TESTIMONIALS
Current and former students share their experiences.
Owen
 Dave is the most wonderful guitar teacher! I've been having lessons with Dave for over 8 years and He's great at accommodating different students' needs. His passion for music is contagious and every lesson is a blend of technical expertise and genuine enthusiasm, making sure you always walk out with a smile on your face. Dave is an amazing teacher, and I feel fortunate to have him guiding my musical journey.
Inez
I've been doing guitar lessons with Dave for a while now and I couldn't ask for a better teacher! Not only is he an incredibly skilled guitar teacher, he's also always encouraging and makes learning guitar fun even when it's challenging.
Matt
David is a warm, friendly and inspiring guitar teacher who I am happy to call a friend. Dave is super organised and has a great ability to understand my music issues and set out a path forward which is both stress free, adaptable and effective. Each lesson I leave feeling inspired and motivated to play my guitar. I can’t recommend Dave enough for newbies, for players looking to improve and grow and for experienced musicians with specific goals they are trying to achieve.
 Josh
Learning guitar with Dave is a blast! His patience and infectious enthusiasm make each lesson super fun and highly effective. There's simply no way I would be the guitarist I am today without Dave. Every few months I look back and I'm continually blown away by how far my playing has come. His ability to tailor lessons to my musical interests and skill level has made our lessons both fun and rewarding. He's more than just a teacher; he's a mentor and a friend.
Clive
Dave Smith is a highly experienced player and teacher and can handle a wide range of repertoires. In my time with him we have covered a variety of styles including pop, rock and 12-bar blues as well as slide guitar, fingerstyle and 12-string techniques, all driven by my particular interests. In the runup to Christmas this year we are exploring a couple of carols played on the classical guitar. Dave has helped me a good deal on basics such as theory, posture and finger placement and is a mine of information on all things guitar related. Each song we look at is carefully analysed and turned into a sheet music PDF including both tab and standard musical notation for future reference. All of his guidance is delivered with patience and an unfailing sense of humour, not to mention excellent coffee! I wouldn't hesitate to recommend him to anyone serious about improving their guitar playing at whatever level.
Luke
Amazing teacher. Tailors the lessons to your style and what you need. Whether you need help with your own songs, want learn a solo or new style, optimise your gear or how to record or just play along with your favourite song, Dave has you covered - all in a friendly relaxed setting that makes you feel at home.
Anita
I think Dave is a really inspiring guitar teacher. He takes the time to find out what your goals are and how they can be achieved. He is an outstanding guitar player himself, but more importantly he is able to patiently explain and demonstrate what you need to know. Thanks to Dave - learning to play the guitar has been a really great experience for me - I highly recommend him!
Dave
David has never been content to simply point at the pages in a book, send me home and then suffer the next week as I endeavour to play. He has always had time to provide examples, show me better ways, discuss the background to the "why and where" of the instrument and provide me with pieces of music over and above what I'm currently following. His wonderful ability with the guitar, his enthusiasm for all genres of music and his sense of humour combine to make David an excellent teacher. I wholeheartedly recommend him to any potential student.
Debbie
My son Fred has been playing the guitar for a couple of years. We approached David for extra lessons to support Fred’s HSC. Within a couple of weeks we could hear the improvement and see the desire and dedication that David inspired in Fred to practice and improve his guitar playing skills. The school has also mentioned the vast improvement they have noted in my son’s playing. My only regret is that we didn’t find David sooner. Thank you David!
Helen
This gifted musician and teacher has been generous enough to share his skills and craft with me to the point where I can confidently play live gigs with my band and do open mic nights solo. He is inspirational in his teaching approach and is always positive and encouraging. My daughter and son-in-law also have lessons with Dave and love him as well.
Elle
I first starting taking guitar lessons with David during my first year of university and they have honestly been a highlight in my life over the last four years. David is a conscientious, patient and deeply caring teacher who has taught the importance of using music to take time away from the stresses of life and just focus on the moment.
Rob
Learning the bass guitar with Dave is a great experience. I'm a "mature age" student and he quickly adapted the lessons to focus on the enjoyment of playing the instrument and also appreciating the music that we choose to learn. The songs that he teaches me to play are "my generation" and sometimes not without their challenges but Dave's patience, enthusiasm and encouragement have always resulted in me being able to play music to a standard that I'm proud of. And it's great to share a laugh with him if it doesn't go to plan! Quite simply, Dave is a great teacher.
Warren
David has been teaching me guitar for 5 years. He has also taught guitar to my son and daughter. David is passionate about music and his knowledge covers all music genres. As a teacher, David is enthusiastic, patient and incredibly generous. David inspires me to keep practicing and to keep improving. He is a natural teacher.
Steve
I picked up a guitar for the first time in my life less than a year ago and realised almost immediately that I needed a very good teacher with a lot of patience! Luckily for me, Dave was keen to take on the challenge and after our first session I knew that I had the teacher that I needed. In the last 6 months I’ve gone from knowing where my fingers should be for a couple of chords to actually understanding how to play them. Not only that, I can now play some bar chords, some blues, some solos, and lots of great songs. It doesn’t stop there! Dave’s been teaching me some of the theory behind the chords, keys and scales and he’s able to explain it in away in which it somehow gets through to my musically challenged brain. Not only can Dave teach but, boy, can he play?! It makes you want to practice just so you can try and sound like him! Lesson day is now the highlight of my week. Dave, thanks for the knowledge, the patience, the inspiration, and the passion. I’m looking forward to many more lessons and jams.
Warwick
As a late starter to the world of guitar, and a good few years since my last lessons, it's been great to connect with David and recommence the learning journey. A very well tailored, but informal lesson plan that pushes me to improve without really feeling pressured to do so. Learning lots of new things and am sure that I am sure will continue. David provides excellent supporting collateral, as well as a welcoming cup of coffee. I always enjoy the lessons, and the chat about all things guitar.
Steve
I'd been playing for 40 odd years when I started with David. With the help of his experience, wisdom and awesome expertise, I'm now playing the best guitar of my life and continuing to improve. David also taught both of my kids, one of whom is now doing great musical things on her own. He's a great teacher - highly recommended.
Jill
Next level guitar lessons! As well as being a highly experienced guitar teacher and player, Dave's knowledge of music theory and music production brings an extra dimension to the sessions. He really listens to what you want to achieve and tailors each lesson to help you reach your goals.
Sam
Dave is a helpful and patient teacher, an extraordinary guitarist, and a full-time legend. Whether it's chatting and jamming together or dissecting a tough solo, he never fails to turn up with positive energy and a smile. I can now play songs I only dreamed of playing!
