My Focus: Creativity, Finding your “Sound”, Exploring, Learning Fundamentals, Learning Technique, Writing Music, Jamming and Improvising.

Hello! It’s nice to meet you. My name is Andrew, welcome to Regular John Studios! I went to Douglas College and received a Diploma in Classical guitar, but I play and teach multiple instruments (Acoustic/Electric Guitar, Bass, Piano, Drums, Ukulele) and styles (Rock, Blues, Folk, Classical, Metal, Jazz, Electronic). I encourage all of my students to try all the different instruments I teach, to help them find out which ones are their favourite(s). My goal is to get you comfortable playing music, making stuff up, and getting creative.

I’ve heard that when people are learning through play, they learn way faster. Why is it that so many adults had the experience as kids of sitting in a quiet room with a teacher who didn’t let them explore music, play with the sounds, and create something of their own?

My approach: I want you to try out as many instruments as you are interested in. Explore it. Try ideas out. Yes, we will sneak in lots of technical things, how to read notes, the building blocks, ear training, how songwriting works, and learn to play songs. BUT the motto is Learn through play!

Group Lessons are also offered at the studio! Do you have a friend (or 2-3 friends) who you like hanging out with, and you’re both interested in playing music together? The focus of my group lessons is to get you experienced with playing music with other people. So far, a few of the groups I work with have actually written complete songs together!

These groups can be as serious or relaxed as the group wants it to be. Some groups I work with are actually performing together at events, while others are just having fun jamming and seeing what happens. Often in our group sessions we have a “rotating”system where everyone gets some time learning each instrument.