1000 Lessons, 100 Students Giveaway
Hello everyone.
In Justin’s January newsletter he announced the news that I have, this week, reached two incredible milestones in my work as a JustinGuitar Approved Teacher.
To mark this, I wish, first and foremost, to thank each and every one of the students who have booked one-to-one lessons with me. Some people wanted just a single lesson, others have taken many lessons over a long period. I appreciate each and every one.
Additionally, I want to thank everyone in the Community who, directly or indirectly, knowingly or otherwise, took me to a position where I had the confidence and courage to take the leap into the unknown, to become a ‘guitar teacher’.
Thanks also to Rick for noticing the news and starting this topic.
You have all given me so much. And I wish to give something back (pay something forward).
I want to express my gratitude too for the support I have received from my fellow Approved Teachers, the wonderful JG team and, of course, Justin, without whom none of this would have happened.
End of Oscar’s speech!! 
As I announced during Vintage Club #32, I will be hosting a prize draw on Monday 9th February. There will be four prize winners.
- 3 x free guitar lesson with Richard Coles
- 1 x subscription to JustinGuitar Strumming SOS
To enter, there are two simple requirements.
- Register for the JustinGuitar monthly newsletter
- Register for Vintage Club #33 - Strumming Help! on February 9th 2026
That is it.
I will make a live draw during Vintage Club #33.
A little background.
For most of my working life I was a school teacher. Initially in primary schools (ages 7-11), then in a Special Educational Needs setting, then, for the largest part, as a Mathematics teacher in secondary schools (ages 11-16). In 2018 I took a side step, and a massive drop in salary, to work as an intervention teacher for children through a local education authority. Redundancy forced a drastic rethink in 2022. At that same time, spring of 2022, Justin introduced the Approved Teacher Scheme. I made a decision. From that moment I have have made my living freelance, mainly providing private online tuition in Mathematics, and Guitar, plus other bits of paid work, including some in a behind-the-scenes role for JG.
A simple calculation - 1000 guitar lessons in almost four years - will tell you that I am far, very far indeed, from being a millionaire! Indeed, my income now is about one-third what it would have been had I remained as a school teacher. But - and this is the biggest win for me - I am happy and healthy and I love what I do. Plus I no longer suffer from extreme stress.
All’s well that ends well eh!!
End of autobiographical content.
I wish you luck if you choose to enter and I hope to see you at the next Vintage Club.
Richard
…and well , who knows what else it will bring, but extreme stress-free is almost priceless …
