Private Tuition, Lecturing and Harmonica Workshops with Steve Lockwood
Steve Lockwood BA (Hons), PGCE has provided private tuition and workshops for many years on harmonica, vocals, theory and technology. For enquiries and other contact information follow this link. Many harmonica workshops have been booked for 2012 follow this link for dates and times etc.
"Steve is a superb musician and harmonica player and - wait for it - an even better teacher! This combination means this workshop is priceless." Dr Stephen Peake, Senior Lecturer, Open University, Fellow of Judge Business School, Cambridge University.
Inspiring and engaging - love it. I have learned and enjoyed, Workshop attendee, BBC Radio Cambridgeshire DJ, Sue Marchant.
Friendly and not too difficult. Good way to start my new musical career!? Workshop attendee, Mark Lonnie
Harmonica Refresher to 60 people-NHS Team Away-day 2010.
Comments included: Very enjoyable, Great way to bring the group together learning a new activity – team building – fun aswell!, Very motivational, Great fun and a good post-lunch session, Helped build staff relationships, Fun and engaging, Really uplifting, This was brilliant and the best energiser and motivator we’ve ever had at an away day. We were quite literally playing from the same hymn sheet!
Steve's virtuoso harmonica playing, energetic 'can do' leadership style and consummate teaching skills combined to deliver a hugely enjoyable and thoroughly inspiring workshop; our students are still buzzing. Dr Hazel Fairbairn, Lecturer in Music Performance, West Suffolk CollegeI Student comments included: recently attended a beginner harmonica workshop. Having never picked up a harmonica before I was very nervous but the fact that nobody else had any experience also lifted my confidence a bit.............. The next confidence booster was our teacher's attitude. He was very enthusaistic and made lots of jokes but still retained a professional and firm role. By this I mean he made sure we all felt good about what we were doing and that we were all having fun but still made sure that we didn;t waste time and that we were still effectively learning the harmonica...............He also made us all leave with a smile on our face and new skills and influences under our belts.
Just to say thank you. It went well earlier this evening, I had butterflies like mad about an hour beforehand, but they went away before I actually got up to play. I really enjoyed it, and loads of people came up afterwards to say how much they liked it. You've given me something I'd never dreamt of doing, but I know now that I'll do it again. Private student, Darren
Excellent course, Workshop attendee, Colin Rudwick
A pleasure to be taught by a playing professional, Workshop attendee, Phil Hobbis
Fantastic way to decode the instrument - great encouragement to go further, Workshop attendee, Clive Quick
I just wanted to thank you for your first few teaching sessions with me. Very enjoyable and I have learned a great deal. All credit is due to your teaching style - as an ex teacher/trainer, I suppose that I can speak with some degree of authority. I have been particularly impressed with your use of technology in your sessions. Being able to take home a CD recording each time has enabled me to practise and consolidate in my own time and at my own pace. I've a lot to learn, I know, but I'm filled with enthusiasm. Private student, John Boddington, Cambridge
From a zero base, i progressed to understanding and playing a pleasing Blues solo. Workshop attendee, ed O'Connell
Enjoyed it a lot, had fun and learned lots, Workshop attendee, Karl
Great to work with someone who knows what they are doing and explains it so well, Workshop attendee, Bob Bacon
Very good, would do it again, Workshop attendee, Darren Thomas
Wow! Thanks for second session, very enjoyable day, Workshop attendee, Yvonne
Great all round lessons, with lots of attention focused on technique Private student, Danny Page, Guitar teacher, Bedford
Thoroughly enjoyable, Workshop attendee, Clive C.
Amazed how much progress in four hours, thanks for the inspiration, Workshop attendee, Gary Cambers
The Harmonica Saturday workshops at Cottenham Village College run regularly throughout the year and have grown in popularity. The success of this fun day is due to the enthusiasm of our professional tutor, Steve Lockwood and of course the adventurous students who enrol to learn how to play this incredible instrument. Janet Drinkwater, Adult & Family Learning Manager
Really enjoyed the day and want to learn more, Cambridge City Centre Management (music), Heather Bevan-Hunt
Tuition Aids -During his career in education Steve Lockwood has created some tools to help students of the harmonica.
The Harvest Moon interactive (sample) CDROM provides a useful resource for aspiring harmonica players, Steve and creators Aitch have kindly made it available for public use and can be downloaded by following this link. Steve has also authored other learning aids and MIDI files, available for download on this page.
LESSONS WITH A HARMONICA LEGEND - Agenda Magazine Dec 2008
Steve Lockwood, it’s fair to say, might just as well go under the name ‘Mr Music’, such is his versatility and experience as a musician, producer and teacher. However, Steve is best known as a harmonica virtuoso, and has worked with the likes of Larry Adler, the Royal Philharmonic, Screaming Lord Sutch and Boo Hewerdine. Currently Steve is offering harmonica lessons, and with a degree in classical music harmonica playing (no, really), it’d be hard to find a better qualified teacher. Not only has Steve lectured in music for over ten years, his experience as a globally respected performer as a vocalist, harmonica player and all-round music motivator, makes Steve Lockwood one of the most exciting and inspirational music teachers in the UK.
Steve came to harmonica playing many years ago, after an onstage epiphany brought about by the guitar-god antics of one of his colleagues led him to believe that playing an instrument was at least one way forward. Steve remembers the moment, "I was onstage at the Corn Exchange in 1987, singing in a band called Big T Total, and I said ‘solo!’ to the guitarist, and he did this fantastic solo and the whole audience just exploded. It was great. And I thought then, that I needed to learn a musical instrument. So I picked up a harmonica, and it just went from there really. I ended up touring Europe for eight years, playing 13 days out of 14, and you basically live and breath the instrument you play. In my case the harmonica.’ Eventually tired of touring, Steve made an unusual but brilliant decision. ‘I decided that I was going to go back to Cambridge, and do a classical music degree on harmonica.’
So what kind of student is Steve looking for? He says, ‘Really, anyone who is interested in learning to play a musical instrument. They may be a total musical novice, or a singer who wants to add something extra to their repertoire.’ No prior knowledge is needed, as this reporter can testify. Musically useless, Steve Lockwood had me providing the rhythm to his amazing ‘lead’ harmonica with a few seconds of tuition. Playing alongside one of Europe’s most accomplished harmonica players – however modest my contribution - was a thrilling and uplifting experience, and one you can replicate by signing up for Steve’s one-onone personal tuition. Students get a CD of each lesson so they measure their progress (Steve has a studio in which lessons are recorded), and you get the benefit of being taught by a truly motivational, engaging and brilliant tutor. What better Christmas present for the person in your life (or yourself) who’s always regretted not learning a musical instrument when they were a kid? And let’s face it, that’s an awful lot of us…
Lecturing
Steve has taught both media and music at FE and HE levels in colleges both in Hitchin and Cambridge, UK. He has also visited as a lecturer to a variety of universities, colleges and schools both in the UK and abroad. Subjects taught include performance, improvisation, business studies, composition and recording technologies.
Really enjoyed your talk yesterday, very inspirational.Katie Morris, Employer Mentoring Adviser, Anglia Ruskin University
"It is always a pleasure to hear Steve Lockwood. Not only is he a passionate performer but he also inspires the rest of us to work harder and aim higher. My students were thoroughly energized by his detailed, honest and insightful presentation." Dr Miguel Mera, Principal Lecturer, Music, Anglia Ruskin University
Steve Lockwood led a demonstration at Swavesey Village College and impressed staff and students with his enthusiasm, expertise and brilliance. Performing music that ranged from bluegrass to Bach, he was an engaging speaker who demonstrated extensive knowledge about the harmonica and its repertoire. His playing technique was, quite simply, dazzling and the passion he had for both instrument and music was clear to all. To give some indication of the impact of his demonstration, many of the students present that day have started bringing harmonicas into school and the music department is a-buzz with sounds of Dylan and Gershwin. I have no hesitation in recommending Steve Lockwood to anyone interested in playing or listening to the harmonica. Audrey Caldwell, Director of Music, Swavesey VC
fantastic performance and thanks again for a very useful, interesting and eye opening seminar.Matthew East, 3rd year music student, Anglia Ruskin University
I really enjoyed your lesson by the way, it was very helpful. Daisy Archer, 3rd year music student, Anglia Ruskin University
I just wanted to say that you really gave me a head start with the industry lessons i had with you. Not only were they useful but i have managed to take alot of the principles through to my current course. Thanks alot for all your help... Thanks again for teaching me so much of things im going to need to know whilst working at this label... Christian, Music industry management Student, Buckinghamshire University
ARU Lecture February 2011
I am a student at Anglia Ruskin University and I was in the lecture you did a few weeks ago. I have to say it probably the most useful I've ever been in. Everything you said made so much sense and seemed so simple! Emma Brown
Thoroughly enjoyable presentation Simon Scott
Great presentation Nick May
Your presentation today was awesome, very inspiring and helpful Nate Revell
I really enjoyed the guest speaker today. I found it quite motivational Richard Lo Bianco
Just a message to say thank you really. Today was so useful beyond anything i thought it would be, especially as a Drama student hearing from a former Music student. I was so happy that you weren’t telling us how to be a musician, you were telling us how to achieve and for this i am very thankful. Paul Kean
The Fiver Unplugged master class series got off to a great start on Saturday with Steve Lockwood's Harmonica workshop. Students aged from 11 to 16 were completely engaged with Steve's inspiring and expert tuition, all walking away with a level of Harmonica playing they never thought they'd achieve in just an afternoon! A fantastic day all round! The Fiver Unplugged, Project Co-ordinator Clare Hayes, The Junction, Cambridge
As a gigging Harmonica player sometimes you need to step back and take a fresh look at the way your playing is developing , Steve has given me some great advice and helped me progress as a player ,The sessions I have had with Steve have delivered a better Tone, and musical understanding to my development as a player. Deaf Melon from The Silver Brazilians
I’d like to thank you personally again for putting such a lot of energy into the event. I thought it was great fun, and it was a delight to see how much people moved out of their comfort zones to take active part. A couple of other execs heard about it and are interested. I’m not surprised to see so many positive comments. I think the Harmonica workshop was both a big surprise for the team and a really good fun event. John Clift Disney IT, The Walt Disney Company, Europe, Middle East & Africa
Disney Testimonials – 22/06/2011
Excellent fun and it certainly satisfied the Sphere of Success goal of adding light heartedness to the workplace!
I can still hear the buzzing in my ear!!
Great fun, thanks for including it.
Was a really good to spend some fun activity. Excellent for team bonding!
It was a lot of fun - I really enjoyed it
Best team activity I've been on in a long time
Was terrific. Gives everyone something to talk about that is not work. Also did not require anyone to be put on the spot which is good for introverted people who would be uncomfortable with it.
The 90 minutes went too quickly! It would have been nice to have had the music sheets for the famous songs that he played. I'll send a separate note to him. Looking forward to playing more!
Excellent team activity which anyone and everyone can take part in, I thought it was an excellent session.
Inspirational. I learnt the blues!! In an hour!
Excellent way of having a team building session
Good fun – level was just right. Kept it to a big group so that people did not feel self conscious. Very enjoyable
Most fun I have ever had at a team building activity – ever. Thank you!
It was good to learn how to play the instrument, and be able to play basic bits of music
Very interesting experience – liked it very much. Excellent for team bonding!!
Great fun, as well as invigorating.
Very fun, even for someone not musically orientated
Great fun to be had with something in your mouth!
Thanks for the pleasure!
If someone had told me what we were doing I would have been apprehensive. It was a nice surprise to know that in an hour I could get some fundamentals
Excellent introduction to the harmonica
Excellent, loved it
V.v talented guy! Brilliant!
"I've been having lessons with Steve for just over a year now. I was a total beginner on the harmonica and - at 35 - it had been many years since I'd tried to learn a new skill from scratch. Any worries I might have had however were cast aside in my first lesson with Steve. He has a friendly, relaxed teaching style that moves at a much faster pace than you realise - packing lots into a single one hour lesson. Steve also understands my ability to learn very well and adjusts this pace so I am constantly being stretched, but also constantly achieving small and regular milestones, which keeps me enthused and motivated.
A big part of my progress is due to the CDs that Steve records and gives you each lesson - these CDs contain backing tracks, other audio, your own playing and Steve's commentary during the lesson. The CDs allow me to review the lesson in detail and get much more out of it. In fact, when used correctly, the CDs make each lesson worth two and mean that Steve's tuition is incredible value for money. So a year on and I'm playing the blues with a degree of fluency. It feels as if I've been playing for years and I'm continuing to improve at a rate I never thought possible. And that's all down to the teacher. Thanks, Steve! Andrew Sheerin, private learner