John Oliver, guitar

…a master of the guitar… The Georgia Straight

Oliver’s students win Gold at RCM exams.

Oliver has performed as classical and electric guitarist in solo, chamber and orchestral settings with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Borealis String Quartet, François Houle, Vancouver Chinese Music Ensemble, the Little Giant Chinese Chamber Orchestra (Taiwan), and others, and has appeared at various music festivals in Canada, and the USA, and on the concert series of New Music Concerts, Vancouver New Music, Groundswell, Upstream, New Works Calgary, and Music in the Morning, among others.

Oliver teaches classical guitar, composition, musicianship and music theory from his home studio in New Westminster. Students come from Vancouver, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Surrey and other suburbs to study with him. Oliver studied classical guitar with Robert Jordan in Vancouver, and with George Sakellariou at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he performed in master classes with Michael Lorimer, Abel Carlevarro, Pepe Romero, Leo Brouwer, and others. A summer of private studies with British guitarist and composer Gilbert Biberian were crucial to Oliver’s musical development as guitarist and composer.

Since 1991, Oliver has pursued creative projects with electric, classical, and fretless guitars, computer and synthesizers. These projects developed into a solo "immersive sound" event by 2005, when Oliver was invited to present a Portrait Concert of his electroacoustic music by Réseaux des art médiatiques (Montréal). He now uses various special guitars whose sounds he transforms via various sound processing machines.

Oliver has composed a large number of works for guitar, including a guitar concerto, guitar duos, trios, quartets and solo works, as well as educational pieces.

Oliver is a member teacher and performer of the Vancouver Classic Guitar Society.

Selection of Guitar Music by John Oliver

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John Oliver, guitar lessons +

"I wish I had you as a teacher 20 years ago!" - comment from student.

I teach guitar and other music courses in the Metro Vancouver area, including New Westminster, Burnaby, Coquitlam and Surrey. I also teach worldwide online.

I offer private guitar lessons based on the classical style. Although my specialty is the intermediate to advanced classical guitar student, I also teach beginners in all guitar styles, as well as beginner banjo, piano, and voice, music theory and composition. See “Classes Offered” for details.

Learn to hear and read music. Learn the best guitar technique so you develop the skills to last a lifetime, to play in any style. Learn how to do it, and how music works. I tailor lessons to the student, always guiding the student toward excellence. I also encourage students to bring some music you want to play.

Whether you want to play for personal enjoyment or prepare for a performing career, I give you the guidance you need, including conservatory or university exam auditions and preparation. I give priority to students with previous music experience on any instrument.

Lessons include guitar technique and repertoire, music reading and theory, and composition for advanced students. I specialize in classical music of all eras, from ancient to the present. My guitar method integrates the 19th century school of Tarrega with more contemporary approaches and techniques.

I studied guitar and composition at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and have a doctorate in music composition from McGill University.

Oliver is a member teacher and performer of the Vancouver Classic Guitar Society. He teaches in New Westminster and Burnaby, and online.

LESSONS CONTINUE: During the COVID-19 pandemic, I continue teaching lessons online via Zoom, Facetime, Messenger, or Skype, or in-person for students who have are vaccinated. ×

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Canarios
Pavanas
Sarabandas

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Testimonials

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2016-08-25T17:37:10-04:00
John has been an outstanding guitar teacher for my 13 year old son Ethan these past 5 years. His tremendous musical knowledge and professionalism has not only allowed Ethan to read musical notes and chords but to also play classical, flamenco and popular music. John has always tailored his lessons based on what Ethan wants to learn. He is very patient, friendly and encouraging. I would highly recommend John to anyone who is looking to learn a lot in a short amount of time. -Chris
2016-08-25T17:37:01-04:00
John's been an amazing guitar teacher for my 10 year old son. In a few months, he's gone from an absolute beginner to being able to confidently play chords and melodies with different techniques and strumming patterns. John is consistently patient and encouraging, and I appreciate his focus on developing good habits while keeping the lessons upbeat and fun. -Mo
2016-08-25T17:36:45-04:00
I first started learning guitar with John around 2013, at the time I was taking my RCM level 6 exam and John’s teachings really helped me through the exam. Over the course of these two years, I have learned a great deal with John on not only how to play guitar, but also how to play musically. He breaks down the music and explains it in a way that makes you understand the composers intentions on how the piece is played, at the same time incorporating his own style and yours. He is a teacher that believes in his students and puts in a great deal of effort to not only teach music, but making his student enjoy music. I have now passed RCM level 8. -Karin

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Classes Offered

I teach all courses listed below at my home studio in New Westminster, as well as worldwide online. I also teach guitar at the BC Conservatory of Music in Burnaby, and the Neil Douglas Guitar Shop in New Westminster.

CLASSICAL GUITAR
All levels, specializing in intermediate to advanced. Students learn the music they love, and music from ancient to contemporary. I offer comprehensive preparation for Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) exams.

Beginners take 30 minute lessons.
Intermediate students take 45 minute lessons.
Advanced students take 60 minutes or longer.

ACOUSTIC and ELECTRIC GUITAR
Beginner to intermediate. Learn tab, notes, chords, strumming, singing.

BEGINNERS WELCOME
I also get students started on the following instruments:
BEGINNER BANJO
BEGINNER VOICE
BEGINNER PIANO

MUSIC THEORY AND MUSICIANSHIP
Lessons include all aspects of learning how to read music, sing from the printed page, ear training, rhythm training and more. Note: any of the above music instruction will include theory and musicianship, adapted for each student.

MUSIC COMPOSITION for any instrument.
My specialty is classical music composition, though I also teach songwriting, and have advanced knowledge of notation and electronic music software. Advanced students take 60 or 90-minute lessons.

MUSIC PRODUCTION
Learn the basics of music production with a Mac computer running Logic Pro or Ableton LIVE software.

MUSIC NOTATION SOFTWARE
I offer lessons in music notation software, specializing in Sibelius and DORICO software for Mac computers.

To learn more about my compositions, visit my main site.

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Oliver’s Guitar Story

My parents bought me a strumming guitar & guitar lessons when I was 8 years old. I strummed away to songs by Gordon Lightfoot, Simon & Garfunkel and many others until I discovered classical music soon after. At age 11, I began intensive classical guitar lessons at Robert Jordan's studio in downtown Vancouver and later at the Vancouver Academy of Music. By age 14, I was admitted to the Shawnigan Lake International Summer Music Festival where I studied with the Dontigny/Ito guitar duo and discovered classical and contemporary music performed by the likes of the Orion Trio, Reger String Quartet, Ruggiero Ricci and Robert Aitken. In my graduating year from high school I was accepted into the guitar program at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music where I studied with George Sakellariou, and performed in master classes with Michael Lorimer, Abel Carlevarro, Pepe Romero, Leo Brouwer, and other visiting guitarists. By the age of 19, having attained a high level of proficiency, played several concerts of solo and chamber music, and a guitar concerto, I gave up a performance career to dedicate myself to music composition.

However, I continued to perform as a guitarist in concerts of new music, chamber music, and improvised music, most recently with the Little Giant Chinese Orchestra (Taiwan), Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Borealis String Quartet, and others. In the past decade I have written several new major works for the instrument, including a guitar concerto, guitar quartet, chamber music, and several new solo works. In 2007 I opened my guitar teaching studio in New Westminster.

Site updated 2023-09-09