In-Home
Guitar Lessons with Andrew Kennedy

30 mins - $52.50

60 mins - $95

Lesson fees are based on current QMTA Professional Rate: $42.50 p/half hour or $85 p/hr
+ a $10 callout fee.

Lessons only available on Saturdays from 9am-3pm.

Currently, about a third of my students are primary age (Grades 2-6) and two thirds are in high school (Grades 7-12).  I've also regularly taught adults of various ages up to about 65.

While I have taught students as young as 5, many children don't have the fine motor skills for guitar until they're about  8 or 9.  If you have a child between 5-8 who really wants to learn guitar, it's certainly worth a try. But if it doesn't work out, I usually recommend they try piano for a few years before returning to guitar. Piano, at least in the early stages, requires much less coordination than guitar and also provides a brilliant foundation for musical skill in general. 

Lessons differ between beginners, intermediate or advanced students. But in general, this is what I teach.

- Acoustic or Electric Guitar
- All contemporary music genres (Pop, Rock, Jazz, Blues, Country, Metal etc).
- Good technique (Left hand, Right Hand, Fingerstyle, Picking, Strumming etc)
- Rhythm Guitar
- Lead Guitar and Improvisation
- Fingerstyle
- Fretboard Knowledge, Music Reading and Music Theory, especially in relation to improvisation or creativity
- How to play by ear
- How to work out songs on your own using a combination of tablature, video and listening
- Songwriting and Composition

I also offer music exam preparation through the ANZCA Music Examination Modern Guitar Syllabus. I've had many students complete these exams, with several receiving marks in the top 5 percentile.

As a player, I'm an all rounder. So I can help students to a point with almost anything, whether it be Pop, Rock, Country, Jazz, Blues or Metal. However, if I think a student would be better off with a different specialist teacher, I'll be the first to recommend it.

It's important to mention, however, that I'm a contemporary guitar teacher, not a classical guitar teacher. So if you are specifically  interested in learning classical guitar, then you should find a dedicated classical guitar teacher.

Of course! In fact that's one of the pros of in-home lessons. Primary students in particular benefit the most when a parent is on-board can assist them with practice.

Etiquette for parental observation is generally to be invisible and let the student be themselves during the lesson. There may be times when they struggle with something, or long silences while they think. This is all part of the process and it's important not to intervene or speak for them. The goal is to get an overview of what they're working on so you can assist them with practice. This can make a huge difference to their progress.

Not at this time no. My teaching style is tailored to one-on-one lessons, which is the most productive approach for each student.

If I was to boil down my teaching practice into a simple concept it would be this; that each student should be working on a balance of structured and unstructured learning.

Structured learning involves working on technique, coordination, musical knowledge and concepts that actively help you progress as a player. It also involves choosing pieces, studies or etudes that have specific outcomes. Unstructured learning involves encouraging the student to take initiative and follow their interests in order for learning to be fun and engaging. This may involve free-choice songs, improvising, composing or songwriting, using recording software, or helping students learn to teach themselves independently from tablature websites, YouTube videos or instructional software such as Fender Play or Simply Guitar.

I offer in-home lessons because I don't have a suitable space for guitar teaching at my home, so coming to you is the best solution while also being convenient for you. 

I am set up to be completely mobile. All my equipment is rechargeable and portable. I bring the following to each lesson.

- laptop & foldup laptop table if needed.
- printer (rechargeable)
- guitar amp (rechargeable)
- music stand
- stool (foldup)

You must be able to provide a quiet area free of distractions where the lesson can take place. A living room, dining room, rumpus room is ideal. Bedrooms are discouraged. For students under 18 years of age, it's essential that a parent/guardian is present in the household. The student needs to have their own guitar/amp and a display folder for printouts and sheet music.

* Although my equipment is rechargeable, a power point would be appreciated. 

I love to embrace music technology in my teaching practice. Here are some examples:

- I use My Music Staff student management software for lesson records, homework notes and billing.
- I use a guitar camera mount to take slow motion video of student's technique so they can get instant feedback
- I use AI and audio software to create custom backing tracks for students with parts isolated/removed and songs slowed down 
- I create custom "spoken guide" backing tracks, especially for my beginners. Where I play over the top of the song they're learning and give verbal instructions for them to follow.
- I use graphic design software to generate custom fretboard/chord diagrams
- I encourage students to film me on their own phone/device to record homework tasks.
- I use Sibelius music notation software to create high quality sheet music printouts
- I use Fretboard training apps to help students memorise the fretboard
- I make full use of online resources such as tablature/sheet music websites and YouTube to make custom transcriptions for my students by request. 

As I teach  Mon-Fri at Cannon Hill Anglican College I am only available for mobile lessons on Saturdays.

Sat - 9am  to 3pm (North Side)

Lessons can be year-round and can continue during school holidays.

All billing and payments are managed through Student Management Software My Music Staff.  Parents and Students each have their own logins. Payments are through PayPal.

2025 Billing follows the Qld state-school term dates. You will be billed at the beginning of each term, then again mid-term. Each bill will be for 4 or 5 lessons depending on the length of the term.

Wednesday is my timetable day, when I organise and send out my calendar appointments for the weekend. Therefore it's courteous for you to let me know by that day if there are any foreseeable events (appointments, work, school events, holidays, sport etc.) that could clash with your regular lesson time. However, at a minimum, I need 48 hours notice (Thursday of each week).

In the event you can't make your lesson time with a minimum of 48 hours notice:
1. I will try to swap you with another student for a different timeslot that day.
2. Offer you an online lesson instead (reduced rate & more availability options)
3. Offer you a makeup lesson (in the form of a longer lesson next time)
4. Offer you a credit.

Forseeable Circumstances  (appointments, work, school events, holidays, sport etc.)
With less than 48 hours notice for foreseeable circumstances, I will still try to find you an alternative time, but if it's not possible then you will forfeit the lesson.

Unforseeable Circumstances (illness, tragedy, car breakdowns etc)
In the event of unforeseeable events you will of course receive a makeup, refund, or credit to your next bill,

These are some good practice goals to aim for. 

Beginners - 10-15 mins, 2-3 times a week.
Intermediate - 20-30 mins - 3-4 times a week
Advanced - 30-60 mins, 3-4 times a week.

Most primary students benefit from having a parent assist them with practice.

If you find that my teaching style doesn't suit you then that's OK. I offer the first lesson for free to see if we gel, and from then on it's standard rates. The important thing is that if you're not happy with the direction that lessons are going, please communicate this to me as soon as possible. That way we can address it and see what can be done. An email is usually the best way to get the ball rolling.

Parents, please talk to your children regularly to check that they're happy with how lessons are progressing. 

I do not offer refunds for lessons that have already been delivered.