James is a highly skilled and highly experienced guitarist and bass player who is also one of the owners of Learn 2 Play Music. 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 with students and other musicians.

James first picked up a guitar during high school, and quickly started teaching himself all of his favourite rock songs, which ensured a well developed playing technique. Going on to study a Diploma in music was a huge learning curve. 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 with 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 practically use the music theory he’d spent so long studying, 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 up and down the country, James is just as accomplished on bass as he is guitar.

James joined Learn 2 Play Music as a teacher in 2015, and over the years became more involved with the business until eventually pairing up with his dad Michael to take over the school in 2022.
Over all these years James has run hundreds if not thousands of lessons and worked alongside dozens of other teachers. During all this learning how best 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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