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.
Author: Jay
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.
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.
Practising With Intention
When it comes to practising guitar, most people already know what they need to work on. The challenge is usually not what to practise. The challenge is being aware enough to recognise it. This got me thinking recently… How often do we actually listen to ourselves when we practise? And I don’t just mean listening … Continue reading Practising With Intention
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
Why Guitarists Don’t Improve
Struggling to improve on guitar? Discover why beginners, intermediate players, and even committed students get stuck—and how to fix it with a simple shift in focus.
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?
Impossible Guitar Lessons
Today, one of our guitar lessons, something else, or maybe someone else will challenge us. During these times, we must remember; not IMPOSSIBLE, instead I’M POSSIBLE.
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
Guitar Lessons in Brighouse
As a teacher of well over 10 years, I have a wealth of resources to help you on your way. I'm also heavily focussed on what your needs are. This means we can work together to establish a structured pathway to help keep your playing aspirational, enjoyable and successful.
