Guitar Lessons & Folk Fiddle Tuition · Middleton, Manchester

Learn to play the music you love, one lesson at a time.

One-to-one guitar lessons and folk fiddle tuition with an experienced private music teacher in Middleton, Manchester — 22 years' teaching experience, a Master's degree in Popular Music Performance, and Grade 8 Distinction in both ABRSM and Rockschool. Beginner guitar lessons for kids and adults, and fiddle teaching for all abilities, serving Middleton, Rochdale, Oldham and the wider North Manchester area.

★★★★★ 5-star Google reviews · 22+ years teaching · Children & adults · Beginners welcome

About Cliff

A teacher first, a musician always.

Cliff Woodworth is a private music teacher based in Middleton, Manchester, offering guitar lessons and folk fiddle tuition to students of all ages.

With over 20 years' experience teaching music in schools, I bring the same patience, encouragement, and structured approach to every private lesson. Whether you're picking up a guitar for the very first time or looking to develop your skills as an experienced player, every lesson is tailored to your individual goals and interests rather than following a one-size-fits-all syllabus.

My own playing covers a wide range of styles, from classical and fingerstyle to rock, pop, folk and acoustic music, allowing lessons to be shaped around the music that inspires you most. Whether you're working towards graded exams, preparing for performances, or simply want to play your favourite songs and tunes with confidence, lessons are designed to help you progress at your own pace while enjoying every step of the journey.

Background & Qualifications

  • Teaching experience22+ years
  • DegreeMA, Popular Music Performance
  • ABRSMGrade 8, Distinction
  • RockschoolGrade 8, Distinction
  • Current roleSchool music teacher

Lessons

Guitar lessons and folk fiddle tuition, taught your way

Every lesson is student-led — tailored to your interests and goals, whatever those happen to be.

Guitar

Beginner guitar lessons for kids and adults, right through to advanced technique for experienced players. Acoustic or electric, suited to complete beginners through to players preparing for grades or refining an existing style.

Rock Pop Classical Folk Exam prep

Folk Fiddle

Folk fiddle lessons covering traditional technique and repertoire, with a focus on tune, feel and style rather than just notes on a page. Great for players coming from classical violin or starting from scratch.

Traditional tunes Bowing technique Ear playing

All ages and abilities welcome. Whether it's a first lesson at seven years old or picking the guitar back up after twenty years away, lessons are paced and structured around you, in a supportive, unpressured environment.

Is This You?

Perfect for…

Complete beginners
Children learning their first instrument
Adults returning to playing
Players wanting to learn favourite songs
Students working towards graded exams
Violin players wanting to explore folk fiddle

Performance

Watch Cliff play

A taste of Cliff's own playing.

A Crow in the Sun — Daithí Sproule

Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want — The Smiths

Cliff Woodworth - Violin Promo

Getting Started

How lessons work

01

Get in touch

Send an email with a bit about you or your child, and what you'd like to learn.

02

First lesson

We'll cover your current level and what you want to get out of lessons, then get straight into playing.

03

Ongoing lessons

Regular weekly lessons at a time that suits, with progress paced to you rather than a fixed curriculum.

Pricing

Simple, one-to-one pricing

£20per half hour

One-to-one lessons, taught in Middleton.

Guitar and folk fiddle, for children and adults of all abilities.

Exact address shared with parents/students once a lesson is booked.

New students only

Welcome Bundle — book 5, get a 6th free

Book five 30-minute lessons upfront for £100, and get a sixth lesson completely free. A one-time offer for first-time students only.

Reviews

What students and parents say

★★★★★

Cliff is a fantastic teacher! I started lessons on guitar when I was 11 and continued for many years learning new things each week. He is very easy to speak to which means that you can get the most out of each lesson.

Ben Evans · Google review
★★★★★

Both my (now grown up) children have had lessons from Cliff over the years and both speak very highly of him. His teaching methods, enthusiasm and experience helped foster their lifelong love of music.

Stuart Howard-Cofield · Google review

Contact

Ready to start playing?

Fill in a few details and I'll get back to you to arrange a first lesson.

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