Tom develops his base playing skills beyond his years

A Typical Start

Tom is 12 years old, plays bass guitar, and has been part of the Rock Academy holiday programme for nearly three years. Watching his musical journey has been a great reminder that learning doesn’t always happen in a straight line — and that fun is often the first step.

When Tom first joined us at our holiday programme, he was a very typical nine-year-old. His main focus was having fun: activities like playing four-square, table tennis, running around the hall like a headless chicken, and soaking up the energy of the programme. Every now and then, he’d pick up a guitar and strum a few chords, but music wasn’t yet his main priority — and that was perfectly okay.

Discovering the Bass Guitar

We continued to gently encourage Tom to play, always keeping things relaxed and pressure-free. Over time, something clicked, and Tom decided that the bass guitar was the instrument he really wanted to play.

After chatting with Susan, Tom’s mum, we recommended picking up a bass from our good friends at Weta Guitars. Susan found a very good-quality second-hand bass, and Tom began bringing it along to the holiday programme.

Taking the Next Step: Lessons

Tom’s progress was slow but steady, and before long I suggested that some one-on-one lessons could help him move forward. Susan was understandably a little hesitant, so we agreed to start with just 10 lessons with Thorin, one of our bass tutors.

Those 10 lessons made a huge difference. Tom’s confidence, focus, and technique improved so much that Susan decided to continue the lessons — and they haven’t stopped since.

Playing Beyond His Years

Today, Tom plays bass with a level of maturity well beyond his 12 years. His timing, musical awareness, and commitment are impressive, and it’s been amazing to watch him grow into his instrument.

Why We Love Stories Like This

Stories like Tom’s are why we do what we do. Not every young musician starts off focused or technically advanced. Sometimes they begin by simply having fun and exploring. When the time is right, and with the right encouragement, we introduce tools that accelerate their learning — and suddenly they’re playing at a level well beyond their years.