An overhead view of a dark rehearsal room corner featuring a minimalist practice setup: a matte black guitar laid neatly in an open hard case lined with deep blood-red velvet, a compact metal pedalboard with a few rugged stompboxes, and a spiral-bound lesson notebook with chord diagrams drawn in black ink. The gear sits on a worn charcoal rug over concrete flooring. Soft, diffused light from an unseen window to the side creates gentle gradients and long, subdued shadows. The photographic composition is tidy and balanced, with sharp focus and muted colors, conveying a serious yet approachable atmosphere ideal for beginner-friendly rock tuition.

About Leo Ellison

I’m Leo, a guitarist, tutor and musician based at Peppercorns Academy in St Neots.

Music became a huge part of my life after I inherited my granddad’s guitars, including a Gibson Les Paul that quickly became my first proper guitar love. From there, I started learning, experimenting with sounds, pedals and technique, and putting in the hours to become the player I am today.

I’ve been teaching guitar for the last 18 months and have helped learners of all ages.

my love of music

I’m mainly a lead guitarist, with a love for rock, metal, riffs, solos, songwriting and performance. My biggest guitar influences include Slash and James Hetfield, and I’m drawn to music with power, feel and proper energy. I’ve played in bands, performed live at business events and paid gigs, recorded music and helped bring bands together from rehearsals through to live performance.

I’m also a drummer, which gives me a strong sense of timing, rhythm and how different instruments work together. At Peppercorns Academy, I’ve been part of the music community for the last three years through work experience, one-to-one tutoring and group workshops. I currently teach Peppercorns students on Thursdays and support group sessions on Sundays.

My teaching style

My teaching style is calm, patient, practical and built around the student. I’ll always listen to what someone wants to learn, but I’ll also guide them in the right direction so they keep improving. Lessons can include songs, riffs, technique, practice habits and theory where it helps. I believe guitar should feel exciting, not overwhelming.

Who my lessons are for

I teach young players, adult beginners and guitarists who already play but want to improve. I’m happy working with nervous beginners, neurodivergent learners and students who need a bit more time to build confidence. There’s no time limit for getting good. The aim is to enjoy the process, practise consistently and keep moving forward.

What you can expect

My experience as a young carer has also shaped the way I teach. I know how important patience, kindness and trust are, especially when someone is learning something new or feeling unsure. I keep lessons relaxed, encouraging and focused on helping each student get the best out of themselves.

Outside of music, I’m also a powerlifter, so I understand discipline, practice and long-term progress. Whether it’s lifting or guitar, I believe the best results come from showing up, putting the work in and enjoying the challenge.

If you’re looking for guitar lessons in St Neots, I’d love to help you get started.

A close-up of a heavily used guitar fretboard in dark rosewood, its metal frets slightly worn and strings taut, captured mid-neck where small skull and flame inlays glow subtly. The guitar rests on a black amp cabinet with a textured grille cloth and red power LED glowing ominously. Behind, a blurred wall of soundproof foam panels in charcoal and deep crimson forms a rhythmic pattern. Dramatic side lighting from a cool-blue LED strip carves hard shadows and highlights, emphasizing texture and precision. Shot in photographic realism with a tight, macro-style composition, the atmosphere feels focused, technical, and intense, perfect for showcasing serious guitar skill-building.
A detailed close-up of a handwritten lesson plan page clipped onto a black music stand, featuring neatly drawn power chord shapes and rhythm patterns on lined paper. In the blurred background, the headstock of a black electric guitar with pointed tips and locking tuners leans against a large dark-grey amp at Peppercorns Academy. The room is dim, lit only by a warm overhead light and a faint blue LED glow from a nearby pedal, casting soft shadows and subtle reflections on glossy hardware. Shot with shallow depth of field and a rule-of-thirds composition, the mood is focused, studious, and slightly gritty, emphasizing real rock learning in photographic realism.
A sleek, matte-black electric guitar with sharp, angular contours and brushed metal hardware resting on a dark wooden studio floor. Thick, braided instrument cables coil beside it, leading to a row of imposing black guitar amps stacked against a dimly lit wall. A single cool-white spotlight from above cuts through a hazy atmosphere, tracing reflections along the guitar’s polished frets and chrome bridge, while the background falls into soft, grainy darkness. Photographed at a low, three-quarter angle with shallow depth of field, the instrument dominates the frame, creating a bold, cinematic, rock-and-metal mood in realistic photographic style.