Student SpotlightStudent Spotlight

January 2010 "Student of the Month"

Harry Perkins
Axe: 
Blue Aria Electric Guitar
Amp and Effects: 
Aria AG-10
Favourite Styles: 
Rock
Influences: 
AC/DC, Pink Floyd, Jack Johnson
Favourite Food: 
BBQ
Favourite TV show: 
South Park
Favourite Quote: 
"Don't mess with the groove"
Career Highlights: 
Playing at the Guitar Gym concert.

December 2009 "Student of the Month"

Patrick Leahy
Axe: 
LTD- VIPER-50- ( I just got it because it looks like a Gibson SG )
Amp and Effects: 
Peavey Backstage II, no effects just high distortion!!!
Favourite Styles: 
Rock, Rock n Roll, Hard Rock, Metal, Heavy metal.
Influences: 
AC/DC (best band on earth), Angus and Malcom Young (best guitarists on earth), and a little Slash, Daron Malakian and Kyle Gas.
Favourite Food: 
Cheeseburgers from Mcdonald's, Doritos and barbeque shapes.
Favourite TV show: 
Legend of the Seeker, MXC, Supernatural, the Mentalist, stuff like that.
Favourite Quote: 
Don't really have one but I say "huh?" a lot.
Career Highlights: 
Playing in the charity gig "Musicathon" and making my own band.

November 2009 "Student of the Month"

Emma Collins
Axe: 
It's a Legend - like its owner
Amp and Effects: 
NA
Favourite Styles: 
Rock, Blues
Influences: 
Jimmy Page, Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles
Favourite Food: 
Chocolate should have it's own food group!
Favourite TV show: 
Arrested Development, Two and a Half Men, Greys Anatomy
Favourite Quote: 
"Brevity is the soul of wit"
Career Highlights: 
Being awarded The Guitar Gym's Student of the Month; playing for friends

October 2009 "Student of the Month"

Lorraine Seaton
Axe: 
The cheapest one they had!
Amp and Effects: 
N/A
Favourite Styles: 
Rock, Dance/Electronica
Influences: 
The Who, Queen, Oasis
Favourite Food: 
Anything smothered in chocolate
Favourite TV show: 
Greys Anatomy
Career Highlights: 
Being student of the month!

Lorraine would have to be the fastest improving beginner guitarist ever!  After commencing her lessons as part of our Adult Group programme only in July, she is already playing tunes by the Hunters and Collectors, Pete Murray R.E.M and Oasis with great confidence and can even improvise nice blues solos.

Well done Lorraine and keep up the great work!

September 2009 "Student of the Month"

Patrick McDermott
Axe: 
ESP LTD EC-500, Cort G285
Amp and Effects: 
Peavey Envoy 110, Dunlop Wah, Digitech RP150
Favourite Styles: 
Blues, Rock, Metal, Punk
Influences: 
Gary Moore, David Murray & Adrian Smith(Iron Maiden), Angus Young
Favourite Food: 
Lasagne
Favourite TV show: 
Sea Change
Favourite Quote: 
"It's better to burn out than to fade away" - Highlander
Career Highlights: 
The Guitar Gym "Student of the Month", Playing guitar and loving it, Jamming with my nephew

August 2009 "Student of the Month"

Alex Neil
Axe: 
ESP Ltd Horizon, Ibanez RG
Amp and Effects: 
marshall jvm 50 watt head, marshall 1960av cab, fender fm25r, boss me50, boss od1
Favourite Styles: 
progressive rock, 80's shred/hair metal
Influences: 
Eddie Van Halen, Steve Vai, Pink Floyd
Favourite Food: 
Curry
Favourite TV show: 
Vh1 Behind the Music
Career Highlights: 
Rockquest 2004 finalist, Nelson NZ.  Opened the show in front of 7000 people. Opening for Dave Dobbyn.

Shred man Alex Neil has been training with John Freiberg since May 2009.  In that time, Alex has improved greatly in both the technical and theoretical aspects of guitar playing.  With utter commitment and dedication to a career in music, Alex is the deserved recipient of this month's award.

In September Alex is auditioning for a place in the Queensland University of Technology's Bachelor of Music degree.  The Guitar Gym team wish him well and we all hope he is accepted.  We'll keep everyone posted!

June 2009 "Student of the Month"

Timothy Low
Axe: 
Yamaha CS40 acousitc
Amp and Effects: 
N/A
Favourite Styles: 
Blues and Rock
Influences: 
Jimi Hendrix
Favourite Food: 
Noodles
Favourite TV show: 
Wipeout
Career Highlights: 
Playing “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow” at his grandfather’s 80th birthday party for 40 people last month. Gold Award in the Australian Choral Festival 2008 for the Graceville State School Junior Choir.

Working with Amiel Matthews, Tim has proven himself to be a confident young musician and his progress is consistent from week to week.  Credit must also be given to his mum, Liz, who sits in on his lessons and practice sessions at home.  Keep up the great work Tim!

May 2009 "Student of the Month"

Daniel Mahler
Axe: 
Fender Strat 57 reissue; Epiphone Les Paul Custom
Amp and Effects: 
Epiphone Value Junior; Digitech Henrix Multi-effects, Boss RC-2
Favourite Styles: 
Blues, Country, Jazz, Rock-fusion
Influences: 
Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jeff Beck, David Gilmour, Mark Knopfler
Favourite Food: 
Macaroni and Cheese
Favourite TV show: 
TV sucks
Career Highlights: 
Guitarist in the Brisbane Boys College big band, The Guitar Gym's May 2009 "Student of the Month"

"I started playing guitar when I was 12. I first wanted to pick up a guitar because my Dad used to play music from the 60’s and 70’s like Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd and Blue Oyster Cult. My first guitar was a ‘Legend Stratocaster copy’ which I hired from a local shop for 3 months. It was a piece of junk!  Three years ago I moved up to Brisbane from Sydney, and began lessons under John Freiberg at The Guitar Gym.  I listen to artists such as Pink Floyd, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, Blue Oyster Cult, Led Zeppelin, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Aerosmith, Eric Clapton, Danny Gatton and Dire Straits. My Dream setup is an original Fender 57’ Stratocaster and a Fender Bassman Amplifier. Hopefully when I finish school, I’ll be able to get into the Conservatorium and study Jazz."

Daniel is a much deserved recipient of the May Student of the Month award.  His progress this year has been astounding as he maintains a relentless practice regime.  His playing is beginning to mature and is becoming highly stylised and full of flair.  Good work Dan - keep it up!

April 2009 "Student of the Month"

Dan Evans
Axe: 
Epiphone Les Paul
Amp and Effects: 
Roland Cube
Favourite Styles: 
Blues, Alternate Rock
Influences: 
BB King, Johnny Greenwood, Danny Gatton, John Freiberg (thanks Dan!)
Favourite Food: 
Chicken
Favourite TV show: 
Skins
Favourite Quote: 
"Put ALL your eggs in ONE basket" - John Freiberg
Career Highlights: 
Being awarded The Guitar Gym's April 2009 Student Of The Month.

Out of close to 500 students, Dan Evans has without doubt improved at a greater rate than any student John Freiberg has ever had.  Dan has been playing the guitar for just 5 short months and his results are "ridiculously out of this world".  He is completely focused and committed to his playing, waking at 5.30am every morning without fail to train for not less than 1.5 hours before school - and he backs this up with another 1.5 hours each afternoon.

Dan is on the fast track to virtuosity - look out for this guy in the near future!

Note: Dan is pictured here in The Guitar Gym just absolutely ripping it up!  Sorry about the blurred fingers - no super speed shutter!!!

 

March 2009 "Student of the Month"

Zachary “I eat swing charts for breakfast” Degnan
Axe: 
Fender Squire Stratocaster graphic series 'obey'
Amp and Effects: 
Roland Cube and Korg ToneWorks
Favourite Styles: 
Rock, Blues
Influences: 
Jack White and Angus Young
Favourite Food: 
Tacos, swing charts
Favourite TV show: 
Spicks and Specks
Favourite Quote: 
Yes kent!
Career Highlights: 
The Guitar Gym “Student of The Month” and being selected for the Kenmore High big band.

After training with John Freiberg at The Guitar Gym for just under a year, Zach has made tremendous improvements as a musician.  A keen player from the get go, Zach has a mature and diligent approach to practice and the results show.  His harmonic knowledge and improvisational ability are already at the level of musos far beyond his years.  At just 12 years of age, this fresh faced grade 8 lad auditioned for a chair in the Kenmore High Big Band.  Renowned for its strong music extension programme, securing a chair in this band is a great achievement.  Of course,

Syndicate content