Teaching Experience
Having sat in front of beginning and advanced guitarists almost every working day throughout his life, Ian has an unparalleled observational understanding of guitar technique; typical and atypical student problems etc.
As a music lecturer Ian has had formal training in the teaching process and is used to communicating with all ages and grades of learner. He has taught at numerous music workshops including for the Prince's Trust.
Performance Experience
Ian is classically trained but has played extensively in many successful rock bands; playing both original material and covers.
(He is currently lecturer and module leader for the University Campus Suffolk 'Performance: Preparation and Process' module of the FDA Creative Music course.)
Academic Expertise
During his PhD research in the field of 'the performance mind' Ian has engaged with the nature of expertise in general, and specifically with the route that needs to be taken in order to travel from novice to virtuoso musician. He is an expert in the 'states of awareness' of practising and performing musicians and has utilised his knowledge of both 'being in the zone' and of 'self in relation to action' to pioneer advanced awareness performance techniques.
Distance Learning
Ian set up a distance learning teaching business under the trading name of the 'Instructional Music Department'. This was the first of its kind and it won a Shell-sponsored business award for outstanding enterprise. Distance-learning is still offered and may be built into individually-tailored tuition packages for those that are unable to make regular face-to-face sessions.
Video Production
Ian's personal interest in photography and videography allows students the unique added option of producing fully-fledged performance videos for Youtube etc. This can be a great confidence-builder as well as being a fantastic promotional tool for advanced players.
(Ian is currently lecturer and module leader for the University Campus Suffolk 'Personal Development' module of the FDA Creative Music course.)
LCM Graded exams
Ian was one of the earliest members of the Registry of Guitar Tutors and continues to offer students the option of taking London College of Music graded examinations. Ian has maintained a 100% pass rate record for over a decade.