Kevin Downing's Guitar School

18/06/2026

🎸😀 Congratulations to Daniel Khademi - Our Hero Of The Month 😀🎸

From Daniel – I had expressed interest in playing guitar to my dad, who gave me his old acoustic he used to play and signed me up for lessons. I found it quite enjoyable and it helped me form a deeper connection with music, leading to me making it a hobby that stuck with me. I eventually joined Kevin Downing's School where I swapped to modern music and got an electric guitar to match.

I was introduced to the pentatonic scale when I started learning how to play improvised solos. The solos that I had heard other guitarists seemingly pull out of thin air finally clicked, and what I had thought would be an impossible feat for myself started to look within grasp.

The jam sessions were a great way to train my ears, improving my ability to 'read a groove,' bridging the gap between theory and application. They also helped my playing endurance, getting me used to keeping a guitar part going for a while in a band setting. In the future I hope to join a band and compose some of my own songs as I discover my own unique style.

From the Guitar School team – Daniel, you were selected as Hero of the Month for your overall work ethic, and the fact that you crossed over from classical guitar to modern guitar, which is not easy. But your classical guitar background really helped you with musical theory, note reading and understanding. This has helped you tremendously getting ahead quickly. You have got the right mindset to be a great player at the highest level. We are all very proud of your efforts Daniel.

If you would like to be like Daniel, then get in touch with us here at the guitar school so we can fast track your musical progress.

05/06/2026

Congratulations to our student, Hunter Browne, and his band for winning the local Rock Quest a couple of weeks ago. Hunter certainly has a great musical future ahead of him.

Alternative rock band Watercolour is starting to grab attention with their performances.

26/05/2026

Last Call - Only 8 tickets left for Thursday night.
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1494855459102012&set=pb.100057327165201.-2207520000

One Night Only — David Becker with the 101 Lab Band
An exceptional evening of guitar, at the highest level.

Internationally acclaimed, Grammy & Emmy–nominated guitarist David Becker joins the 101 Lab Band, with guest singer Erna Ferry, directed by renowned educator Kevin Downing, for a rare and powerful collaboration.
Blending precision, energy, and musical depth, the 101 Lab Band has become New Zealand’s most distinctive large guitar ensemble. For this special performance, David Becker returns to work closely with the group—presenting original compositions written exclusively for them, alongside a refined selection of jazz, blues, funk, and rock.
This is not a typical concert. It’s a one-night-only performance bringing together international artistry and a uniquely crafted ensemble sound.
Seats are limited. Early booking is strongly recommended.
📅 28 May 2026: 🕗 8:00pm: 📍 Globe Theatre
🎟 Tickets can be purchased directly through a Lab Band member.
Or online at
https://nz.patronbase.com/_GlobeTheatre/Productions/MJ3/Performances

04/05/2026

One Night Only — David Becker with the 101 Lab Band
An exceptional evening of guitar, at the highest level.

Internationally acclaimed, Grammy & Emmy–nominated guitarist David Becker joins the 101 Lab Band, with guest singer Erna Ferry, directed by renowned educator Kevin Downing, for a rare and powerful collaboration.
Blending precision, energy, and musical depth, the 101 Lab Band has become New Zealand’s most distinctive large guitar ensemble. For this special performance, David Becker returns to work closely with the group—presenting original compositions written exclusively for them, alongside a refined selection of jazz, blues, funk, and rock.
This is not a typical concert. It’s a one-night-only performance bringing together international artistry and a uniquely crafted ensemble sound.
Seats are limited. Early booking is strongly recommended.
📅 28 May 2026: 🕗 8:00pm: 📍 Globe Theatre
🎟 Tickets can be purchased directly through a Lab Band member.
Or online at
https://nz.patronbase.com/_GlobeTheatre/Productions/MJ3/Performances

26/03/2026

🎸😀 Congratulations to Mike Vallance - Our Hero of the month 😀🎸

Before taking lessons properly, I had the misconception that beginners played open-chords and good players played barre-chords. Seriously, I can't begin to list all the things I've had to "unlearn" over the years.

After I read Kevin's book "The Secrets of Successful Practicing for Guitarists", my practicing went from random to fully focused. It was this book that initially convinced me to get lessons instead of trying to follow books from the town library (YouTube didn't exist back then lol).

Playing with others is fun, and is how you get seriously good quickly. Nothing improved my playing faster than joining in the jam sessions.

Playing for an audience is a great privilege and the most fun you'll have with music, even when things go wrong! Make the most of it. You'll get to play with some big names at Kevin's Guitar School. Getting to play on stage with legends such as Mike Stern and Chris Cain and receiving compliments from the late Rodger Fox are memories I will keep forever.

For the future I am looking forward to jamming with some of the amazing people I have met here, and performing more concerts with the Lab Band who play with some of the world's best artists.

From the Guitar School team – You are living proof that anybody can take up music, develop the talent over time, and get to play with and become friends with some of the world's top artists. The biggest part of your success is sticking with it and never giving up, even when things get a bit difficult. We congratulate you and are very proud you are part of our school community.

19/12/2025

07/11/2025

🎸😀 Congratulations to Flynn Murphy - Our Hero Of The Month 😀🎸

Flynn's words - I started lessons 3 years ago with the school, and what I like most about the lessons is when I learn something that I can play at home, like a song I've heard before on the radio, and when Kevin tells jokes.

One of the best things about the lessons is learning big chords that are over 3 strings, (that was a while ago), playing riffs, and playing together with other students, because I hear it differently. If you're going to learn a new skill, you need to repeat it a lot for muscle memory, that is one of the biggest non-musical things I have learnt.

Kevin is a nice teacher, and he has a lot of good knowledge to share. He's a great guitarist so you can learn some cool stuff from him. The lessons are great, especially when I have someone else in my group to play with. I look forward to my lessons on Friday mornings, because my lesson is on Friday afternoon.

From Renee, Flynn's mother, it's been amazing seeing Flynn progress. He started playing an acoustic guitar and has moved on to an electric guitar. It's a joy to see him practicing and playing riffs that I recognize. I really like Kevin's approach to teaching. He makes it fun and teaches the kids to experiment with sound - highly recommended.

From the guitar school team – We are very proud of you Flynn. For a few reasons, you are sticking with it, that is where success happens; you are a great guy to teach; and we have a lot of fun. And special thanks to his parents for being very supportive, as without their help, not much happens.

If you would like to be like Flynn, then get in touch with us here at the guitar school so we can fast track your musical progress.

16/10/2025

🎸😀 Congratulations to Josh Leamy-King - Our Hero Of The Month 😀🎸

From Josh: – I started guitar lessons when I was about 8 years old. Back then the guitar felt massive in my hands, but once I learned a few songs, I was hooked and wanted to keep going.

Lessons have given me so much confidence, not just with guitar but as a musician overall. Kevin, Brenda, and Joella have all helped me grow heaps in performing, and that's carried over into so many areas. Now I write my own songs, busk with both guitar and voice, and even do musical theatre. I've also got way better at improvising, which has made me more creative.

One of the things I've loved the most has been the jams and the Lab band. Playing with others pushes you to listen and adapt, and the buzz of performing live with a group is awesome. A real highlight was getting the chance to play with Carl Verheyen of Supertramp, that's something not many people ever get to do.

Thinking about it now, I started from scratch ten years ago and I'm already playing with some of the best musicians in the world. That's pretty unreal. If anyone's thinking about starting lessons but feels a bit unsure, I'd just say go for it. The lessons are fun, the teachers are supportive, and you'll be surprised how far you can go if you stick with it.

From the guitar school team: – you had the passion, put in the effort, and stuck with it, now you are reaping the rewards. Yes, very few people will ever get to play with Carl Verheyen in their lives. Now you know that dreams can come true if you stick with it.

If you would like to be like Josh, then get in touch with us here at the guitar school so we can fast track your musical progress.

02/10/2025

Here is Caley Skinner playing Robben Ford's Cannonball Shuffle. This was taken at the recent Blues, Roots, & Grooves Festival held in Palmerston North.

Cannonball Shuffle (written by Robben Ford and used with his permission) was performed by the 101 Lab Band at the Globe Theatre September 5th, 2025, as part ...

10/09/2025

Here is a video from the Lab Band's recent Jazz & Blues Festival performance.

D.C. Blues (written by Chris Buzzelli and uploaded with permission) was performed by the 101 Lab Band at the Globe Theatre May 29th, 2025, as part of the Man...