Matt Goodall has taught guitar for over 15 years and holds both a Cert HE and Higher Diploma from ACM.
Since graduating from ACM, he went on to set up his own Guitar school, which now employs fellow ACM alumni Charlie Griffiths (2013), Dan Morris (2014), and Gustin Forde (2013)!
Hi Matt! Tell us a bit about your background and what you’ve been involved with since leaving ACM?
Hello, I set up and own Goodall Guitar School, a small guitar school running from dedicated premises. I wanted to build an environment to inspire up and coming guitarists of all ages. I am lucky because I love my job and feel great satisfaction from seeing both students and staff at the school grow and flourish, not only in their musical skills but also in various life skills.
We’ve had many fantastic ACM graduates teaching at the school and it has been an honour to see them flourish and some even go on to develop their own teaching businesses with the help of their experience with us.
We’ve had a few successful students too; currently the ones to watch are Max and Harvey Mills who have over 3 million followers (and growing) on the app Musically.
Other than teaching, I was invited by Cheryl Baker (Bucks Fizz) to play guitar in the schools We Will Rock You and have worked as guitar/keyboard tech for some amazing musicians inc. Graham Gouldman (10cc), Spike Edney (Queen’s MD), Steve Stroud (bassist, Cliff Richard), and our Patron Jamie Moses, including at venues such as Abbey Road Studios.
What motivated you to come and study at ACM?
I first attended ACM (Part Time School) from 1999 to 2001. Signing up because I’d just started teaching guitar and wanted to improve my skills, I loved every second I was there and learnt a lot that helped develop my teaching.
How did your course prepare you for life in the music business?
Still teaching in 2007 I returned full time to ACM but this time I was hoping to improve my performance skills.
However the business tutors soon identified I was a far better businessman and teacher than I ever would be performer and helped and encouraged me in this direction. I was lucky to have had a meeting set up with Phil Brookes (founder of ACM) who gave me some great tips but most importantly I came away from the meeting with a lot of confidence that I had what it takes to grow my school and business.
The school is proud to have top UK session guitarist Jamie Moses as its Patron. The roll call of stars Jamie has played and toured with includes Sir Tom Jones, Beyonce, Pete Townsend, Queen + Paul Rogers, The Brian May Band, Anastasia, and too many more to mention. Genuinely excited about helping young musicians, Jamie has visited the school for Open Days and Masterclass events.
Do you have any advice for those looking to get into the industry?
Building up the school has not been easy and these things take time, so my advice to anyone wanting to grow any business is to persevere and if you believe in your product keep working at it. I started from my spare room at home and now I look at my premises, with all the guitars and amps, and the different studios with their cool décor including coloured lights and a smoke machine and am incredibly proud of what I have achieved.
What was the best part about studying at ACM?
To this day I still teach some of the tips I was given by the tutors back in the 90’s and I am still trying, unsuccessfully I might add, to prove I can be a performer! Looks like the ACM were right all along!
Find more information on Goodall Guitar School on their website.
If you’d like to be a student at ACM to kickstart your career in the music industry like Matt, please call our Admissions Team on 01483 500 841 or visit www.acm.ac.uk/open-days/ to book a place on an ACM Open Day today.
