Free 30 Minute Introduction – Book Now

A SMALL STEP FOR YOU, A BIG STEP FOR YOUR GUITAR PLAYING

Who Is Dylan Asena?

And what has led him to where he is now?

I have spent my life asking how the guitar really works and how to make that knowledge useful to others.

My formal training at the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of Music set a very high musical standard. International performing, recording and teaching then showed me something equally important: great playing is not produced by prestige or tradition alone. Students progress when complex ideas become clear, applicable and move from knowledge to being embodied as a skill that nobody can take away.

Dylan Asena performing on guitar

Who Has Dylan Asena Studied With?

From mentors to universities and masterclasses

I began playing at eight and later studied at both the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of Music, graduating with honours. I have performed internationally as a soloist and with ensembles, and studied with or performed in masterclasses for leading guitarists including:

David Russell

Pavel Steidl

Edoardo Catemario

Charles Ramirez

John Mills

Julian Byzantine

Carlos Bonell

My musical life has crossed classical, fingerstyle, rock, jazz, country and other styles. That breadth has strengthened rather than diluted my specialism: understanding the principles that create physical ease, control, tone and expression on the guitar.

My Teaching Philosophy

The driving ideas behind my teaching

Guitar teaching is full of inherited rules, traditions and confidently expressed opinions. Some are useful; others create unnecessary limitations, physical tension or confusion. I prefer to ask what can be observed, tested and properly understood.

My aim is not simply to tell you what to do. It is to help you understand why a technique works and how it relates to your own hands, body and musical intentions.

In lessons, we explore the biomechanics and geometry of movement, the acoustics of the instrument, the psychology of learning and the musical purpose behind every technical choice. This removes confusion, supports healthy playing and gives you greater freedom to express yourself through music.

Ultimately, I want you to become a more confident, thoughtful and independent guitarist equipped with principles you can apply long after the lesson has finished.

What Your Fellow Guitarists Are Saying

“After years of struggling with the guitar and trying to learn I started lessons with Dylan. In the first few months I learned more than my last few years on the guitar and am now playing pieces I never dreamed would be possible! Every lesson is a joy and I could not recommend him highly enough.”

Jackie

“With my guitar gathering dust in the corner of my room I decided to commit to guitar lessons and Asena Guitar Academy came highly recommended. I’m hooked! Dylan’s very encouraging, patient, and incredibly knowledgeable. He’s worked with some of the most credible guitarist and this versatility shows in his teachings. The one-on-one interaction beats any of the apps I’ve tried with a bespoke lesson structure, which keeps me committed and disciplined. Couldn’t recommend Dylan more highly!!!”

Jacky

“Dylan is an exceptional guitar teacher that has been teaching me guitar since I was 10. From classical to jazz and modern pieces, I have learned many renowned pieces of the guitar repertoire, learning not only how to play them but also the proper techniques to adopt fitting styles. Dylan is an awesome teacher: his lessons are one of my favorite moments in the week. Dylan is extremely knowledgeable and experienced as a musician and teacher, making his lessons always deeply interesting; this combined with his enthusiasm, kindness and patience. With him I have greatly progressed in guitar, both in playing and the theory aspect. I highly recommend Dylan to everyone who wishes to progress or start playing guitar!”

Augustin

“Mr.Asena is not only a passionate and talented musician/guitarist in his own right, but I have been impressed with how brilliantly he nurtures these qualities in the students he teaches. His passion for inspiring his students has always impressed me and the results were always joy to witness at the concerts he prepared with his students. I would strongly recommend Mr. Asena as a teacher for your child or yourself.”

Agnesa

“Dylan is incredibly knowledgable and experienced as a professional guitarist and musician, that much is clear: but more than that, he’s an excellent teacher (and having had many a music teacher in the past, that is hard to come by!!) !! He’s patient, kind and instills a confidence in the ability to learn, progress, with solid rationale and technique behind it all – if you’ve never played an instrument before, or have previously tried and struggled (that’s me), Dylan is the man to learn with!”

Tiffany

“Dylan has been teaching my son classical guitar for the past year and has been wonderful at making learning so enjoyable, combining all the necessary technical elements with an absolute pleasure in playing music.”

Katherine

“I’ve known Dylan for several years, as a fellow musician and teacher. He is a class act, both as a teacher and performer. He is amazingly dedicated to his students, really focused on them and their development. Dylan is also excellent at innovating exciting ways to really engage his students in guitar playing. Highly recommended.”

Paul

“I started studying with Dylan Asena after lockdown and wish I had found the Academy a few years ago! Go have a lesson and thank me later.”

Melania

“I have been taking electric guitar lessons with Dylan for 8 months now and I find Dylan to be an inspirational and engaging tutor. I started as a complete novice, and Dylan has helped build my confidence on the guitar and helped me understand how and why music ‘works’ through a fun learning experience based around the kind of music I like to play and am interested in. Dylan structures the lessons to reflect my pace of learning, and is flexible in fitting in with my timetable. I always look forward to the lessons, and come away having learned something new about the guitar, music, and sometimes even myself! I sincerely recommend him.”

John