About me...
Hi all! My name is Darrell Roberts, a 28 year old guitar teacher from Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, specialising in modern electric guitar techniques (sweep picking, two-handed tapping, alternate and economy picking, legato, etc.) and acoustic guitar. Welcome to my site, and enjoy what you find here!
Click on the tab buttons above to find out more!
Are You Experienced?
To date I've been playing guitar, both electric and acoustic, for roughly 20 years; before which I dabbled with drums (I had my first gig as a drummer at the tender age of 9), cornet and trumpet. I have been teaching guitar for the last 5 years. I hold a BSc (Hons) in Music Technology, having passed GCSE Music and A-Level Music with flying colours. These are roughly equivilent to Grade 5 and Grade 8 respectively in both practical and theoretical music. Throughout my degree I specialised in music theory (contemporary jazz studies), psychoacoustics and synthesis (with an emphasis on guitar effects!); generally, however, I was in the studio recording guitar tracks for pretty much everybody's projects and compositional courseworks. Recently I've been a member of an up and coming reggae band, although my contribution to this band has been put on hold for the time being whilst I work on a funk project with some of my very talented friends. I'm currently recording my first solo album too, which takes up more time than you can imagine! (some of my music will appear on this site in the not so distant future). Two years ago I featured on the UK Hip Hop release "The Pleasure Is All Mine" by the band Dirty Diggers, performing a shredded-out remix of their hit "For The Haters". During my guitar career I've performed live with several bands (Abe, Ady Hoyle), played session guitar for several studio musicians (Humanized, Dead Hot Chili Peppers), and jammed across West Yorkshire at various open mic nights. Other than my academic training in music theory, on the practical side I'm virtually self-taught, having only had one guitar teacher in my early years. I have, however, attended workshops with guitar wizards such as Joe Satriani and John Petrucci! I also have to thank my tutors at Leeds College of Music in this regard, for their constant input towards my guitar technique. Oh, yeah, one more thing: I'm also pretty damn good at Guitar Hero!
My Teaching Method...
My teaching method is divided into three main aspects: Visual, Auditory, and Kinaesthetic. In other words I teach using a combination of visual references (diagrams, musical notation and score, patterns and shapes on the fretboard, etc.), audible (audio examples, good verbal explanations, etc.) and a hands-on tactile approach (literally positioning your hands on the fretboard to secure correct development of technique). This combination of seeing, hearing and doing leads to an extremely fast development in technique and aids in memorising lots of information rapidly. It's a rock-solid method which will suit all people of all ages, and can be adapted to an individual's personal specification and needs.
I can teach both electric and acoustic guitar to a very high standard in any style or genre you care to mention. However, as I've stated previously (in the About Me section of this site), I do specialise in advanced modern electric techniques. This, of course, isn't a downfall. If anything it just means that you'll become a faster and more efficient guitarist, with a grasp of technique far beyond that of most other players. All of the practical techniques I teach are of course useable in any style of music whatsoever; they've become popularised by virtuoso rock guitarists, but that genre is not their only useful domain. Take a look at the videos elsewhere on my site to see the various styles of music I play and teach. If you choose to study with me you'll be rocking out in no time, playing some mellow jazz, or a warm crisp acoustic piece; it's entirely up to you what you want to learn from me! If you have a particular style you'd like to work on, or a particular piece of music you'd like to learn, I'm more than happy to work on those aspects of your playing rather than teaching you techniques you're not interested in.
I'm very competent when it comes to music theory. I can teach you how to both read and write music (traditional musical score and guitar tablature), and can also teach all music theory upto, including and beyond Grade 8. I do not currently follow the National Curriculum's music courses for key stages, and neither do I follow the ABRSM grading system, but I do hold equivilent qualifications and can teach you the same content in essence.
Prices...
My rates are extremely competitive. Take a look at literally any other guitar teachers site and you'll see that they're charging double or more. Why's that, you ask? Well, for one, in today's economic climate I think it's ridiculous to be charging anything greater than what I'm proposing. Maybe he's not such a good teacher and that's why he's so cheap, you're thinking? Wrong. I guarantee that you'll learn more from me, faster, than anybody else. My teaching methods are custom designed to your individual needs. I can teach in any style, to any level, and can explain music theory inside-out. I also offer the following incentives:
• Expert tuition in all styles of guitar.
• Free recording facilities if you choose to study at my home.
• Free CD's of your recordings.
• Free tablature printed out during lessons, so no need to buy books.
• Free access to my archives. That's tabs, videos, audio, and more.
• A massive discount on my book when published later this year.
• Free online support over MSN and Yahoo messenger 24/7.
A half hour lesson with me costs £8
For one hour I charge £15
Lessons must be paid for four weeks in advance unless you're a new student. You can pay weekly for your first four lessons, but on your fourth you must pay for the following four weeks.
If you pay for six lessons in advance I will grant you free access to the "Secure Zone" on this site (usually £10), full to the brim with lessons, exercises, and everything else you'll need to master the instrument!
If you pay for twelve weeks in advance, I will give you two free lessons, and, of course, free access to the Secure Zone. That's a saving of £30 for one hour lessons or £16 for half hour lessons!