The Motivation Behind Your Music Mentor
Your Music Mentor
Joe McGowan
B.A. Hons. (Music and the Arts)
B.A. (Musical Studies, RSAMD)
L.R.S.M (teaching diploma)
L.T.C.L (teaching diploma)
Dip. Mus. (Music theory)
‘There is more than one way to learn how to do something, and everyone responds differently to various teaching techniques and methods of learning.
‘It is an educator’s job not merely to dispense information on their own terms, but to find out how, and at what speed, a student best absorbs knowledge.
‘I believe the most effective way to achieve this is through one-
‘Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy. Music is the electrical soil in which the spirit lives, thinks and invents.’ Beethoven
Biography
Music tutor, guitarist and award-
An Honours graduate in music and the arts, Joe attended the Royal Conservatoire Scotland (formerly the RSAMD) where he obtained a second degree (the first was in music, philosophy & art history) in guitar, composition and music theory/history. He also holds a diploma in music theory and teaching diplomas from the ABRSM and Trinity College, London.
Joe has been a registered RGT (Registry of Guitar Tutors) instructor and a mentor for Glasgow University students and post-
Composing
Having studied with renowned composers who include John Maxwell Geddes, James MacMillan, Gordon McPherson and Tom Wilson, Joe received a mainly classical composition training, but his own musical tastes and creative output are more eclectic, with songs, fusions and electronic music figuring among his other compositions for orchestra, mixed ensembles and solo pieces for piano and guitar. An example of his preference for combining musical techniques can be heard in the minimalist composition, Infinite Circles, which was written for a composing workshop. (Excerpt from this piece below.)
A guitarist for 40 years (23 of which as a professional soloist), Joe studied the instrument with some of the UK's most respected teachers and performers, and has taken part in masterclasses with world-
In 1999 he spent a year performing in the canary islands in duo Cross Culture, a classical guitar duet formed with friend and fellow guitarist, Cameron Angus. During this time the duo recorded their album, Crossing the Boundaries. (See the Shop page of this website for details and to hear an excerpt.)
Guitar
Writing
In 2004 Joe was commissioned to write his first music book -
Since then he has gone on to write five more curriculum books -
Between 1990 and 1999 Joe was also a reviewer of concerts, new music and CDs for the international magazine, Classical Guitar.
Biography
Writing
Guitar
Composing
Your Music Mentor exists to provide a quality music service with online convenience to people of all levels of ability, regardless of their location.
It was also founded to respond to the needs of those who are not within range of a suitable teacher, or whose circumstances or particular requirements are such that traditional private tuition is not a viable option.
Your Music Mentor even functions as a friendly ‘drop-
See also: Who is this service for?
Who is this Service for?
Excerpt from Infinite Circles. Music and video editing by Joe McGowan.
Written for a workshop on minimalist composing techniques, this programmatic piece concerns the repetition of the circle in nature -
If any (or many!) of the above appeal to you but you’re a little unsure of how you might best proceed, get in touch with Your Music Mentor now for some helpful advice. Contact
Do any of these email enquiries, sent to Your Music Mentor, sound familiar?…
Click on a link that interests you for more information. See also the Services page.
Beginners
Guitarists
Post grads & teachers
Experienced
Band members
Exam candidates
Music students
Song writers
- Supporting music students of all kinds in their studies and providing clear paths to exam success
- Study tips, learning shortcuts, advice on practice techniques and dealing with exams and performance nerves
- Music essay/thesis preparation and writing techniques
- Help and tuition for ABRSM, Trinity College, Rockschool and London College of Music (RGT) exam candidates
- GCSE, A-
Level, National 5, Higher & Advanced Higher - Further education and music conservatory
- Bespoke transcriptions of music or original compositions for those with limited knowledge of music notation
- Self-
taught musicians who would benefit from occasional advice from an experienced professional
- Practical song writing techniques and tips
- Combining words and music
- Adding instruments/ arranging techniques
- Mood and harmony
- Developing a song from a single idea
- Turning good ideas into great songs!
- Extra help with course work and exams for GCSE, A-
level , National 5, Higher or Advanced Higher music - Instruction and mentoring for listening and practical tests, composing and arranging
- Advice for stress-
free learning
(parental permission required for under 18’s)
- For those whose lifestyles or jobs make it difficult to commit to regular music lessons
- When individual musical requirements cannot be adequately met by weekly private lessons or a set course of formal study
- Special arrangements of songs etc. prepared to individual specifications
- Transcriptions of songs, solos, and larger works (key transpositions and format changes into guitar tab, standard music notation, simplified notation, chords etc.)
- Discover more about music at the leisurely pace of a hobby without having to commit to weekly lessons or the attendant ‘homework’ of a set course.
- Learn about a specific musical aspect, style or period, or obtain a general all-
round knowledge
- Those keen to expand their existing musical skills or knowledge
- Grade 7 and above
- Singer-
song writers
- Guitarists seeking advanced technical advice on phrasing, interpretation, fingering, shortcuts to learning/playing a particular piece, etc.
- Various guitar styles (classical, rock, folk, blues, jazz, accompaniment (rhythm guitar))
- Music theory
- Composing/arranging
- Song writing
- Music history and appreciation
- School curriculum
- Confidential source of help, advice and mentoring in areas such as thesis writing, school curriculum and lesson planning for post-
graduates and new music teachers - CV preparation
- Advice for new instrumental teachers and peripatetic tutors working in schools
- Classical, rock, folk, blues, jazz, rhythm and lead guitar
- ABRSM, Trinity College, LCM/RGT and Rockschool syllabus/exams
- Beginners to advanced (grade 7 and above)
- Fret board harmony and composing for guitar
- ‘I just want to learn how to play a few chords and songs on the guitar, but I can’t find a music teacher near me who can help.’
- ‘I am in a band and can play an instrument but I can’t read music and so need to rely on my ear or tabs from the Internet to work out new songs. There are some songs and solos I really want to play but I can’t find decent arrangements of them in tab form. It would be great if someone could work out the music and transcribe it into a form I could read easily.’
- ‘I don’t want to learn to play a musical instrument or enrol in a music course but I have always wanted to improve my knowledge of music. Just a general overview of music history and theory so that I am no longer ‘clueless’ about how it works and what makes classical music such an art form that I can’t fully appreciate at the moment.’
- ‘I have always found music theory daunting. It looks so complicated and I have had no success learning from books. I’d need a patient tutor who can walk me through it all who is also prepared to go at my pace.’
- ‘I can play two musical instruments by ear but have never learned to read music. I now feel this is restricting what I can play because there are some intricate tunes that I can’t work out by ear which would be accessible if I could read music. Can you teach me to read music and nothing else?’
- ‘Music notation looks so complicated, like maths! I’d love to learn this strange ‘language’ but to be honest I can’t be bothered having to slog through the learning process…I had enough of that at school. It’s a lot to ask but can you make it easy AND enjoyable for me to learn?’
- ‘My daughter is becoming stressed over her pending music listening test at school. She feels her class teacher, although helpful, doesn’t have time to explain things clearly enough for her. Could you help?’
- ‘There are just so many concepts to know in Higher music, I can’t remember them all. Are there any ways to memorise and understand everything?’
- ‘I am teaching myself to play guitar but occasionally I would benefit from some expert advice to keep me on the right path or tell me where I’m going wrong with a certain piece of music. I can’t find any music tutors who are prepared to give occasional or ‘one-
off’ lessons, and whilst posting questions on music forums is okay, you often just get a load of contradictory responses from individuals with unknown track records.’
