Livewire isn’t just about rocking out to your favourite tunes live…it’s also a proper music lesson. We teach the rudiments of music theory in all our instruments. A foundation in music theory will change the way you process and perceive music that you hear. Developing your ear will improve your playing. Just like a great writer can get better by reading the classics, a musician can improve by listening to music and concentrating on the individual instruments are doing in a song.
The practical skills of playing the guitar are very critical. You have to know how to move your fingers along the strings if you want to nail your next solo. But there’s more to playing the guitar than building up your muscle memory. An understanding of chord construction, harmony, and keys can help you get into the songs that you are practising so that you can be a better musician. Guitarist Dylan Ryche puts it this way: “If you feel like you’re in a rut, seemingly not making progress, not sure how to go about jumping to the next level as a musician – gaining some theory knowledge could be something that kick-starts your forward momentum.”
The world’s greatest musicians know that there is a difference between playing the notes that someone else wrote down, and creating unique, expressive music. When you learn music theory, you learn how to put together melodies that flow. This can help you arrange interesting and fun solos on the fly because you’ll have an understanding of why some riffs sound better than others. An interesting study of successful contemporary musicians recently showed how important music composition is. Of the successful musicians studied, 85% wrote their own songs. This common theme among successful musicians is a clue that a young musician can use. To take your music to the next level, begin to understand music theory so that you, too, can write your songs.
Our Bishop's Stortford rock school runs hour-long evening lessons for children aged 6 and over and for adults, from complete beginners to experienced players. Each lesson starts with formal tuition on a 2:1 basis with a trained tutor and finishes with a 15-minute live jam, where everyone plugs in and plays three songs together as a band.
Choose electric guitar, bass guitar or drums. Every course includes the rudiments of music theory, so you learn to read music and understand what you are playing, not just copy it.
The Bishop's Stortford school is handy for families in Sawbridgeworth, Stansted Mountfitchet, Thorley, Much Hadham, Birchanger and Hatfield Heath. We also teach music lessons in Saffron Walden, Great Dunmow and Epping.
We teach children from age 6 upwards and adults of any age. Lessons suit complete beginners through to experienced players, and tuition is tailored to each student.
Each lesson is an hour long. You get formal tuition on a 2:1 basis with one of our trained tutors, then for the last 15 minutes everyone plugs in and plays three songs together in a live jam session.
No. We teach the rudiments of music theory as part of every course, so you will learn to read music for your instrument as you go.
Yes. We offer a free, no-obligation 1-hour taster session. Students under 18 must be accompanied by an adult at their taster.
Yes. Every six months we put on concerts, usually at Southmill Arts Centre in Bishop's Stortford, which also raise money for local Mencap charity Grove Cottage. Students have also played the main stage at Stortford Music Festival.
For more information or to book a free taster session complete the form below!
