about Chris Harper

the beginning

Hello everyone, my journey to becoming a guitar teacher is a long and varied one. Growing up in Reading I started playing the guitar at the relatively late age of 13. I took to it quickly though and was soon playing a variety of styles and performing in bands with schoolmates around town. I had lessons in rock, classical, blues, and jazz from quality local performers which gave me a solid grounding in techniques and styles. Also I studied music at school and attended extra-curricular music theory lessons which culminated in me passing Grade 8 Theory at the age of 17.

Once I left school I became a guitar teacher full-time in the school that I had just left whilst performing in the area in an experimental rock band.

london and beyond

Three years later I moved to London and spent 5 years studying classical music at Goldsmiths College achieving a BMus Honours Degree and an MMus Masters Degree in Composition.

Since then I’ve moved around the country (up to the midlands and then down to Bristol) and performed and written for a wide variety of ensembles taking in flamenco, blues, folk-rock and Music Theatre (amongst other styles) all the while teaching a large number of students of all ages and interests.

bristol

Now I live in Bristol and teach guitar and perform for a living. My creative interests are satisfied by my band Hangover Square and I still play classical and flamenco guitar as often as possible. I’m also performing in a rock/pop covers duo called Champagne Parade

I’ve done many different things and I really enjoy passing on the knowledge that I’ve accumulated so if what you’ve read interests you please do get in touch, I’m sure I can help you learn!

Video

Here’s a clip from a concert I gave in 2009 at the Sir John Moore Foundation in Appleby Magna. I’m playing ‘Una Limosnita por amor de dios’ by Agustin Barrios Mangore:

My latest creative project is called Hangover Square, ‘root-rock with ethereal edges’:

And here’s me playing as part of a flamenco-inspired ensemble at The Peepul Centre in Leicester:

I get to explore my love of slide playing with this band: