At work in Champaign, USA © Dave & Wendy

When I'm not touring with Sting or answering the call of session work I occasionally host guitar workshops for music students. I find these very satisfying. In the last year I've held workshops at the Customs House in South Shields, at Leeds College of Music and at the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford. If you are a music tutor and would like me to perhaps hold a workshop for your students please contact me at dominic@dominicmiller.com with details of your request and, calendar and schedule permitting, I may be able to arrange something.

If you would like to see some sample video footage of a previous guitar workshop at the Customs House in South Shields visit www.sting.com/exclusives/ where over an hour's worth of footage can be viewed.

Feedback

Below is some feedback from the workshops previously mentioned.

• "Many thanks for a quite wonderful workshop. I thoroughly enjoyed your guitar playing and listening to your insights on musicianship and musical philosophy etc. The feedback I have received from both staff and students alike has been terrific and I believe it has been noted as the best attended workshop/masterclass that we have ever had at the College. The students were thrilled that you were willing to come and talk to them and were equally delighted that you answered so many questions and played for them." - Peter

• Just wanted to say that I found Dominic's workshop videos completely inspiring. His philosophy on practice is something that all young musicians should hear. Performing Bach pieces requires the utmost of discipline. I have used Dominic's approaches to practice for the past 25 years when working on my own  skills. Therefore, I can relate. It's nice to hear it from someone like Dominic who (like Sting) is one of my most worshipped artists. Thanks to Dominic for his willingness to share. - Garry

• "I found your masterclass extremely helpful and inspirational." - Sam

• "I've always loved music, but your talk made me realise that this is what I really want to do. Thanks for the thoroughly good talk." - Daniel

• "I was very impressed with your words of wisdom and I think you installed a lot of ambition into the room today. Thank you very much!" - Mat

• "I attended your lecture at the Leeds College of Music yesterday and felt truly affected. I'm a budding/struggling guitarist but am studying the production side of the industry at the college. What you said about being a jack of all trades in terms of the styles you play really struck a chord (excuse the musical pun it was unintentional) and made me think twice about the recent apathy I've suffered as a result of struggling with flamenco techniques. Your advice on slow emotionless practice also made sense and offered a new approach to an ongoing problem. However, the thing that truly struck me was your delivery and personal nature. You have clearly seen the good and bad sides of what the industry and its related careers have to offer. Yet you were neither egotistical or unnecessarily cynical towards a room full of potentially impressionable people. I am in the midst of a crisis of faith when it comes to my chosen career path amid worries regarding my abilities, my choices and my creativity but your lecture seemed to re-instil something that many have tried to convince me is a lie. If your chosen vocation is musical, or anything for that matter, it shouldn't be about the money it should be about your passions and reasons for choosing that path in the first place. There is always a meal for you somewhere. I hope this doesn't seem fanatical, soppy or inappropriate but I really felt the need to express my opinions on your session. I'm sure I speak for all present when I tell you how grateful I am for you coming and sharing that brief time in an obviously hectic schedule with us." - Mark

• "Just wanted to say thank you for what turned out to be a great day in South Shields yesterday. I thought the workshop was really interesting. It's unusual to get such an insight into what it's like to do your job. It seems so far removed from working in a office. Surreal even. As you said though, I guess there's always a price to pay for success. Once again, you were very generous with your time in terms of talking to people, signing CDs and posing for photo's which is pretty rare I think." - Graham

• "I just wanted to say thank you for your time yesterday morning. The workshop was fascinating and made all the better for it's intimacy. Your humility and ability to keep yourself grounded is admirable, and your musicianship at the top of it's game." - Andy

• "I really enjoyed the workshop and the gig at Customs House at the weekend. You hardly touched the strings at the workshop but I found the whole thing quite an inspiration. Your emphasis about practising slowly is SO correct. As for the gig, I thought you played great, you just kept it coming for over an hour. No chat, just excellent playing." - Garry