“As for a testimonial, you were the best teacher I’ve ever had in any subject: fully engaged in your work and enthusiastic to communicate it; attentive to my needs and abilities, and you inspired me to look beyond the instrument and understand the development and role of music in culture. Thank you. “
Dr. Joss Winn PhD. Senior Lecturer in Education, Lincoln University.
“When I was 14 I learned classical guitar. I stopped. Fifty years later having decided to try it again, I had the very good fortune to meet Rob Johns. He has an inordinate ability through his experience, skill, dedication and desire to be able to bring out the best in you. I have a lot of life experience and met a great deal of people, instructors, teachers etc.. Rob stands way above all. He has managed to tease out the inner creative musician in me as well as the hidden classical guitarist. I would never have thought that I would be playing the classical pieces I do and never believed I would be playing and singing blues/folk and starting to write songs in less than two years. The man is a genius at what he does. Thank you Rob.”
Andrew Whincup
"Lessons with Rob are an absolute pleasure. His mastery of the instrument really is the tip of the iceberg; he adopts a wonderfully humanistic approach to teaching placing the individual at the centre of the learning experience; it goes above and beyond simply playing the instrument, instead the student is taken on a journey; self-development is as important as performance skills, emotional response and solid technique; these ingredients all considered, form holistically into the individual as a player of the guitar. Rob tends to the minutiae of my playing with an unbound level of joy and enthusiasm. His positivity and energy are also channelled into the music, the instrument and my journey as I progress. He draws motivation and inspiration from several sources including philosophy, art and history, and introduces these elements enthusiastically into his teaching. He uses his years of experience as a teacher and as a performer to reassure students, enabling individuals to negotiate challenges if and when they arise. He also encourages students to think and act independently and outside of the box. All of this is established with an impressive level of care and devotion."
(Rik Wharfe)
"It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Rob has had a far-reaching impact
on my education. His teaching has encouraged me to internalise the importance of music as being at the forefront of human endeavour and helped me pursue this on a practical level by guiding me before, during and after university. His approach to music and teaching is rooted in a profound curiosity for the world, an exuberant temperament and an altruistic sense of responsibility for his students. Rob's tuition is liberating in its nature as it seeks to arrive at true understanding through explanation, rather than mere description. Students have the opportunity to develop and project themselves in an environment devoid of predetermined opinion, prejudice and dogma. Finally, Rob has developed a rigorous technical and analytical framework for students based on his own experience as a performer."
(Michael Matthews B.Mus.(hons.) L.T.C.L., A.T.C.L. Recitalist and Teacher)
"I had the pleasure of being taught by Rob Johns in the final year of my undergraduate degree and throughout my Mmus in Performance. In this time I received unconditional support and guidance with the development of my instrumental technique and my overall improvement as a musician. I can wholeheartedly say that Rob is a great guy and a phenomenal teacher to work with."
(Reggie Lawrence BA in Music (Hons), Mmus)
"Under Rob’s tutelage, I and many other aspiring guitarists are taking steps to ascertain the highest levels of musical performance. He is a rare kind of teacher, genuinely encouraging an exploration of art and its practices, for the enrichment of life.
Through his years, Rob has developed and refined an effective and robust curriculum uniting technical and musical aspects to nurture the pupil, and aid them in fulfilling their musical potential. I should be clear in saying that Rob has the skills, knowledge and experience to bring a pupil to a national standard of musical performance, if they so desire. Rob Johns understands the nature and importance of transmitting a rich musical heritage, and is an expert teacher, whose equal I have yet to find."
(Tom Henebury B.Mus (hons.) A.T.C.L. Teacher and recitalist)
"Rob Johns is a highly experienced tutor who’s unique mind-set and exciting approach to teaching helps motivate his students to success. His love and passion for guitar shows in all areas of his lessons and combined with his willingness to understand the wider aspects of a student’s life, he is able to truly inspire and nurture world-class guitar players."
(Archie Moss)
"Having known Rob as a friend and a tutor for the last five years I can truly say he is an extremely inspiring man. He has never failed to provide the highest level of tuition in classical guitar. He is a fun-loving soul who creates a learning environment full of enthusiasm and excitement. As well as this, he has by far the most critical ear a performer can have; he will never let a mistaken rhythm slip, or a wrong note stay in place. I find the combination of his buzzing personality andcritical mind creates the perfect balance for achieving the highest standard of playing.
As a performer, he demonstrates great respect and understanding of the music, as well as being able to hold the attention of any audience. I would strongly suggest going to see him in concert.
His passion for music and inspiring words will stay with me for the rest of my life."
(Will Crawford -Graduate, Birmingham Conservatoire )
“Rob Johns is an inspirational teacher and performer who moves seamlessly amongst so many styles of music. He has guided me from absolute beginner towards an ongoing passion for playing and now teaching other. Rob has journeyed through the rigorous teaching of students through the finest Classical repertoire and sidestepping into Blues, Flamenco, Popular and Country. He has made me realise that music playing and enjoying should not really be put into separate boxes. As a teacher he somehow manages his three dimensional overview of music and at the same time can focus on the interests and strengths of the student. He is warm and empathetic as a mentor yet expects and achieves the best from his students. Somehow he finds time and energy to compose, record and perform.”
(Steve Pearson, Teacher)
“Rob is an outstanding teacher and professional guitarist who is a highly skilled communicator, great listener, empathic,warm and very patient. Highly proficient and passionate about the classical guitar and music theory, his enthusiasm is contagious. Despite the challenges that can arise learning remotely, Rob is creative, motivating and engaging, creating a welcoming learning environment despite being many miles away. Difficult concepts are simplified so you never feel overwhelmed and progress is steady and achievable. I began guitar lessons with Rob when I was about 8 years old and passed all my grades and now years later I'm embarking on several performance diplomas and I know I'm in more than capable hands!”
Fiona Harrison A.L.C.M. ( Currently preparing for L.L.C.M.)
“Having been taught by Rob since I was ten years old, I have been exposed to such a vast amount of music and art that you can not experience anywhere else. He has been an instrumental part of my upbringing, always providing guidance along the way. Rob has an innate ability for music, it is what drives his very being. His extreme enthusiasm is brought to every single lesson, making each one a personal and memorable experience. Not only does Rob have an incredible personality, but his musical ability is outstanding, being able to play and teach a range of performance styles to the highest quality. Undoubtedly, Rob is an outstanding teacher and performer, but he is most certainly a wonderful guy!”
Josh Hughes ( Currently studying Classical Guitar at the Royal Northern College of Music)
“Guitar lessons with Rob are a weekly treat. It is sixty minutes of tuition, tailored with great care to meet the need of the student. Lessons with Rob can be delightfully unpredictable, often gloriously free-wheeling, but always extremely enjoyable and very productive.
Rob is undoubtedly a master of the guitar and a very experienced teacher who joys at watching his students’ blossom into musicians. He undoubtedly knows how to get the best from a student; and it’s worth the tuition fee just to hear him play – such a talented musician.”
Robert of Lincoln
“Fantastic guy, knows his stuff and always helpful moving students forward improving technique and performance. Known Rob for years when I started classical music. We since move to popular music keeping an eye on the general form and construction. Singing and playing is my biggest challenge. Rob has a really good singing voice. We’ve covered a wide range of styles from R & B, Jimmy Reed Shuffle, country and western, gospel, sixties artist such as The Beatles, Paul Simon and Cat Stevens. Rob is guy who knows how to have fun on the guitar.”
Michael Mason