About
Hi, I’m Shona,
I am a very passionate music tutor with over 6 years of teaching experience and nearly 20 years of musical experience.
I specialise in bass and drums, and also teach students violin, vocals, and music theory. My teaching journey has taken me from music academies to private music schools and today, I offer in-person bass and drum lessons from my home studio. I work with students of all ages, tailoring my lessons to each learner’s needs, and musical goals. I love pop, rock, metal, and funk, but am always curious to cater to any of my student’s particular favourites.
I’m British and so my first language is English and I also speak fluent Portuguese and French — so I’m happy to teach in any of these languages.
Get in touch if you’d like a free introductory lesson.
Teaching Style
Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced player, I’d love to help you reach the next level!
My lessons are fun and engaging, while ensuring you have a solid grasp of the fundamentals needed to tackle new techniques and challenges with confidence.
Every session is tailored to your goals, and after each lesson, you’ll receive video tutorials and sheet music so you can practice effectively between sessions.
Curriculum
Bass
- Basic instrument knowledge
- Proper finger positioning and hand technique
- Timing and rhythm skills
- Coordination between left and right hands/fingers
- Playing along with your favourite songs
- How to read tab notation
- Understanding and using scales and arpeggios
- Basic fingerstyle and pick techniques
- Developing strong and consistent groove
- Techniques like slides, bends, and hammer-ons
- And much more!
I’ll provide all sheet music, bass tabs, and practice exercise
Skills and Techniques We’ll Cover:
- Music theory basics
- 8th, 16th, and 32nd note patterns
- Finger Placement & Hand Positioning
- Basic Scales and arpeggios
- Timing & Rhythm
- Groove Development
- Left-Hand Technique
- Right-Hand Technique
- Palm Muting
- Slides, Hammer-ons, and Pull-offs
- Basic Chordal Playing
- Simple Walking Bass Lines
Drums
- Basic instrument knowledge
- Correct drumstick technique
- Timing and rhythm skills
- Hand and foot coordination
- Playing songs from your favourite genres
- How to read drum tabs
- Improvisation
- Foot control & hand speed
- Advanced rudiments (paradiddles, flams, drag rudiments)
- Double strokes, triple strokes, and single strokes
- And much more!
I’ll provide all sheet music, drum tabs/notation, and practice exercises.
Skills and Techniques We’ll Cover:
- Music theory basics
- 8th, 16th, and 32nd note patterns
- Rudiments (paradiddles, flams, drags, and more advanced rudiments)
- Limb independence
- Foot control and speed
- Advanced Kick patterns
- Consistent time-keeping
- Groove development
- Polyrhythms
- Ghost notes & dynamic control
- Improvisation & Soloing
- Advanced time signatures
- Complex fills & transitions
- And more!
Credentials & Affiliations
ABRSM:
- Grade 5 Music Theory
- Grade 5 Singing
- Grade 8 Violin
- "Becoming a better music teacher course"
- Certificate for music educators - (completion due August 2025)
Trinity:
- Grade 8 Pop & Rock Drums
