The Academy Guitar Course, led by David Hawkins, is an exciting new

feature in the musical year. It will take place in the first week of July 2012

in the Tullamore GAA Hall, under the auspices of The Academy of Music.

This course is open to young guitar-players aged 10 to 15 and is not

limited to students of the Academy. Some basic guitar playing

experience is necessary to get the most out of the course but the overall

aim will be to have the opportunity to build players confidence and

enjoy music making in a group setting.

The guitar is one of the world's most popular instruments and in this

course you will explore how the guitar is used to play many different

styles of music such as Rock, Blues, Pop, Country and Funk. You'll receive

experience playing from chord charts and learn how to use music theory

practically. You will also be able to study the work of the most famous

guitar players and work on getting a good sound from your guitar.

David Hawkins is an Honours Music Graduate of N.U.I Maynooth. He has

studied guitar from a very young age and has extensive professional

experience as a Guitar soloist and has worked with many different genres

and styles of guitar playing. He has much work as a classical guitarist but

has also played with various music groups and bands.

Slide, Folk, Blues and Rock are among his favorite styles. Other instruments

of his professional teaching include harmonica, banjo and mandolin. He

was a member of the Maynooth Guitar Orchestra for many years and

most recently was chosen to be an irish member of the Internationally

renowned “Diversus Guitar Ensemble” who recently performed to

high critical acclaim in Dublins’ National Concert Hall.

David has many years professional experience as a one-to-one teacher

and also in the classroom. He is a Guitar teacher at the Academy and works

with individuals and groups to bring them through examinations in the

varyious different guitar styles that are available.

His passion for guitar is so much so that he also studied guitar making

and is a graudate of the Wexford school of Instrument making.

He has thus far worked on making three guitars and his current work in

progress is, a Weissenborn Slide Guitar made from Hawaaiian Koa wood.

These will of course be a feature of the Academy Guitar Course. He also

enjoys making his own guitar effects pedals and has a keen interest in

guitar repair and setting up a guitar to play its best. He is also an avid

singer and is a member of the Academy Chamber Choir.