James is a highly skilled and highly experienced guitarist and bass player who is always seeking to expand his musical knowledge and abilities. Having played almost all styles of music for many years, and being featured in many different bands in that time, he’s developed a knack for learning new songs, styles and techniques quickly and being able to explain how best to approach music to students and other musicians.

James first picked up a guitar during high school, and quickly started teaching himself classic hard rock and metal songs from bands in the vein of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Deep Purple, Rainbow and Queen. His style took a slight change when he was asked to join his first bands, playing faster and more aggressive thrash metal.

After high school he studied music performance at TAFE achieving certificates II and III and a Diploma. Here he developed an extensive understanding of music theory, began learning about music education, as well as gaining experience in almost of styles of music, from Jazz, pop, classical, country to rock. It was during this time that he also refined his live performance skills, having shared the stage many different musicians.

Busking became a test to put all the different elements of what James had learnt together. Looking at it as ‘practicing guitar in public’, he very quickly learnt how to use the music theory  he’d spent so long studying practically, and how to draw influences from all the different styles of music he’d played.

James’ experience with the bass guitar began by being asked to play for a band which would later become GYPSY. Having never played the instrument or any of the songs before, he not only set about learning them quickly, but was playing on stage with the band less than a week later! Now with years of experience on the instrument, and countless shows performed with GYPSY up and down the country, James is just as comfortable on bass as he is guitar.

After joining Learn 2 Play Music during 2015, James has learnt how to offer great learning experiences to his students, how to draw on his knowledge, and how to make lessons both fun and productive.

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