“I started lessons with Wayne sometime around January 2008, and stopped around summer of 2012. In those years it’s silly how much Wayne has taught me, and how far he has helped me progress not only as a guitar player but as a musician. I remember the first few lessons I had with Wayne. I was about 11 and had only just discovered rock music through the video game ‘Guitar Hero’, I turned up thinking “Okay, after the first lesson I will be able to shred like Slash, or blow minds like Angus Young” – unfortunately I quickly learned that it was far from that simple. Like with any new skill you’re planning on learning, it requires time, patience and effort (and I will admit that this is not what an 11 year old boy wants to find out)
We started on the basics, what the parts of the guitars are called, which string is which (with silly rhymes to help me remember), simple chords, finger positions etc. etc! Which are all a bit boring I must say, however looking back now I realise just how essential this core knowledge really is and the sooner somebody tells you this the better. The first few lessons are like hurdles, once you get over each one then it’s just smooth running.
I say it like it’s easy, but I struggled with so many things ranging from keeping my fingers pressed down on the strings or keeping my little finger closer to the fret board; to things like remembering chords names and positions; to even holding my pick . And don’t even get me started on the theory! But I can’t stress enough that you should keep at it. Stay motivated (Something that without Wayne would have been very difficult for me to do), constantly listen to new music and find new artists, listen to different genres that are out of your comfort zone. I use to be a straight up classic rock guy, but Wayne showed me so much different music I have developed from simple “rock” chords to playing and composing stupidly long progressive metal music, and getting lost in the improvisational world of Jazz fusion.”
– Zack Breen
You can check out what an amazing guitarist Zack has evolved into by watching any of his videos on his youtube channel www.youtube.com/user/ZackBreenGuitar/videos and remember anyone can get to the level Zack now plays at just by practicing and putting in the dedication that he did, he told me he always had a guitar in his hand when he first started and practiced around 2-4hours a night! Obviously that isn’t for everyone especially us adults would struggle to make that time but it has got him in a great position to really build a career out of something he loves.
Zack is taking a gap year before applying to places like Royal Northern college of music, Leeds college of music and LIPA to develop these skills and make the contacts that open doors in the industry. In his gap year he is planning to go to NAMM, try out some teaching of his own and even get some session work in London which is aided by the fact that he isn’t just in his own band but his colleges jazz band, big band and concert band also. I don’t expect all my students to be this into guitar but it just goes to show what you can achieve if you apply yourself…
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