Our Tutors & Staff.
If you’re a Motivated And Passionate Tutor With Experience To Teaching either Guitar/Bass, Drums or Piano for all levels (Grades Pre - 8), All Ages from 7yrs, All music types (rock, pop, blues, funk, jazz etc.) All certifications (RSL, LCM, RGT, etc.) Please send us your CV.
Steve Dempsey.
Principal Tutor - Teaches Guitar, Bass & Ukulele
Steve started playing at age six, learning open chords and strumming patterns. After a few years Steve took classical guitar lessons where he learnt more complex chord shapes, scales and fingerstyle. Steve’s early guitar education was taken on acoustic guitar this changed in his early teens when he learnt how to adapt his acoustic knowledge to both lead and rhythm electric guitar. Steve continued onto College where he studied popular music & recording, his first pro gig was at age sixteen, since then he has gone on to play countless gigs with many bands and solo musician’s up and down the country acting as both a band member and as a session musician.
Jonny Pattison.
Teaches Guitar, Bass & Ukulele
Jonny is unique amongst the Riffs teaching team as from the age of 14 he was taught by the founder of Riffs which has given him a real understanding of Riffs teaching ethics. He has been playing guitar for 12 years and was one of the first students at Riffs to attain the coveted Grade 8 qualification. Jonny was originally influenced by many different bands of the time, bands such as Oasis, Kula Shaker and Ocean Colour Scene. As he developed musically his tastes and influences changed towards Hendrix, Clapton, Steve Vai and Robert Fripp. Jonny's musical repertoire is vast spanning many styles and decades of music, and whilst maintaining a fun creative environment he also provides a solid structured learning environment. Jonny has been teaching at Riffs since 2005
Matt Hart
Teaches Electric & Acoustic Guitar
I started playing guitar at the age of 6, and took up lessons at Riffs a year later when I was 7. I quickly progressed to Grade 5 before I got to high school and went on to achieving very high marks in all of my grades. Since then I have studied music relentlessly, whether it be through school/college or being in various bands across Manchester. I now study at Salford Universitity doing a Popular Music and Recording course, where I am excelling as a guitar player. Originally my influences were bands like Oasis and the Arctic Monkeys but this soon turned into guys like Hendrix, Joe Satriani and Stevie Ray Vaughan. However, over the recent years I have been more and more interested in other genres of music such as Jazz and Funk, bringing a much wider repertoire of different styles and genres. I have 16 years of guitar playing experience that I would love to share with you all.
Jamie Boyles
Teaches: Drums
Jamie began playing drums at the age of 10, with much of his formative years spent playing in brass bands and volunteering with the carnival arts organization, Global Grooves, where he got the opportunity to participate twice on the residential arts course, Future Leaders. Shortly after completing school, he achieved a distinction in his Trinity Grade 8 drums exam. He then studied popular music performance at The Manchester College, at which time he got his first taste of playing live jazz on Munch Manship’s Jazz Foundations course, as well as commencing 1-1 study with renown UK drum teacher Dave Hassell. This led him to gain a place on the National Youth Jazz Collective summer short course. When he was 17, he won The Robinson Award from the organization Future talent.
Jamie then went on to study jazz drum kit at The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire for 3 years and since moving back to Manchester in July 2024 he has continued to progress his career. As well as teaching at Riffs he also teaches drums at several schools in the Tameside and Oldham areas,and plays with Manchester bands Legs on Wheels, Thiara Collective, and leads his own jazz trio.
Paul Shaw.
Teaches Piano/Keyboards.
Paul has been a regular performer in and around the Manchester Music scene for over 30 years. He initially studied Piano from the age of 7 and then graduated to keyboards as a teenager. He later studied a B.A in Band Musicianship at Salford University, graduating with 1st Class Hons. From 1999 he lectured and led courses in music at The Manchester College (formerly MANCAT), the courses included BTEC National Diploma/ Certificate and Foundation Degree. Subject areas included Composition, Performance, Songwriting, Theory/Harmony and Keyboard Skills. Paul continues to compose and arrange in various styles, in 2005 a track co-written with a friend was record of the week on radio 1 and number 1 in the dance charts. Paul also possesses a PGCAP (post graduate cert in Academic Practice), and is a member of the Higher Education Authority, he is also a member of PRS (performing Rights Society) and MCPS (Mechanical Copyright Protection Society). Paul continues to work with various musicians in diverse styles from Pop / Swing to Opera.
Dale Burns
Teaches Drums
Brad Hughes
Teaches: Drums
Brad has discovered his passion for teaching drums after starting lessons at Riffs at a young age. Starting with 90s rock hits and Grade music. Achieving high distinctions in Grade music, and years on studying complex music such as fusion music and heavier rock music. Brad enjoys working with all genres and styles in studio and live on stage. Playing countless gigs all around Manchester with the band he formed “Picture Nova” which he started during his time at Spirit Studios University doing an Audio Engineering and Live Sound Bachelors Of Science Degree. Brad’s influences are the likes of Stewart Copeland, Kaz Rodriguez and Taylor Hawkins. Brad has always had the ultimate passion of creating and teaching music. Ranging from ska, reggae, pop, rap, new wave, rock all the way to metal and alternative/indie music. Brad is also a mixing and mastering engineer and producer in the studio aswell as recently picking up bass guitar to write and record his own solo music aside from the band. Under the name “Mophead” where Brad writes and records all parts drums, guitars and vocals. Going for a new wave punk style.
Debbie Dempsey
Administration & General enquiries
Debbie is there to answer any questions regarding bookings, rearrangments & payments.