I started playing guitar around the age of 16 after being inspired by my brother playing a few Oasis songs over the summer holidays. Having played a variety of instruments in primary school I threw myself into teaching myself the basics.

After a few years of making loud noises in his bedroom I became absorbed with the instrument and as such decided to enrol on a Performing Musician course at Blackburn College. Whilst on the course I took my Rockschool Grades 3 and 5 and going from strength to strength I finished the course with a special award for achievement and decided to try and make a career out of music. I enrolled at the prestigious Guitar Institute in London and moved down there after the summer.

Having been in London for only a few weeks I was asked to join an already established band called Taming The Insane. I drew on the knowledge I gained having been taught by some of the best teachers in Europe at the Guitar Institute and proceeded to build on the band's reputation, achieving impressive results in a short space of time; getting the band's demo played in one of London's hottest rock clubs, going on a mini-tour of the UK and negotiating a contract with a professional management company. During this time I also started teaching privately from my home in London, teaching players of all abilities in a range of styles.

Having had a successful time in London. I chose to move back to Preston and formalize all my years of experience by taking my Rockschool Grade 8 and ABRSM Grade 5 Theory. Having taken myself through the Rockschool exam and receiving tuition from a local teacher for the theory, I achieved distinctions in both.

I am currently enjoying an increasing portfolio of live work including the two function bands, Orchadia and Holding On, and writing songs for a rock band which will be playing original music and a selection of covers. As well as this I am continuing my studies and am working towards my grade 8 theory, focusing on harmony and arrangement. Over the course of the next few months I will be choosing a selection of my compositions and posting the audio as well as some select pages from the scores on the Media page. I have also decided to take myself through the ABRSM Classical Guitar syllabus in my spare time.

Si's Qualifications Include:

• Rockschool Grade 8 Performance - Distinction
• ABRSM Grade 5 Theory of Music - Distinction
• Rockschool Grades 3 & 5 - Merits
• ICMP - Formerly "The Guitar Institute" London, Level 1 & 2 Diplomas
• Blackburn College Performing Musicians Course Level 3 Diploma
• Blackburn College Advanced Certificate in Popular Music Practice
• Cardinal Newman College Music Tech AS Level