Tuition - Guitar

We offer tuition on both electric and acoustic guitar, in a range of styles from rock to classical. The minimum age taught is 6 years old and tuition is given by Wally McGill, Martin Craggs, Simon Dawson and Jonathan McCourt.

Wally McGill (Guitar, Slide Guitar & Bass Guitar)

Wally is a self-taught musician and has gained an enormous wealth of experience playing in semi-professional and professional bands of all styles since the age of 17. (He won’t admit how long that is!) Wally has earned great respect as a working guitarist in the North-East, and is in great demand as a teacher since starting in 1977. He writes and records his own material in his recording studio and has worked at the NMC since we opened in 1996.

Wally McGill

Martin Craggs (Guitar)

Martin’s musical training began with the violin at the age of seven and continued with the guitar from the age of fourteen, playing in several bands working the club circuit in the Cleveland area. After gaining an HND in Applied Music at Newcastle College, Martin went on to take the Trinity College Performers certificate, passing with one of the highest marks ever recorded (92%). He then added to his list of qualifications with an ATCL diploma and is currently working towards an AMusTCL.

Martin Craggs

Jonathan McCourt B.Mus (Hons) (Guitar, Bass Guitar and 5-string Banjo)

Jonathan McCourt graduated in 2004 with a degree in Jazz from Newcastle College majoring in performance. Jonathan is currently chairman of a voluntary organisation running jazz, rock and blues improvisation sessions for musicians of all ages, and also works as a freelance music teacher for Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. Aside from the regular performances in the region, Jonathan can be seen playing with the Northern Guitar Quartet at this years Edinburgh Fringe Festival and is the touring and recording guitarist for up and coming R’n’b star Nick Barrett. Recent performances with Nick have been for BBC Radio and BBC1’s Children in Need.

Jonathan McCourt

Simon Dawson BA (Hons) (Guitar)

Simon has been playing guitar and piano since the age of 10 and went on to study music at the University of Wales in Bangor, graduating in 1999. Whilst he was there, he majored in composition and popular music production, and was awarded The Music Dept Prize for his final composition. Je was also active in performing solo guitar and piano recitals as well as with the university choir. Simon Prides himself on his broad range of musical styles and spends much of his time writing and recording his own music. He finds teaching very fulfilling and also works as a freelance guitar teacher. Simon is currently working towards his LLCM (TD).