The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance in London begins a six-week course in blues and rhythm guitar on the 27 October with two further courses leading up to the end of the year.
Authored by guitarist, teacher and music journalist Pete Whittard, the course is designed to teach the different forms of blues guitar playing through weekly video feedback and one-to-one lessons. Six modules take students through the many facets of blues and rhythm guitar and guide them towards the ideal role for their style of blues performance.
Students will also be able to access the video information after finishing the course so they can refresh their knowledge.
Whittard has played professionally for over 30 years and taught for most of that time. He says the course is based on tried and tested principles and was based on comments from students at the Kilburn-based institute about suffering anxiety before joining in with a blues jam. ‘This course is to address that anxiety for you because it’s going to give you all the skills and tips and tricks to be a rhythm guitar player.’
The course culminates with explaining how to find one’s place in a band. ‘You have to know not to do what everyone else is doing,’ says Whittard. ‘You’ve got to ask how you find your space in your ensemble and apply all your skills and sound confident.’
The course costs £199 and can be accessed at https://www.icmp.ac.uk/course/online-blues-rhythm-guitar-lessons.
