Guitar Teacher

MEDIA LUNA GUITAR TUITION - CLASSICAL, AMEB AND FLAMENCO GUITAR

Flamenco Guitar Lessons

Flamenco has been part of my life and passion for music for as long as Classical guitar has. While Media Luna Guitar Tuition has an almost exclusive focus on the Classical guitar we are very happy to also offer Flamenco guitar lessons.

Why I play Flamenco Guitar

My introduction to the Spanish guitar began with hearing the famous “Asturias” by Isaac Albeniz as I walked past a practice room when I was in early high school. I had already been playing the electric guitar and it was at this exact moment my journey with music took an abrupt change in a fantastic new direction. Within a few months of this revelation I chanced upon a documentary on SBS: Paco de Lucia – Light and Shade, and thereafter began my love of Flamenco music and the Flamenco guitar. For those interested, the documentary is now available on YouTube and is well worth checking out.

The guitar you see Paco de Lucia play throughout much of this documentary is a Conde Hermanos “Media Luna” which is of course where Media Luna Guitar Tuition gets it’s name. I am fortunate to own a wonderful Media Luna instrument built in 1978 and it’s certainly a worthy guitar to name a guitar school after!

Growing up in Western Australia there were no opportunities to study Flamenco guitar at school or university so while I studied the Classical guitar (always playing as much Spanish music as my teachers would let me!) so I took Flamenco guitar lessons privately firstly with Chris Lavern and then, after completing my degree in guitar at WAAPA with Tim Andrew.

One of the most important lessons I believe to have learned from my flamenco guitar teachers is the importance of listening to as much Flamenco music as you can and to immerse yourself in it as much as possible. For those of us who didn’t happen to have grown up in Spain listening to Flamenco since birth, this is crucial if we are ever to have a chance of playing this music with the reverence it deserves.

Lesson Structure

My lesson plans are catered around learning traditional Flamenco rhythms and techniques. We learn how to play in the style of a particular Flamenco rhythm as opposed to learning a given “song” from start to finish. In this way we can continue to add to that solo as our knowledge and technique becomes stronger.

I can relate to and understand the desire of people to want to learn Paco de Lucia solos right away – but of course you must learn to walk before you can run. Rhythms played simply and convincingly will be the basis for everything that is to follow.

All materials needed are provided for lessons. Learning to read traditional music notation is encouraged but not essential. I encourage you now to take a look around the Media Luna Guitar Tuition website and please get in touch if you’d like to know more about the structure and content of our Flamenco guitar lessons.

MEDIA LUNA GUITAR TUITION - CLASSICAL, AMEB AND FLAMENCO GUITAR

Media Luna Guitar Tuition lessons give students a sound understanding of musical theory while also improving self-confidence, stimulate the left and right brain and develop cognitive thinking capacities. It is now a widely accepted that the learning and practice of music can, and does have a positive effect on every aspect of one’s life. We understand the life skills that musical proficiency provides at any age and look forward to sharing them with you.

Media Luna Guitar Tuition focuses on results-based tuition with a strong alignment and sound understanding of the Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) curricula. This enables students to progress through their studies with nationally recognized grades and provides students the comfort that they are performing and understanding music at a nationally regulated level. Not all students, of course, need to take AMEB exams. However it is still recommended that students follow a similar coursework path because the results speak for themselves. For more information on AMEB exams please visit my website.

Here at Media Luna Guitar Tuition lessons are adapted to each individual student because one formula does not fit everyone. Everyone who comes through our door has different tastes in music and their own unique style of learning. By allowing for and tuning in to these differences we consistently are able to maximize each students potential. Students at Media Luna Guitar Tuition should never feel they are just another face in the crowd. It’s our responsibility to assess students’ musical wants and needs and get them excited about guitar lessons. We say this with confidence. Our easy-going yet motivating approach, has never failed to get people at any age excited about learning guitar. In a nutshell this is what sets us apart from our many competitors.

This unique approach is the primary reason I love my job as much as I do. Music is a very big deal to me and the important responsibility I have in sharing my love of music with others is never taken for granted.

We stock all books and materials needed for your lessons including all AMEB courses. This includes all classical guitar gradebooks, technical work, sight reading, aural studies and CPM (Contemporary Popular Music) coursework. We also carry practice diaries, guitar tuners and guitar strings to make everything as convenient for our students as possible.

Students will have a clear understanding of what needs to be achieved week to week to be successful. Clarity in setting and attaining goals in order to achieve tangible results with each and every lesson is just another reason Media Luna is ahead of the competition.

Media Luna Guitar Tuition is Located in Brunswick West

Media Luna Guitar Tuition is located in Brunswick West, however, based on the excellent results we achieve we have students travel from Brunswick, Brunswick East, Pascoe Vale, Moonee Ponds, Northcote, Fitzroy and many other areas. We are just near the Citilink entrance/exit and are also easily accessible by bus or tram. Secure off-street parking is also available.

Or, Learn From Your Own Home

Skype lessons are also available for those who don’t live near Brunswick. Or for that matter even further abroad – I currently teach students via Skype in both the US and Malaysia in addition to rural Victoria. Having international students choose Media Luna Guitar Tuition to guide them on their chosen path in music is a glowing testimonial to our ongoing success.

About Josh

Since I founded Media Luna Guitar Tuition I have taught everything from Classical guitar to Celtic banjo to Spanish flamenco guitar with great results.

However with more and more students wanting to take the Australian Music Education Board (AMEB) exams I’ve realised over the past few years that this is where I can help my students most effectively (and, indeed, it’s what I’m best at with a 100% success rate).

All my students achieve fantastic results with my unique style of coaching!

I have had many great teachers myself over the years, especially during my studies at the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) and the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). In fact the key reason I returned and completed a second degree in music after moving to Melbourne was to work with Tonie Field, who has a track record as one of the best classical guitar teachers and performers in the country. I believe the art of teaching is a craft to be studied, honed and of equal importance to actually being able to competently play the guitar.

I believe what sets me apart from the many other qualified teachers out there is my ability to quickly assess my students and find the approach that best suits each of them. Every student learns at a different pace and with a different style. There is no one-size-fits-all. This individualized method supports them reaching their goals quickly, with a great sense of achievement and enjoyment every step of the way.

Another hugely important part of the Media Luna philosophy is diversity. Our focus and specialty is the classical guitar but there is so much more to it than this simple description might imply.

Ask yourself why you’re reading this in the first place. What kind of music moved you and sparked the need to have to play it for yourself? It could be traditional Spanish flamenco guitar, current pop songs from the radio or the timeless intro to “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC. The scope to play music from different styles, eras or parts of the world is endless with the classical guitar.

I have been a student as many years as I’ve been a teacher and have always been the kind of student interested in pretty much everything! This has led me to some great opportunities including playing the Big Day Out with a punk rock band (and fulfilling a dream of having my band’s name on the very same poster with Metallica) and touring the United States playing the Celtic Banjo. Whichever little niche within the classical guitar excites you more than anything else, I’m 100% confident I can guide you in getting the absolute best out of yourself with your chosen path with music and the guitar.

Please refer to www.medialunaguitartuition.com.au for more information. I look forward to meeting you soon!

Qualifications -

• Bachelor of Music Performance (Classical Guitar) WAAPA

---