Guitar Lesson Information - for Students living in the Blue Mountains
Singer/Songwriter/Guitarist Nigel Foote
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, Forbes and the Blue Mountains, 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 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, 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!
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).
Examples of Australian artists who have learnt the same technique as those mentioned above are: Tommy Emmanuel, John Butler, Michael Fix, Jeff Lang, Mike McLellan, Doug Ashdown, Al Ward, Andrew Knight, John Williamson, Pat Drummond, Judy Small, Troy Cassar-Daley, Josh Cunningham and Enda Kenny.
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.
- Beginners ~ Intermediate ~ Advanced
- Six days a week ~ Monday to Saturday from 12 Noon to 8: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 $30 (children)
- 1 hour weekly or fortnightly lessons are currently $50 (adults)
- Some teenagers have 1/2 hour lessons, and some have an hour
- Two family members may share an hour lesson for $50
- Nigel prepares students for High School Music Scholarships
- Adult students traveling from outside the region may have monthly lessons
Students are not charged by the term, but simply for the lessons they have. Most people pay on the day, and some like to pay in advance – that's fine too.
Missed Lessons
Students who miss a lesson may have a "catch-up lesson" later during the week (if there is a vacancy) or on a Saturday morning before 12:Noon, or in the School Holidays that follow that particular Term. If students can't make-up a lesson during that Term or in the following School Holidays, they are charged 50% of the lesson fee.
If students simply don't turn up without letting Nigel know, they are charged 50% of the lesson fee (plus the normal lesson fee if they decide to have a "catch-up" lesson at a later date). As Nigel is often fully booked, advance notice is appreciated as it may allow another student to have a lesson instead.
It is in the Student's best interest to have regular lessons and to also practice on a daily basis. Parents should encourage their children to practice every day.
Nigel has developed a reputation as an extremely dedicated teacher 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 children, teenagers and adults.
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 delightful little girl named Emily, whose mother came for lessons in the '90s, and HER mother who came for lessons in the '80s ... not to mention HER brother - Emily's Great Uncle! Stay tuned ...
Nigel's second album, Home By Dark, won the Folk Award at the 2006 and 2007 Blue Mountains Music Awards.
“Beautifully crafted songs ... stunning musicianship!” (Judy Small)
“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 Information ... coming soon
“Although there are many fine luthiers around the world, it is generally accepted that the guitars that C.F. Martin & Co produce in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, USA set the standard by which all other steel-string guitars are measured, and is the reason why so many of the worlds top artists choose to play their instruments.
The fact that the same family have been making guitars in America since 1833, and have withstood the competition of mass production, is just one remarkable part of a romantic story which moved me so much that I tried to capture the essence of the family's history in my song, The Ballad Of CF Martin. (From my album, Home By Dark).
The superb guitars pictured below are all Martins. The models from left to right are:
Top row: a traditional OOO-28VS, an exquisite OOO-40S Mark Knopffler Signature Model.
2nd row: a glowing OO-18H Geoff Muldaur Signature Model, and another beautiful play of light and dark in the magnificent CEO-4R.
3rd row: the HD12-35SJC twelve-string Judy Collins Signature Model that accompanied her stunning voice, followed by the OOO-28ECB Eric Clapton Signature Model.
4th row: for a very lucky child, the sweet little Size 5 Mini Martin and lastly, the mighty CSN Gerry Tolman Tribute Model. This guitar is dedicated to the man who gently guided the careers of Crosby, Stills & Nash through some rough times ... the band whose success in the seventies helped C F Martin & Co through a lean time of it's own.”
Teach your children well ...
Peace and Best Wishes
Nigel Foote
Photographs of the guitars displayed on this site are used with the permission of the Martin Guitar Company