Business Details
17 Years
experience
Your Trusted Partner for Music Lessons in Birmingham
Progress Music Academy has been delivering professional music education since 2009, established in Birmingham's historic Jewellery Quarter. Our purpose-built 2,000 sq ft facility houses nine teaching studios, a full production recording studio, and industry-standard equipment from partners like Marshall Amplification and Natal Drums. We offer tailored 1-2-1 tuition for guitar, vocals, piano, drums, bass, and music theory, alongside recording studio sessions and Trinity Rock & Pop examinations.Our team of twelve experienced tutors delivers both in-person and online lessons, supported by a proprietary practice app for continuous learning. With affiliations to Trinity College London and partnerships including Jaguar Land Rover's employee benefits scheme, we combine technical expertise with personalized instruction to nurture musicians from beginner to advanced levels.
Services
Guitar Lessons
Vocal Lessons
Piano Lessons
Drum Lessons
Recording Studio
Details
- Year established: 2009
Highlights and features
- We offer 1-2-1 tuition from twelve hand-picked tutors with industry experience
- Our facility includes a Pro Tools recording studio and nine purpose-built teaching rooms
- Official Trinity Rock & Pop exam centre with exam preparation specialists
- Proprietary practice app for continuous lesson tracking and homework management
- Partnership with Jaguar Land Rover providing free lessons to employees since 2014
Associations and certifications
- Trinity College London
What people say
Well organised
Friendly
Great lessons
Noticeable improvement
Encouraging teachers
Services
Guitar Lessons
Professional guitar instruction covering all styles from rock and metal to jazz and classical. Our Marshall Amplification-equipped studios support complete beginners through to advanced players. Lessons include technique development, music theory, and live performance preparation while accommodating individual learning paces and musical preferences.
Vocal Lessons
Personalized vocal training using the Estill technique to develop range, projection, and performance skills. Specialized instruction available for classical, pop, and contemporary styles with focus on vocal health and confidence building. Includes lyric writing and public speaking components.
Piano Lessons
Yamaha Clavinova-based piano instruction for ages five and up, covering classical and contemporary styles. Includes music reading, improvisation, and recording techniques. Specialized curriculum available for younger students and ABRSM music medal preparation.
Drum Lessons
Roland and Natal Drums-equipped sessions focusing on groove development, time signatures, and live performance techniques. Covers rock, metal, jazz, and Latin styles with personalized lesson plans tracking technical progress and musical goals.
Recording Studio
Pro Tools-based recording facility offering session musicianship, arrangement, and production services. Provides vocal recording, instrumental backing tracks, and songwriting collaboration. Includes pre-production support and online production lessons for home studio development.
People
Gary Walmsley
Owner/Senior Drum Tutor
Music industry expert and co-founder with over 15 years' experience developing musicians. Specializes in drum tuition and studio production while overseeing academy operations from the Birmingham headquarters.
Goldie Mutta
Vocal Tutor
Specialist vocal coach with expertise in vocal health and performance anxiety management. Trained in Estill technique, delivering transformative results for singers ranging from beginners to X Factor auditionees.
Niall Creane
Guitar & Bass Tutor
Experienced guitarist offering tailored tuition across rock, metal, and contemporary styles. Recognized for developing students' technical proficiency and stage confidence through personalized lesson plans.
Julia Parsuto
Senior Piano Tutor
Classically trained pianist specializing in both traditional and contemporary keyboard instruction. Develops customized curricula for students from beginner level through advanced performance preparation.
Steve Smith
Co-Founder
Music education pioneer and co-founder responsible for establishing Birmingham's only Trinity Rock & Pop exam centre. Oversees strategic development while maintaining industry partnerships with brands like Marshall Amplification.
Questions
What music lesson formats do you offer?
We provide both in-person lessons at our Birmingham studio complex and online sessions via Zoom, with identical content and tutor expertise available in both formats.
Can I prepare for music exams through your academy?
Yes, we're Birmingham's only Trinity Rock & Pop exam centre with specialist tutors preparing students for official graded examinations across all instruments.
Do you cater for complete beginners?
Absolutely, our 1-2-1 lessons accommodate all skill levels from absolute beginners through to advanced musicians, with specially designed syllabi for younger students.
What equipment do I need for lessons?
Studio equipment is provided for all lessons, though musicians typically bring their own instruments. We can supply guitars and basses with prior notice.
How do you track student progress?
Our proprietary app enables continuous lesson tracking, homework management, and practice note recording to ensure consistent skill development between sessions.
Are group lessons available?
While our core offering is 1-2-1 tuition, we offer group recording sessions for up to 8 people and regular workshops featuring industry professionals.
Videos
Reviews (6)
Simren Johal
Aug 03, 2021
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After self-learning a good portion of guitar, Progress is a breath of fresh air! My guitar tutor has really challenged me and it has helped me grow (even in a short space of time), the feedback is also particularly helpful. I highly recommend Progress :)
Nyah Zahrah Husayn
Jul 27, 2021
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Progress Music Academy is a wonderful place for music lovers, musicians and singers from all backgrounds to come and learn about an instrument or music subject at any level or style. The co-owner Gary is a friendly, easy to talk to guy about all things related to music, especially rock n roll. He makes you feel welcome as soon as you walk through the door at Progress Music Academy! The vocal coach, Paige, is an excellent and skillful tutor with great energy and a passion for singing (an insane vocal range!). I truly appreciate her knowledge of the human voice and her holistic approach to singing
Justyna Przybysz
Jul 18, 2021
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Absolutely fantastic music school with very knowledgable teachers and a great atmosphere. I couldn't recommend it highly enough for both adults and children.
Parsa Ebrahimi
Dec 25, 2019
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Been coming for almost 2 years and to be honest it's been absolutely fantastic. Best teachers in Birmingham. Great fun but also learn a lot. Especially guitar, piano and drums. Overall this is my number one choice for music tuition and I am betting that you would love it to.
Zahra Batebi
Aug 18, 2019
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I took my 2 sons to all the nearby music lessons and hand on heart this is the place in Birmingham. Great teachers and very enjoyable lessons. A fun way of learning a new instrument or mastering it. I recommend this place for whoever. Any age or at any skill level.
Joe McCabe
Dec 16, 2014
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This is an amazing place, I love it a lot. It can help you progress in your musical skills extremely quickly. I am 13 and I have been playing the guitar for about 3 and a half months and I am already playing some pretty hard stuff. They also listen to what you want to do not just exams, you can pretty much choose what ever you want to do(apart from things to help you, but its still fun!)
Awesome
PS Dave is a God
Awesome
PS Dave is a God
