Music Theory Lessons

Are you struggling with music theory or find it daunting? Do you wish you understood how it worked but never quite got ’round to studying it?  Do you want to develop your understanding of songwriting or  improvisational concepts? No matter what your instrument, if you want to sharpen up your grasp of theory, then I can help.

I didn’t learn any music theory until I was in my mid twenties so I know what it’s like trying to understand the nuts and bots of music even though you may have been playing your instrument for a while.

While running the HND in Music Performance (1999-2008) I got good at teaching theory. I had year in, year out, a chance to redesign lesson content and teaching strategies to find out what really worked and what really aided learning. The result is a hefty, well structured worksheet programme following the LCM’s Popular Music Theory graded syllabus. There is an emphasis on the skills needed for improvisation within a pop and jazz framework.

This structured programme has successfully taken students who know nothing up to GRADE 8 DISTINCTION in a year.  That obviously involves a lot of hard work on behalf of the student but it can be, and has been, done.

As I was an advisor on the content of the London College of Music’s Graded Popular Music Theory syllabus, it seemed sensible to structure my theory lessons around this programme.

I have entered many students for these exams over the years. The vast majority of my private students get a Distinction at Grade 8 in Popular Music Theory (only one student didn’t quite make the top grade).

So if you need help with theory to aid your songwriting, improvisation, reading, analysis, harmony, modes, chord-scale relationships or anything else, just get in touch via the contact page. I look forward to helping you.

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