I began to play the guitar at 7 years old and attended my first workshop just over a year ago. My good friend told me about a couple of workshops he had attended and how amazing they were.

I have been a member of 3 different bands - "Rival", "Orion" and "Don'T KnoW" and I enjoyed working with other musicians, writing and playing songs that I thought I would really enjoy the experience and took the advantage of the opportunity.

My first workshop was over 2 days and a gig afterwards. At the workshop all the musicians were put together to form a band, we chose 2 songs and practiced them, with the gig the following evening. This workshop took place in the Valley Leisure centre. I enjoyed the workshop and got the opportunity to learn improvisation and playing techniques. At this workshop I first met Linley Hamilton, Nicky Scott, Iggy Ward and Alan Niblock.

After this workshop I was straight onto the making music workshop's website to check out if there was going to be any workshops that summer. My friend Connor Edgar and I decided to attend one at Ballyearl Courtyard Theatre. At this workshop I met a drummer called Marty McCloskey, with the same personality and enthusiasm as myself. Marty and I wrote and recorded several tracks together, including "Filthy Rich" and "Find Me".

The workshop was a week long, writing and recording. I enjoyed the workshop so much that it helped me improve my writing skills and it gave me an insight on what it was like to record in a professional recording studio. Here is where I met Clive Wills and John Wilson.

After the workshop I attended a Jazz improvisation class held by the Making Music Workshop in Newtownards. The classes were taken by Clive and Linley. This class furthered by development on improvisation techniques, the use of key signatures and key changes as well as broadened by music theory knowledge. This class inspired me go learn more music theory, which I feel most guitarists never do.

My work experience with the Making Music Workshop, began in February 2004. I spent a week with the company learning about what happens behind the scenes. I found this to be a great experience.

Linley introduced me to the business side of music, a side which I had very little experience with.

I spent two days with the company out on the road at a workshop in Aquinas Grammar School, Belfast. I became a tutor - for - a - day and was involved with helping the students to write songs. I also helped some beginner guitarists with their techniques. It was at this workshop I met a incredible singer Laura Dunlop. When I heard Laura sing I was blown away, and I just knew I wanted to start something with her. Since then Laura and I have had two failed bands, however we are still looking for the right musicians.

I attended another workshop at the beginning of this summer (2004). It was the Hamlyn project in Belfast . I found this to be a great experience. I spent a lot of my time at this workshop with Clive, and he taught me so much on recording and equipment, microphone placement and much more. I have always had a interest in music technology and recording, so I've been saving up to get myself a recording studio together. I currently have a 256 virtual track recording system. I have had several acts in my studio and I am still booking more to come in and record. You can check out my recording studio website!  http://www.studiomonkey.bl.am

In the middle of summer 2004 I was asked to take part in the NEELB youth fame academy workshop along with fifteen other musicians. the workshop was a week long residential held in Bushmills Co. Antrim. This was a writing and recording workshop with a gig. We also learnt how to dance, which we performed at the gig. I was met up with Marty McCloskey again at this workshop. We sat up all night on the first night we arrived jamming and talking about old memories. I taught him some guitar lines and he taught me some drum fills! It was then we decided to get our act together and form a band. We then decided to take a mission to find a singer and bass palyer who was right for the band.

Marty and I wrote "Fallen Angel" and "I'm Sorry" together.

Linley introduced me to a singer called Noaimh O'Hagan. He gave me her number and we got talking and she sent me some of the tracks she which she got recorded in a studio. They blue me away. She had such an incredible voice and her songs are full of so much meaning, I just had to start a band with her. I decided to play bass guitar for the band and Matt McCabrey came to play drums.

We put on a gig at the Clarendon Dock at the end of the summer 2004, along with B4-Time(another band which I am in) and Blue Disgrace. Since then we have been writing a lot and hop to get an album recorded very soon.

After Fame Academy I attended the 2nd and 3rd week of the Hamlyn project in Belfast and I became part of the band B4-Time with Marty McCloskey, Luke Devlin and Claire Kelly, and we have performed at the King's Head and the Clarendon Dock in Belfast.

However Like and Claire were unable to commit to the band, but we parted on good terms, although, Marty and I still practice together and we are currently looking for a vocalist.

The last workshop I attended was in the Belvoir Player theatre, this is where I  met Janice. She is a top class guitar player, she played with us in B4-Time although her style wasn't quite right, but she is amazing.

Thanks to the Making Music Workshop and to Linley Hamilton, I have broadened my musical horizons, and I regularly go to the King's Head Live lounge for the Sunday Jazz Session. I have also had the opportunity to meet and make contacts with Linley Hamilton, Clive Wills, Nicky Scott, John Wilson, Siobhan Pettit, Paul Hamilton, Alan Niblock, Iggy Ward, Mike Nielson, to name just a few. I have had the opportunity to perform at the King's Head, The Front Page, The Warehouse, The Clarendon Dock and a number of Church Halls.

Some of my favourite musicians and artists (in no particular order) are: -

Eric Clapton, APt Metheny, John Scofield, Wes Montgomery, Damien Rice, Ella Fitzgerald, Mark Knopfler, Joe Walsh and many many more.

You Can check out some of my tracks on www.studiomonkey.bl.am

That's all from me for now, hope you enjoyed.