Mary Lord

Knowledgeability. I studied not only the guitar and lute at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and at the Richard-Strauss-Conservatory in Munich Germany, but lots of Ear Training and Harmony as well, in fact I got highest achievements in those, because I didn't want to be just another guitarist who can't see past their own instrument. I also did lots of masterclasses with guitarists and lutenists. Versatility. Although I'm classical trained, I love teaching the basics for folk guitar too. I love what I do and want my pupils to do the same. Seeing pupils flourish. They come with so many misconceptions, but I haven't met a hand or fingers that couldn't play guitar well. You just have to follow the basic rules, and off you go! To know is to love, and you will learn all about technique so you can play fast and furious, or slow and gentle, or anything in between - whatever the music dictates. I'm all about expression, and knowing what it is in the music that you want to express, and having the technique to do it. And ensemble guitar playing: I've published some transcriptions that got very good write-ups.