RGT Teacher Interview – Darren Currington

Darren Currington Guitar

Darren Currington

In the first edition of this new series of RGT Teacher Interviews, we have been talking to guitar teacher Darren Currington. A multi-instrumentalist, and multi-talented performer and recording musician, Darren teaches students of various background, styles and Grade Levels in the RGT Syllabus.

We were able to talk to Darren about his start with the RGT, how he deals with the nervousness his students feel before exams, and where he is in his own development as a performer and educator.

To learn more about Darren, his teaching and performing, please visit his website for more information.

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RGT: How did you become aware of the RGT, and why do you chose to encourage your students to take RGT guitar exams?

Darren Currington: I met Tony Skinner at the London Guitar Show back in 2005 I think. The RGT had a stand there, and as I was just starting out as a guitar teacher, it was one of those perfect chance meetings.

After talking to Tony for some time about everything the RGT offered, not only teachers but students as well, it became clear that this was the right route for me. Being a member of the RGT has really helped me to grow as a teacher, and has allowed me to offer my students more because of the help and materials that the RGT offers.

As for encouraging my students to take RGT exams, for me it helps the students to measure their own progress as a player and enables them to see clear goals that they can then achieve. It gives them a focus within the lesson times, as well as in their own practice sessions.

RGT: What do you find is the biggest challenge when preparing a student for an upcoming RGT exam?

Darren: I think the biggest challenge is getting the student to stop focusing on the exam itself, and think more about playing. As soon as you say the word exam to someone, they freeze up and immediately think it’s going to be hard. Even thinking we are out to trick them. I like to get those thoughts out of their head from the start and make it all about the playing.

Apart from that, it’s ensuring that the student plays things in the correct way. As someone that has been playing for 20 years, you pick up little habits of doing things that are not always the “correct” way of doing things, fingering scales for example. So you have to make sure that you don’t teach your bad habits, and keep the student practicing things the correct way.

Darren Currington Guitar 1

Darren Currington

RGT: Most students, if not all, deal with nervousness on some level either before or during their exams. How do you address this issue with your students in their lessons?

Darren: I just reassure the student that the exam will be no different from what we do in the lesson. They will be sitting down in front of someone like me that just wants to hear them play, watch what they can do, and ultimately help them become a better player. I tell the students they have nothing to lose. And above all, just play like it was any other lesson, just in a different room.

RGT: As someone that holds a Dip Mus, do you see yourself continuing your own study and exam taking, or are you focusing more on the teaching side of things these days?

Darren: Definitely. Studying is something I enjoy doing, especially when music is involved. I think as a musician, let alone as a guitarist, there is always something new to learn and something new to figure out, or something I could understand better.

The plan for me is to, at some point, finish my degree and then move on to something else. Studying different styles and genres of music is something I am really interested in, and having looked at everything from Jazz, Blues and Classical to African and Indonesian music in the past, it has really made me approach music in a different way. When I am working on projects, it has given me the ability to experiment more and try out different things in order to produce exciting sounds and melodies.

I don’t think that you can ever know everything, and the great thing about playing and studying music is you can learn new things from everyone old and young. I may even carry on taking my drum exams at some point, as I currently hold Grade 2 Distinction on kit!

RGT: If you had one piece of advice for other guitar teachers that are preparing students for RGT exams, what would it be?

Darren: It’s probably an obvious one, but when you are using songs and solos to help better understand the chords or scales, or whatever it is, pick tunes that the student likes and make it as relevant to their musical taste as possible.

There is nothing worse than having to learn something for a grade and using a piece of music that the student doesn’t know or recognize. It’s sometimes hard to find things that fit for the student, but in the end it’s worth it. Ultimately, all we want is happy students. After all, that’s what makes us happy as teachers.

 About Darren Currington

Darren Currington has been playing guitar for over 17 years now, and teaching for almost a decade. Based in Medway, UK, he enjoys working in a location with such a vibrant local music scene.

Over the years, Darren has been involved in many projects playing with function bands as well as being involved with a Jazz quartet, an Indie/Rock band and even fronting a Blues band, (hey it’s only 3 chords!). Away from bands, he has done studio work for various performers, and also worked on many musicals.

Away from playing Guitar, Darren is still very much involved in music. Recently, he has gotten into recording and mixing, working with a friend who has a studio in deal. He has also done sound engineering for productions of “Legally Blonde the Musical,” as well as various other shows.

Darren plays drums as well, so is occasionally seen behind a kit when not doing everything else on his musical plate. Find out more about Darren by visiting his website.

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