Steve Dempsey

Principal Tutor / Owner & founder of Riffs   

John Dean

Tutor - Guitar / Bass / Music Tech

John bought his first guitar in 1996 at the age of 16 after seeing Oasis at their famous gig at Maine Road in Manchester. He soon discovered a natural talent for the instrument and under the guidance of his tutor Paul Brown he improved rapidly and In 1998 he was accepted onto a music course at the prestigious Guitar Institute in London. Aged 19 he joined Bad Dog, a blues band with whom he played for 10 years before they disbanded and also tried his hand at various original bands before deciding to concentrate on teaching the guitar. After building up a small number of pupils whilst teaching from home a friend recommended John to Steve at Riffs Music Academy. John has now taught at the school for over 4 years and has since been promoted to the position of senior tutor. Whilst teaching John attended an 18 month course in audio engineering and recording techniques at The School of Sound Recording in Manchester and achieved a Distinction grade at the end of the course. He now puts these skills to use at Riffs Music Factory, a recording/rehearsal studio in Stockport where he divides his time between recording band demos and radio adverts. His love of music spreads across a wide range of styles beginning initially with dance music before getting into Indie, rock and blues. His teaching career has exposed him to all forms of music and he takes great pleasure from playing in any genre. During his spare time John enjoys walking, running and mountain biking.

Michael Grubert

Guitar/Bass Tutor

I started taking classical guitar lessons the age of 12 after seeing a family friend perform some classical guitar pieces at a party. At 13, after being introduced to rock music by my dad and my brother, I made it my mission to save up and buy an electric guitar. Six months later, after delivering many thousands of newspapers, I was the proud owner of a Squire Stratocaster and a small practice amp. Whilst still taking classical guitar lessons, I spent most of my teenage years gigging with original rock bands, sporting some very baggy jeans and very long hair. By the age of 17, I had decided I needed to make music my full time occupation. I began teaching guitar lessons privately and enrolled on a BTEC course in popular music as well as taking on a Saturday job in a guitar shop. After completing my BTEC, I began my degree at the Manchester College, completing it at Salford University in 2010. During my time at college and university, I focused mainly on my guitar playing but I also learned about composition, recording techniques, performance psychology and music theory. During this time I continued to perform and record with original bands and also decided to take a more structured approach to teaching. I completed a level 3 teaching certificate for which I had to deliver lectures to the first year students and study the psychology behind teaching. After finishing Uni I began working as full time private music tutor whilst still making time for session work and creative projects. I still try to spend as much time as I can studying the guitar and I love passing on the knowledge to people who want to learn. It always makes me very happy when I see my students progressing and see them achieving their goals.

Dario Nikzad

Guitar Tutor

Jonathan Pattison

Guitar Tutor

I have been playing guitar now for 12 years and was originally inspired to pick it up by many different influences, such as bands like Oasis, Kula Shaker and Ocean Colour Scene to name but a few. I was a Student of Riffs where I achieved a grade 8 distinction and as I developed musically my tastes changed and I started listening to Hendrix and Clapton. These days, I listen to a wide range of musical styles from Sea Sick Steve to avenge sevenfold, kings of Leon to Steve Vai, Vivaldi to kid rock. I believe learning should be a fun process and I strive to create a musically sound learning environment whilst still maintaining the fun aspect of music. So whilst you will need to know the foundations, we will rock with it too! The greatest aspect of teaching is watching someone develop into an awesome guitar player and see them having fun with it.

Carl Fitzpatrick

Guitar Tutor

Jamie Brewster

Bass Tutor

Jamie's early days saw him inspired by Queen, later grunge acts such as Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Stone Temple Pilots. During his time in the Sefton Youth Jazz Orchestra he discovered the likes of Jaco Pastorius and Marcus Miller and was greatly influenced by Stuart Zender, the original bass player of Jamiroquai.

As a player, he has supported, among others, Biffy Clyro, Fighting with Wire, Twin Atlantic and Eighties Matchbox B-Line Distaster with his long term Liverpool-based alternative rock band Ji. Recently he has started working with singer-songwriters Rachael Wright and Jen Hughes and contributed towards the new album from UK Drum and Bass legends EZ Rollers

Louise Johnston

Vocal & Piano Tutor

Louise Johnston is an experienced arranger, composer, choir deliverer and Professional singer. She is a lead singer in a variety of wedding and events bands including Soul and Motown band ‘Honey and the Blue Notes’. She is also lead singer and co-songwriter for an original Alternative Manchester band ‘Those Little Anodynes’ and recently the singer and co-writer for an Electronica trio. Her other projects include singing and arranging for professional popular music A cappella choir ‘The Voice Collective’. Louise is a 1st Class Honours Music Graduate and the Goff Jazz Performance Award Winner 2010. Including Riffs Music Academy she also teaches for various schools and colleges in and around Manchester.

Taylor Giacoma

Piano,Vocal & Music Theory Tutor

Singer-songwriter-pianist Taylor Giacoma is quickly becoming known on the indie music scene for a distinctive style that has been described both as folky pop and poppy folk - and is probably neither. Originally learning to sing and play piano by ear and later classically-trained, her music is both easily accessible and remarkably complex. Her lyrics are unusually intellectual and highly narrative, taking the listener on uniquely intimate and yet wonderfully universal journeys of love, loss, and perseverance. Her beautiful voice captivates listeners with an extraordinary range and strength that betrays her petite frame.  Taylor has been teaching at Riffs since Aug 2009.

Diane Inglis

Piano / Theory Tutor

I started playing piano at the tender age of six and am still playing the same piano 43 years later - just goes to show that like me the old ones are the best!   I progressed through the grades to an ALCM teaching diploma and also had a go at clarinet, violin and saxophone along the way. I like all sorts of music, from Beethoven to Bob Dylan, with the atmospheric sounds of Pink Floyd being a particular favourite. I have been teaching privately for several years and before that taught keyboard to groups of pupils, ranging in age from eight to 80. 

Mark Hooper

Drum Tutor

I have been playing the drums as long as I can remember, following in the footsteps of my dad by picking up some sticks. Since then I have formed and been part of many bands performing at gigs, concerts, party's and musicals playing all types of music. Recently I graduated from University where I studied for a BA (Hons) in Music and then subsequently completing a Master's in Performance. I now work full time as a self-employed Musician and Teacher, working with bands and artists all around the North West and teaching both Privately and at Riffs Music Academy. My drumming hero's include John Bonham, Phil Collins, Steve Gadd, Jeff Porcaro, Billy Cobham,Vinnie Colauita and Gavin Harrison to name but a few.

Laurie Agnew

Drum Tutor

My dad played drums which was a big influance on me so I started playing at the age of 6 when I was given my first snare drum which had 'Laurie The Loud' written on it. I started playing in bands at the age of 14 and went on to study music and music technology at college. I graduated from Salford University in 2009 with an upper 2:1 degree in Popular Music and Recording.

I am experienced in a variety of styles - ranging from Rock/Indie, Pop, Funk, Dance, RnB, Hip Hop and Jazz/Fusion. I perform regularly across the north west in both private and public venues playing in both original and covers bands.

I also run a percussion workshop company who specialise in African percussion, Samba bands and recycled instrument workshops and will be looking to incorporate this into the services we offer at Riffs.

Debbie Harrison

Head of Admin / Owner                 

Andrea Mach

Head Receptionist

Holly Walsh                                 

Receptionist                                                                     

  All Riffs Tutors Are C.R.B Checked

All Our Guitar & Bass Tutors Are Registered With The Registry of Guitar Tutors