Meet our student feature of the Week – Sébastien, Age 10, Year 6 student at Victoria College
1. How long have you been learning guitar with Jenca?
I started to learn the acoustic guitar with Martyn from Jenca as a peripatetic teacher about 4 years ago. When I moved schools, the lessons were provided by a different peripatetic music school, and whilst I still enjoyed the lessons, I seemed to lose motivation to practice the exam pieces. During lockdown, I developed an interest in rock music and acquired my first electric guitar. I started to teach myself a few rock songs and found that I really enjoyed playing again and wanted to improve. We contacted Martyn and I resumed lessons with him in January 2021 first via Zoom and then back to face-to-face at Jenca Music School.
2. How have you found the teaching for your lessons at Jenca?
I find the teaching to be great and lots of fun. We learn theory as we’re playing so the lessons are always interesting and I feel as though I’ve improved at a fast rate. Martyn has also taught me how to restring my guitar when a string broke during a lesson – I now do all my own restrings. Martyn is always really encouraging and seems happy with my song choices. He’s taught me different styles of playing, how to use a slider and drop-tune my guitar for certain songs. He also has a good sense of humour and thought it was funny when I played the “forbidden riff” – Stairway to Heaven.
3. What are you currently learning?
I’ve been learning a few Velvet Revolver songs (“Fall to Pieces”, “Slither” and “Get out the Door”) and am about to choose which exam pieces to learn for my Rockschool Grade 3.
4. Who is your favourite band or artist?
I don’t have a particular favourite – I really like rock music and listen to songs by Chris Cornell, Soundgarden, Audioslave, Velvet Revolver, Guns ‘N’ Roses, Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, Winery Dogs, AC/DC, and Led Zeppelin.
5. What song are you enjoying listening to at the moment?
“Slither” by Velvet Revolver from the Contraband Album and “Get Out the Door” from Libertad
