One-to-one guitar, bass and ukulele lessons in South London


Local musician based in South London with a Masters Degree in Music.
Lessons take place at studio near Honor Oak Park station, in your home or online (Zoom / Skype / FaceTime).
Over twelve years’ teaching experience with more than 300 satisfied students taught in South London since 2008.
Students of all ages and levels welcome.
Full DBS check and references available.
All genres or exam styles covered.
Learn to play what you want to play!
About
John Atterbury is a South African musician and teacher based in Honor Oak Park who has been offering one-to-one tuition in South London since 2008. He graduated from Goldsmiths College in 2010 with a Bachelors Degree in Popular Music (1st Class Honours) and recently completed his masters studies in music at SOAS, University of London in 2020 with a MA Music in Development (Distinction). He has a particular interest in South and West African musical traditions, and has studied under South African guitar virtuoso, Derek Gripper, and collaborated with renowned Gambian kora player, Jali Bakary Konteh over the past few years.
As a performer he has over 25 years of experience, and has played at Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds festivals, as well as the Royal Festival Hall, the Barbican and has been featured on BBC Radio 2, BBC 6 Music and Radio X. TV and film credits include the series PREMature, for which he composed over ninety pieces of original music, and the multi award-nominated documentary ‘Hooking in Joburg.’
John taught music at the JayNii Streetwise Foundation in Accra, Ghana in 2017 and volunteers for Heart n Soul, an award-winning creative arts company and charity based at the Albany Theatre in Deptford.
As a performer he has over 25 years of experience, and has played at Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds festivals, as well as the Royal Festival Hall, the Barbican and has been featured on BBC Radio 2, BBC 6 Music and Radio X. TV and film credits include the series PREMature, for which he composed over ninety pieces of original music, and the multi award-nominated documentary ‘Hooking in Joburg.’
John taught music at the JayNii Streetwise Foundation in Accra, Ghana in 2017 and volunteers for Heart n Soul, an award-winning creative arts company and charity based at the Albany Theatre in Deptford.

Guitar Lessons

John shapes all lessons to suit each individual student's musical interests and educational needs. The focus of lessons is on practical playing skills with the choice of learning by ear and memory, TAB or standard notation.
Students are able to cover a wide range of styles (including rock, blues, funk, jazz and folk) as well as a variety of techniques and skills, such as improvisation, music technology, recording and mixing techniques, songwriting and music theory.
John has guided many guitarists through their Rockschool, Trinity Rock and Pop and ABRSM graded exams and his student's have all passed with excellent results.
Lessons are planned to follow the below structure with the aim to develop all aspects of guitar skills and musicianship.
Students are able to cover a wide range of styles (including rock, blues, funk, jazz and folk) as well as a variety of techniques and skills, such as improvisation, music technology, recording and mixing techniques, songwriting and music theory.
John has guided many guitarists through their Rockschool, Trinity Rock and Pop and ABRSM graded exams and his student's have all passed with excellent results.
Lessons are planned to follow the below structure with the aim to develop all aspects of guitar skills and musicianship.
Technique: scales, music theory, dexterity exercises, chords voicings, strumming and rhythm, fingerpicking, etc.
Listening Skills: playing back strumming patterns, working out chords and riffs, song analysis.
Creative Skills: improvisation and the practical application of scales, developing riffs, creative use of rhythm when soloing.
Practical Skills: most of the lesson is spent on this section. This will involve playing songs from either tab, chord charts or memory/listening.

Other Instruments
Bass Lessons
Bass lessons cover the following aspects:
Adult Ukulele Lessons
Although ukulele is easier than guitar to progress on, it has its own set of unique challenges. A short course of ukulele lessons can make sure your technique is correct and that you don't pick up any bad habits (e.g. correct hand and thumb position).
Ukulele lessons are structured around the songs or styles of music you are interested in. Techniques and skills that are covered include: open chords, strumming patterns, fingerpicking, muting, barre chords, scales, listening, reading chord charts, notation reading (only if you are interested in this), TAB reading, and improvisation.
Children's Ukulele Lessons
Ukulele is also a wonderful first instrument for younger students. It is easier on the hands and fingers so your child will be playing chords and having fun in no time. The techniques learnt on the ukulele can also be used later if they decide to learn the guitar.
Ukulele lessons for children focus on transferable music skills such as reading notation, listening and learning different rhythms, which can be used on different instruments and in other musical environments.
Bass lessons cover the following aspects:
Technique: scales, dexterity exercises, arpeggios and reading rhythm.
Listening Skills: Working out basslines, chord progressions and rhythms.
Creative Skills: techniques for developing basslines, practical use of the scales, modes and arpeggio's through improvisation.
Practical skills: most of the lesson is spent on this section. This will involve playing songs from either tab, chord charts, memory or listening.
Adult Ukulele Lessons
Although ukulele is easier than guitar to progress on, it has its own set of unique challenges. A short course of ukulele lessons can make sure your technique is correct and that you don't pick up any bad habits (e.g. correct hand and thumb position).
Ukulele lessons are structured around the songs or styles of music you are interested in. Techniques and skills that are covered include: open chords, strumming patterns, fingerpicking, muting, barre chords, scales, listening, reading chord charts, notation reading (only if you are interested in this), TAB reading, and improvisation.
Children's Ukulele Lessons
Ukulele is also a wonderful first instrument for younger students. It is easier on the hands and fingers so your child will be playing chords and having fun in no time. The techniques learnt on the ukulele can also be used later if they decide to learn the guitar.
Ukulele lessons for children focus on transferable music skills such as reading notation, listening and learning different rhythms, which can be used on different instruments and in other musical environments.

Rates
Lessons at John’s recording studio in Honor Oak Park
or online
£25 for a 30min lesson
£35 for a 45min lesson
£40 for a 1 hour lesson
Lessons in your home in South London
£45 for a 1 hour lesson in the following areas:
Brockley (SE4), Crofton Park (SE4), Honor Oak Park (SE4), Forest Hill (SE23), Crystal Palace (SE19), North Dulwich (SE21), West Dulwich (SE21), East Dulwich (SE22), Sydenham (SE26), Lewisham (SE13), New Cross (SE14), New Cross Gate (SE14), Rotherhithe (SE16), Surrey Quays (SE16), Canada Water (SE16), Gypsy Hill (SE19), West Norwood (SE27), South Norwood (SE25), Brixton (SW2), Anerley (SE20), Penge (SE20).
If you are not situated in the areas mentioned please feel free to get in touch as it may still be possible to arrange music lessons in your home.
or online
£25 for a 30min lesson
£35 for a 45min lesson
£40 for a 1 hour lesson
Lessons in your home in South London
£45 for a 1 hour lesson in the following areas:
Brockley (SE4), Crofton Park (SE4), Honor Oak Park (SE4), Forest Hill (SE23), Crystal Palace (SE19), North Dulwich (SE21), West Dulwich (SE21), East Dulwich (SE22), Sydenham (SE26), Lewisham (SE13), New Cross (SE14), New Cross Gate (SE14), Rotherhithe (SE16), Surrey Quays (SE16), Canada Water (SE16), Gypsy Hill (SE19), West Norwood (SE27), South Norwood (SE25), Brixton (SW2), Anerley (SE20), Penge (SE20).
If you are not situated in the areas mentioned please feel free to get in touch as it may still be possible to arrange music lessons in your home.
Contact
Email: john@southlondonguitarlessons.co.uk
Phone: 07846883054
South London Guitar Lessons, 60 Honor Oak Park, London SE23 1DY
Lessons take place at John’s recording studio, or video calling platforms such as Zoom, Skype or FaceTime. The studio is located less than 100 metres from Honor Oak Park station and is a 10 minute walk from Crofton Park. It is easily accessible from Forest Hill (122, P4 bus or train), Brockley, New Cross (171, 172 bus or train), and Dulwich (P4 bus stops outside the studio).
NB: Google Maps lists the wrong postcode. The correct postcode is SE23 1DY.
Phone: 07846883054
South London Guitar Lessons, 60 Honor Oak Park, London SE23 1DY
Lessons take place at John’s recording studio, or video calling platforms such as Zoom, Skype or FaceTime. The studio is located less than 100 metres from Honor Oak Park station and is a 10 minute walk from Crofton Park. It is easily accessible from Forest Hill (122, P4 bus or train), Brockley, New Cross (171, 172 bus or train), and Dulwich (P4 bus stops outside the studio).
NB: Google Maps lists the wrong postcode. The correct postcode is SE23 1DY.