constantly pulled in multiple directions. Combined with high academic expectations, it is unsurprising that when children are given free rein over their time, they often gravitate toward easier and more immediately … Continue reading Supporting Children to Practise

Man sitting with electric guitar in cluttered home music studio with amps and cables

Is Today’s Guitar Tone Tech Getting In The Way of Our Playing?

Rob Chapman is a controversial character within the guitar community. In his recent video “Digital Guitar Gear Has Peaked - Now Everything Changes”, he talks about guitar amp modelling technology. He specifically talks about how guitar modelling is at it’s peak, in his view, and how today for just a little investment, guitarists on a … Continue reading Is Today’s Guitar Tone Tech Getting In The Way of Our Playing?

Online Guitar Lesson Hybrid Tuition

Today we're launching our hybrid online guitar lesson hybrid model. We're proud to call it Hybrid Tuition. At JP School of Contemporary Guitar, we constantly review our offering of effective, high quality tuition to suit your needs. For ultimate flexibility, we are now now offering our Hybrid Tuition model. This model makes use of Skype … Continue reading Online Guitar Lesson Hybrid Tuition