I have over sixteen years experience teaching the guitar, over thirty years playing the guitar, and can provide one-on-one tuition in guitar, including chord progressions, fingerpicking, music theory and tablature; in all styles including blues, folk, jazz, classical, flamenco, rock and contemporary percussive guitar.
 

Are you looking for private music lessons in Perth or surrounding areas? Then get in touch!

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Customer Testimonials:

'Paul is an amazing person and a very talented and passionate musician. He has been teaching me acoustic guitar and singing for three years and has made a huge difference to my confidence and ability. Paul's patience and enthusiasm have really helped and he is an excellent teacher!' (Dan, Guildford, September 2019)

'Paul has taught our son classical guitar for three years with great patience and kindness. Paul prepared him for success in his AMEB exam and is always flexible in his approach to lessons to tailor them personally. Highly recommended' (Sam, May 2019).

'Paul is a very gifted guitarist and teacher alike. He has several different teaching methods to keep challenging you in different ways. Each lesson was personalised to my own skills and he goes the extra mile by creating exercises or transcribing rare songs you're interested in. You won't get this from YouTube or from a less experienced teacher' (Matt Andrews, March 2019)

 

'Paul is an excellent guitar teacher I would highly recommend to anyone, whether just beginning, or well advanced. Patient, kind and extremely talented, he has helped me take my skills to a whole new level and has reignited my love of learning to play the guitar. Thank you Paul for your awesome commitment to my development and for everything you’ve taught me' (Bronwyn, March 2019)

 

Paul is very patient and and taught me in a way that was easy understand and quick to learn' (Sarah Price, April 2017)
 

'Paul is patient, kind, compassionate and insightful, and has inspired me to become a better player' (Kate Wallington, Perth, April 2015)

'Enjoying lessons immensely. Paul is really patient and provides great support. Really convenient as well with Paul able to do lessons at my house' (Iain Fisher, Gosnells, December 2014)

'Paul has a fun and friendly method of teaching the guitar...Paul has worked with me to help expand my knowledge of playing the guitar and has taught me essential guitar theory in a fun and practical way. I have noticed a great improvement in my guitar playing since Paul has been teaching me. I would recommend Paul to anyone who wants to learn the guitar or anyone who wants to improve their guitar playing' (Eddie Ironside, Kalamunda, 19 years old, 11th August 2014).
 

'I have never picked up a guitar before and I am very happy with how much I am learning and how much I can already play, as well as how much fun I am having. Paul is a very patient and encouraging teacher who knows exactly how to tailor my lessons to my needs and makes them very enjoyable' (Marta Bronowicka, Perth, August 2014).

 

You can find an online written review of my lessons in Perth at http://www.weekendnotes.com/guitar-lessons-paul-mcdowell-perth/
 

 

 

Educational & Teaching Background
 

I was trained to teach music in 2010-11 at London Metropolitan University, achieving a distinction in his Music Enhancement Course (MUSEC). My other educational qualifications include a Masters Degree (2004) and a 2.1 Bachelors Degree (2002) from the University of Reading, a Higher National Diploma in Music Production at Reading College of Arts and Design (2004) and a distinction in Music Business at LIPA, the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (2005). I have achieved Grade V Music Theory and Grade VI Piano with ABRSM as well as Grade IV Classical Guitar when I was about fourteen years old (all those years ago) and am now an advanced guitar player, specialising in classical and acoustic fingerpicking and contemporary percussive guitar techniques.
 

I have a Police Clearance Certificate (APRO) and a Working With Children (WWC) card.

 

I can't highlight enough the importance of good, focused, deliberate practicing and self-reflection. I practice guitar daily, and the rest of my time I commit to composition and songwriting, recording, rehearsals, reading, listening to music, organising and performing at events, liaising with music industry professionals, as well as preparing lessons and teaching.
 

Personal Information
 

Born in Liverpool, I moved to Perth in 2012, where I am currently based. I am self-managed.
 

In my spare time, I enjoy meditation, books, good food, cooking, art, movies, stand up paddle boarding, swimming, walking in nature and the outdoors. I also make music videos and write poetry as well as doing my songwriting and the occasional live performance.
 

I have a wide variety of influences and play a lot of genres of music and styles, but some of my favourite musicians, composers and bands are:

- Joe Pass, George Van Eps, Lenny Breau (solo jazz guitarists)

- Roland Dyens, Andres Segovia, Dionisio Aguado, Fernando Sor, Francisco Tarrega, Mauro Giuliani, Romero, Paganini, Jose Ferrer, Napoleon Coste, Antonio Lauro, Carcassi, Carulli, Antoine Carre, Luis Milan, Markus Kaiser (classical guitar)

- Marcel Dadi, Chet Atkins, Tommy Emmanuele (fingerstyle guitarists)
- Django Reinhardt, Quintet of the Hot Club of France (gypsy jazz)

- Big Bill Broonzy, Robert Johnson, Son House, Lightnin' Hopkins, Blind Blake, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Corey Harris (blues)

- Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, Miles Davis, the Sunn Ra Arkestra (jazz)

- Nirvana, the Doors, Jimi Hendrix (rock)

- Elliott Smith, Nick Drake (singer songwriter)

- John Fahey, Bert Jansch, John McLaughlin (solo acoustic guitarist)

- Pentangle, Joan Baez (folk)

- Andy McKee, Michael Hedges (acoustic percussive style guitarist)

- John Bonham, Billy Cobham (drums & percussion)

- Bach, Debussey, Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin, Vivaldi, Mahler, Ravel ('classical')

- Battles, Lightning Bolt, the Mars Volta, Hella (math rock)

- Quasi, Bygones, Ortolans (alternative rock)

- Paco da Lucia, Ramon Ruiz (Spanish classical music, Flamenco)

...and so many more; like Frank Zappa, Slim Gaillard, Shellac, Glenn Branca, Hungarian Gypsy music artists, and the Beatles...
 

As well as the guitar, I play the harmonica, mandolin, the piano, drums, percussion and harp, and I sing. I am very musical.
 

I can teach you how to play scales and chords and how they work together, and can show you some neat tricks that I have learnt over the years. I can show you how I write songs and help you to write your own songs. 

 

I can also offer music production for your own songs.
 

Whatever you can think of, guitar wise, I am your man. 
 

I look forward to hearing from you.
 

Email: hello@pauldmcdowell.com
 

For all enquiries regarding group workshop sessions and education projects, fill in the enquiry form. I can offer a variety of services.
 

ABN: 71405446858