Gordon Ormond

My father, Gordon is a guitarist of some 43 years experience who began his musical life at the age of 5 on the piano. His Mother, Ruby, was a diploma standard pianist who suggested that he should learn the instrument as a good grounding in music. What followed was five years of study during which he diligently worked on the keyboard until, at the age of 10, he reached grade 5 merit. But Gordon’s interest did not lie with the piano and so he gave it up and thought no more about music for around three years.

Like so many at that time, he was introduced to the guitar through the Beatles; when he first heard them in 1962 that was it—he had to play guitar! Thus began many, many years of hard work on the guitar and a love of the instrument that lasts to the present day.

Gordon spent a year learning on his own before coming under the lnfluence of the eminent Polish classical guitarist, Brunon Baron. Brunon was surprised to find that Gordon was already quite a proficient Electric Guitarist and he guided Gordon for several years into becoming an excellent Classical player as well. The highlight of this period surely had to be the visit of Brunon’s great friend, John Williams, who listened eagerly to Gordon, and several of his classmates, play well known pieces. On hearing Gordon’s rendition of the Gavotte en Rendeau BWV 1006 Mr Williams simply said, “Well played!”

Some 4 or 5 years after first picking up the instrument, Gordon continued his career as a gigging Electric player and performed with a string of successful bands. During this time the music that he played varied tremendously and incorporated many of the styles that he would late teach: 50s and 60s pop, 70s Rock, Country, Blues and Folk to name a few. Gordon even played Bass guitar left-handed in a band performing classic Beatles tunes! Along the way, Gordon met, jammed, and gigged with several top players and bands including Yes, Hank Marvin and The Shadows and Eric Clapton.

It wasn’t until the late 1970s that Gordon began to teach the instrument, simply because someone asked him for lessons. He found it an interesting challenge at first, but soon began to realise that he had a real flair for passing on the years of knowledge and experience that he had gained. Since then he has taught well in excess of 1,000 students of all ages and abilities, and always with the goal of making them the very best they can be. Some of his former students have even gone on to teach the instrument themselves.

Gordon lives and teaches in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Naturally, the demands on his time are formidable, but he is still available for private lessons.Anyone wishing to enquire can contact him here.