Guitar Lesson Information - for Students living in the Blue Mountains
Singer/Songwriter/Guitarist Nigel Foote
(Digital Image by Steven Norris)
Guitar Lessons – Phone: 02 4782 6392
Nigel Foote has taught guitar in the Blue Mountains since 1983, and brings a wealth of experience to his students. He has taught for The Mitchell Conservatorium of Music in Bathurst and Forbes, as well as for schools in the region including, All Saints College and the Blue Mountains Grammar School. However, the vast majority of his lessons, have been given privately at home in a warm, family environment.
Nigel's guitar students learn how to master the same finger-picking technique employed by many of the world's finest singer-songwriters and guitarists - a technique based on the traditional folk-blues or country-blues styles that were developed early last century by players such as Blind Blake, Mississippi John Hurt, Reverend Gary Davis and Doc Watson.
Learn to play like:
Paul Simon, Eric Bibb, Chris Smither, Keb Mo, Harry Manx, Bruce Cockburn, John Prine, Kate Wolf, Don McLean, John Denver, Gordon Lightfoot, Judy Collins, Arlo Guthrie, Leo Kotke, Rick Ruskin, Ralph McTell, Kieren Kane and Kevin Welch ... to name a few.
Examples of Australian artists who have learnt the same finger-picking technique are: Tommy Emmanuel, John Butler, Michael Fix, Jeff Lang, Andrew Knight, Mike McClellan, Doug Ashdown, Al Ward, John Williamson, Pat Drummond, Judy Small, Troy Cassar-Daley, Josh Cunningham and Enda Kenny – the list goes on ...
All these sublime singer-songwriters and guitarists share something in common - they all learnt to finger-pick! They all learnt the same basic technique - Nigel can show you how.
These essential techniques enable students to develop a beautiful finger-picking style, learnt through a graded series of original and traditional tunes that are not hard to master, provided that the basic techniques have been thoroughly learnt and a little practice is done each day. (Therein lies the secret).
Nigel also teaches the simple, yet effective strumming styles used by countless artists including, Paul Kelly, Gillian Welch, Neil Young, Cat Stevens, Kate Fagan and Pete Murray.
"Foote's Fabulous Finger-picking Fundamentals for Folk-Guitar", is structured on building a really strong foundation in finger-picking technique, empowering the student to develop into a fine player as the years roll by. Whether you're an absolute beginner or a professional player of other styles who wants to get into finger-picking, you will find the course simple to follow, fun and informative.
"Foote's Fabulous Finger-picking Fundamentals for Folk-Guitar", will serve as an honest companion for anyone wishing to embark on the singer/songwriter journey.
“Good luck ~ Do a little each day ~ Be patient ~ Do a little each day ~ Listen closely ~ Do a little each day ~ Enjoy the journey ~ Sing to your children” ... Nigel Foote
- Nigel teaches children, teenagers and adults.
- Martin Foote now teaches Tommy Emmanuel's guitar style (see below)
- Beginners ~ Intermediate ~ Advanced
- Monday to Friday ~ including Public Holidays ~ 12:Noon to 8:PM
- Saturday lessons ~ 9:AM to 5:PM
- Nigel teaches through the School Holidays and on Public Holidays
- Phone 02 4782 6392 to enquire about lessons ~ All Welcome!
- 1/2 hour weekly lessons are currently $35 (children)
- 1 hour weekly or fortnightly lessons are currently $55 (adults)
- If paying by cheque ~ please write them to Folksinger Pty Ltd
- Some teenagers have 1/2 hour lessons – some have an hour
- Two family members may share an hour lesson for $60 (half-an-hour each)
- Nigel prepares students for High School Music Scholarships
- Adult students traveling from outside the region may have monthly lessons
Students are not charged in advance – just for the lesson they are having. (Although, some people like to pay in advance).
Martin Foote now teaching Tommy Emmanuel's style
Martin Foote has joined the Folksinger teaching team, offering guitar students the opportunity to learn some of Tommy Emmanuel's advanced arrangements including: Classical Gas (Mason Williams), Day Tripper and Lady Madonna (Lennon/McCartney), Windy & Warm (John D. Loudermilk) and Tommy's own tune, Countrywide.
Missed Lessons
Students who cancel a lesson for any reason (except something like a broken arm or long-term illness) have the choice of paying 50% of the lesson fee or arranging a 'catch-up lesson', preferably before the next lesson is due – otherwise within a month of the cancellation. If the lesson can't be made-up in that time, the 50% fee applies.
School Holidays only apply to school-aged students and adults who have weekly lessons – not to students who have fortnightly lessons. "I have found that fortnightly students who take a break during the holidays (except at Christmas) struggle with that stop/start approach, so I don't teach like that anymore"... Nigel
Having continuous, regular lessons is the best way to develop as a guitarist, and as Nigel does everything possible to make himself available, he encourages his students to show the same commitment.
Please note, that if a student misses a lesson without letting Nigel know (simply not turning up) the full lesson fee is charged.
This week's available times for catch-up lessons (Jan 30 to Feb 4)
Monday – 2:PM / 3:30 / 4:PM / 6:PM / 6:30
Tuesday – 3:PM / 3:30
Wednesday – 3:PM / 3:30 / 6:30
Thursday – 3:PM
Friday – 3:PM / 3:30 / 4:PM / 4:30 / 6:30
Saturday – 2:PM / 3:PM / 4:30
Practise
Learning to play a musical instrument requires daily practise – 30 minutes a day should be thought of as the minimum amount (20 minutes for children under 7). It is better to do a little practise every day of the week, than four hours on Sunday. Practising twice a day is recommended. Practising immediately after the lesson is also a good idea.
Think of your practise like this:
7 days-a-week = Excellent
6 days-a-week = Very Good
5 days-a-week = Good
4 days-a-week = Reasonable
3 days-a-week = Poor – slow progress
2 days-a-week = Hardly worth it
1 day-a-week = You don't really want to play guitar
By far the biggest hurdle in learning to play a musical instrument is mastering the will to practise. It's like running around the block to get fit, or watching what we eat to lose weight – it's a daily thing and quite hard to do consistently until one gets into the habit.
Take a positive approach – instead of saying to yourself, "I have to do my practise" (which sounds like work), say, "I am going to play my guitar" (which sounds like fun). Leave your guitar out of it's case (in a safe spot) so it's not out-of-sight, out-of-mind – you will pick it up more often than if it's in it's case. Who cares if the strings don't last as long, or the instrument gets a slight scratch – do you want to become a guitarist or the owner of a mint condition guitar? Play it, play it, play it – wear it out and have it repaired or buy a new one – the world is full of guitars, and there is one out there with your name on it.
"Parents please note: Children need to be encouraged to practice every day. I have found that quite a lot of parents think that their child will do their practise without being asked to – an extreme exception to the rule. Children simply do not have the discipline to practise every day – it's an unrealistic expectation that parents need to be aware of from the outset. In my experience, the children (and teenagers) who do best are the ones who are lucky enough to have parents who are consistently firm about practise.
There are no short-cuts – there is no other way – practise must be done if students want to play well. It's a lesson that can have a far-reaching effect for their whole lives.
Golden Rule: No TV or computers unless guitar-practise has been done. It works – try it!
As parents we must learn to be consistent – I know how hard it is – I've got two teenagers! When my boys won't co-operate I simply remove their computer keyboards while they are at school and don't give them back until practise is done – they don't like it, but it works – and their playing has progressed in leaps and bounds!" – Nigel
Nigel has developed a reputation as an extremely dedicated teacher – one who nurtures his student's ability and confidence with the experience of being a professional guitarist, plus the knowledge that he has gained in having given over 15,000 guitar lessons to people of all ages.
Some students come for lessons for a short time and some for a long time... Nigel is currently teaching a number of students who started in 2003.
As the years have rolled by, Nigel has found himself giving lessons to the children of previous students and in one remarkable case, three generations of the same family! Since 2005, Nigel has been teaching a little girl named Emily, whose mother came for lessons in the '90s, as did HER mother who came for lessons in the '80s ... not to mention HER brother - Emily's great uncle! Stay tuned ...
Songwriting Guidance
Nigel is also an accomplished songwriter who has won a number of songwriting awards for his work (see Nigel Foote – Reviews/Awards). Nigel's second album, Home By Dark, is available from iTunes or the Folksinger Shop.
Nigel is available for Songwriting Lessons ($55 for an hour)
“Beautifully crafted songs ... stunning musicianship!” – Judy Small
"Home By Dark is beautiful, subtle and intimate" – Morris Bryant
“A superb album ... highly recommended!” – Pat Drummond
“You can't go wrong with this album.” – Paul Jarman
“One of our finest musicians” – Radio BLU FM
Guitar Lesson or Songwriting Lesson enquiries – Phone: 02 4782 6392
Guitar Information ... coming soon