quick links:

tel: 01472 320878

audio samples

forgotten memories
waltzing with ellen / solstice way
canon
3 folksongs
early in the day
harvest rose
impromptu blues
wanting for nothing
romancero / anda salero
tiddesley jig
bittersweet
estela/quisiera/zamba
barefoot through the sand
old clee rag
someone to blame
avenue waltz
down at the fitties
ashes and blood
the st. giles pavane
long time ago (yesterday)
what then is love but mourning / awake sweet love

sheet music:

a little idyll page 1  page 2
daffodil rag
jasmine
rambling
snakes and ladders page 1  page 2
two by two

about ray

I first picked up a guitar in about 1960 while a teenager at Kings School, Worcester (whose most notorious ex-pupil is Chris Tarrant!). I also had piano lessons, but I didn't practice!

Starting out by copying songs of the pop idols of the day - Buddy Holly, The Everly Brothers, Cliff Richard and Elvis, etc. by ear, I moved on to develop an enthusiasm for folk and blues while studying metallurgy at Birmingham University. I'm afraid my metallurgical studies were somewhat compromised by the amount of attention my guitar was receiving!

After leaving university with a basic degree, I tried several "proper" jobs without showing much aptitude or enthusiasm for any of them and came to the conclusion in 1971 that the only thing I was cut out for was guitar playing.

And so it was that in November 1971 I set up shop as a guitar teacher in Worcester. Being conscious of a lack of qualifications, I undertook some intensive study with Michael Watson at the Spanish Guitar Centre in Bristol. This led to my passing grades 5 (1971) and 8 (1973) and later the Associate Diploma of the London College of Music (ALCM) - in 1977. I have also been fortunate to have met and had occasional lessons with a number of other top classical guitarists: Carlos Bonell (professor of guitar at the Royal College of Music), Simon Dinnegan and the late Oliver Hunt of the London College, to name a few.

During these 35+ years I have taught guitar to people of all ages and abilities, and in a variety of situations - at my old school, at the Worcester College for the Blind, to children with special needs, and trainee teachers, amongst many others. I currently teach guitar at Skegness Grammar School, The Richmond School (also in Skegness) and Signhills School, here in Cleethorpes.

Whilst teaching has always paid the rent, I spend a lot of time, like most musicians, developing my own technique, composing, arranging, practising and playing with other musicians. I also founded and ran the Worcester Classical Guitar Society from about 1986 until we moved to Grimsby in 1997. The latest project is blue moon.

RJH June 2006