New - video tutorials

Here is the first batch of video tutorials we promised you earlier this week - starting with - Choosing the right guitar for you.

Choosing a guitar - part 1

Choosing a guitar - part 2

Choosing a guitar - part 3

Don't forget to give us your comments please - your feedback is very important to us in taking this new idea forward - thank you Al 'n' Ray

Websites up again

Thanks everyone for your patience. The ganda and Al n Ray websites are now up and running again!

New Book

Our latest publication, "Guitar Beginners and Improvers music book" is now available from Amazon. It's the result of several years' material that we've tested and tried with many individual students,and our evening class and residential weekend pupils. Have a look if you're needing "Tunes from basics to baroque and blues" (as we sub-title it). Guitar Teachers have already given it good reviews; watch out for more. We'll keep you posted!

Click here to go to Amazon

Video Tutorials

Hi everyone, we are about to look at some new fresh ideas for the blog.

Starting today, and for the next few weeks, we will be presenting video clips for you to view and send us your much needed comments and feedback

Your feedback is very important to us in helping us to understand your needs and what you would like us to do in the future. So, to whet your appetite, we are soon to present our first round of video tutorials covering how to choose a guitar.

If you would like to see other tutorials in this series please visit our website which we are currently developing at alnray.co.uk

Please, please send us your comments (good, bad and indifferent) it will help us to create a better blog suited to your needs.

Wonderful Dillington

We had a brilliant weekend at Dillington. The "No Boundaries Crew," as I named them, were so enthusiastic and keen to learn new skills and tunes that we very rapidly had them all playing as a band. Such a great group of people too. It was really special, so thanks Chris and Cecil, Beryl (Bella), Tony and Linda. I believe we may well be seeing you at one or other of the next courses.....???

Speaking of which, next up is our popular Improvers Acoustic Guitar weekend in March. Bookings are coming in already so contact Dillington if you want to ensure your space. dillington @somerset.gov.uk

We follow this with a Creative Music Weekend in May.

Al & Ray: Latest News

Al & Ray: Latest News: Firstly apologies to anyone who's been trying to contact us via the ganda or alnray.co.uk websites. We have a problem with hosting at the m...

Latest News

Firstly apologies to anyone who's been trying to contact us via the ganda or alnray.co.uk websites. We have a problem with hosting at the moment which will hopefully be sorted soon. In the meantime, please use the Facebook message facility.

We're both back in the swing of things after Christmas with a hectic few weeks ahead!

First up is our No Boundaries Acoustic Band Weekend at Dillington, near Ilminster, Somerset, starting this coming Friday 20th January. This is designed for any acoustic instrument player who wants to break out of his or her solo isolation and join with others learning the tips and tricks of playing in a band. Apart from our tuition services, and meeting like-minded people, Dillington is a fabulous place to spend a weekend. Most of us go home a stone or two heavier and the standard of accommodation is excellent. Details from dillington@somerset.gov.uk, website address www.dillington.com

Our successful series of acoustic guitar improvers evening classes in Warminster starts Thursday 26th January. Sorry if you're interested, but we're fully booked! Contact us to register an interest and get further details of the next one. However, we still have places available on our beginners evening class, again in Warminster. This one starts on Friday 27th January. Come and learn to play in a sociable atmosphere!

Published late last year was our new , "Guitar beginners and improvers music book". It's proving very popular with teachers. A gently progressive collection of material specifically arranged for starter guitarists, tried, tested and used by a large number of our students. Available from Amazon.

If you're disappointed or just can't wait for the next acoustic guitar improvers evening class, then we're back at Dillington from 2nd-4th March for a whole weekend. Or you might want to try something completely different; May 18th-20th is our Creative Music weekend. Writing melodies, songs and just generally being, as its name implies, creative with music is our aim. All welcome!

Al and I have had a number of what a friend of mine calls "Gollum" moments over Christmas. He's got a new Tenor Guitar and I have a guitar-bodied Bouzouki and a new F5 mandolin.......so many instruments, so little time.........