Guitar / Bass Lessons and Workshops

Hello,

My name is Simon Cassidy and I am very lucky to be able provide tuition in electric, acoustic and bass guitar from my home studio in Darlington.

My students come from all walks of life ranging from 8 to 73 years of age and I am helping them to develop their guitar playing across most styles. The only style I do not teach is Classical guitar as there are far better qualified teachers than me in the area if this is the direction you would like to develop in.

I first picked up a guitar around 1970 and started playing seriously with lessons from around 1971 (Classical lessons as it happens - they nearly put me off for life!!!). However, my main interests have always been in Blues, Rock and Jazz playing - both electric and acoustic.

I have played in all sorts of bands over the years from Country and Western, Cocktail Party Jazz, Jazz Big Band to Psychedelic Blues / Rock.

I have taught on and off part time since about 1974 believe it or not - I am getting on a bit now!!! However, my professional career took a different course when I studied Psychology, and Human Resource Management at 3 Universities throughout the 1980's then developed my career in HR up to Director level for about 18 years. However, following the death of my Dad 7 years ago I had a bit of a re-think about what I wanted to do with the rest of my life and decided against continuing with my HR career - so I made a leap of faith and walked away from a good job and a relatively very lucrative profession - and I am so lucky that my wife came with me!!!! This led me to gradually start playing my guitar more and then teaching to an increasing number of students. I have taught full time for the last 3 years and now have a group of around 40 regular students.

I am a member of the Registry of Guitar Tutors and have completed the RGT / London College Music Grade 8 in Electric Guitar and the Associate Diploma from the London College of Music in Electric Guitar Performance.

Whilst I was glad to close my chapter on the world of HR / Personnel and Development, that experience is very relevant to my current role of understanding my students and helping them to learn new skills, develop as musicians, and (where they choose to) help them achieve excellent results in external exams. I continue my involvement with the world of HR as I am now running a business mainly centred on training and development and I am a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

I am also a member of the Musicians Union and have a full and clear Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check in place.

As you can see from the rest of the site I also buy and sell all guitar related items and carry out set ups and minor repairs on guitars. I think this is an important part of the experience for my students as they get to see and play all sorts of guitars, and I am also able to show them how to properly set up their own guitars in my workshop.

Please send me an email or give me call if you think I might be able to help you in any way, and if you are considering guitar lessons I will be glad to send you more details and arrange a free introductory lesson.

Thanks for visiting my site, and I hope to speak to you soon.

Simon Cassidy BSc(Hons), DPM, MA, CFCIPD, ALCM

Tel : 07812 512956