A popular musician who has gigged around Southport for the past 28 years has launched his own music school.
Dave Crompton was inspired to start his new venture after time in hospital and then the recovery period afterwards gave him time to re-evaluate his life.
He is now loving teaching children and adults through Huckleberry Grove Music.
Dave said: “I started my own music school, starting with teaching the guitar.
“Our mission is to inspire and empower people to discover the joy of playing guitar through personalised, fun, and engaging lessons. At our guitar school, we’re dedicated to helping everyone to unlock their musical potential, one chord at a time.”
Encouraging others to develop their musical abilities is something Dave enjoys.
He said: “After a back injury towards the end of 2024 that saw me in hospital and then in bed for a month, I had plenty of time to evaluate things.
“With nearly 40 years of playing and just loving music, I realised one of the things I love and that makes me feel awesome, is sharing that passion with other people.
“I’ve also had my own personal mental health journey, so I know first hand that life gets busy and stressful, and I really believe it’s so important to carve out time for ourselves for things like creativity and self-expression.
“That’s actually what inspired me to start Huckleberry Grove Music in the January 2025, new year and all that!
“I wanted to create a warm, welcoming place in Southport where both kids and adults could either spark or reconnect with their love for music.
“Whether you’re picking up a guitar for the first time or coming back to it after a break, my goal is to make learning feel fun, inspiring, and something that anyone can jump into.
“As a parent myself, I know the feeling of ‘parent guilt’, worrying about things like ‘are they spending too much time on their screens?’ ‘Am I doing enough to help them find their passion in life?’ And so on!
“We can be too hard on ourselves at times, so first off we need to be kinder. Learning any instrument can be a creative outlet and inspire a lifelong love of music.
“And as an adult, it’s easy to let fear rule us, for example, ‘I’ve always wanted to learn the guitar BUT…’
“We worry about things like ‘what if I can’t do it?’ ‘What if I’m not good or look silly?’
“To be honest I had the same feelings about starting Huckleberry Grove Music. It’s normal! “I asked myself ‘What if nobody signs up, I’ll look stupid?’ ‘What if I can’t teach?’
“But sometimes you have to take that leap and I’m so glad I did. I reframed it to ‘what if I look back in years to come and regret never trying it?’
“At our guitar school, we believe that music is about passion, expression, and joy, not pressure or perfection.
“Our philosophy is rooted in the idea that learning to play the guitar should be a fun and fulfilling experience, not a chore weighed down by rigid tests or exams.
“Two of the top objections I get are, ‘I can’t afford it’, and ‘I don’t have the time.’ Perfectly valid statements.
“At Huckleberry Grove Music, we help parents and adults find great beginner guitars at budget-friendly prices.
“We also encourage starting with just 10 minutes of practice a day, and you may find you get lost in the music and end up practicing a lot longer!
“I believe music is a language of the soul, and we aim to help students discover their unique voice through the guitar. Whether strumming a favourite song or jamming with friends, we focus on the pure love of playing and enjoying music for what it truly is, a creative outlet that inspires and connects us.
“Our approach is about fostering confidence, creativity, and personal growth. We replace traditional assessments with achievable goals and milestones, celebrating progress without the stress of formal testing.
“At every step, we strive to create an environment where students feel excited to pick up their guitar, explore new skills, and simply enjoy the magic of making music.”
A Mum’s perspective – “Finn had been learning guitar at school for a while, but something was missing. The excitement he used to have for playing had started to fade, and practice was feeling like a chore. It was hard watching him lose interest in something he used to love.
“Now he walks in with a huge smile and leaves even happier. He’s motivated to practice on his own, he’s excited by new challenges, and best of all, he’s loving music again. The car rides home are filled with guitar tracks at full blast, and as a parent, nothing makes me happier than seeing that spark back in his eyes.”
A Huckleberry Grove Music adult learner’s perspective – “I had guitar lessons in the past but struggled to commit and found them difficult. I was nervous to try again, but after seeing Dave’s post on Facebook, I decided to take the leap and I’m so glad I did!
“From the very first lesson, I felt relaxed and comfortable. Dave’s teaching style is incredibly structured, encouraging, and so easy to follow. In just a few lessons, I’ve made more progress than I ever imagined.
“Now, I practice every day and absolutely love playing again! If you’ve ever wanted to learn guitar, I can’t recommend Dave highly enough.”
- For more details about Huckleberry Grove Music please email: huckleberrygrovemusic@gmail.com or visit: Huckleberry Grove Music School – Music is for Everyone
- Please Like the Huckleberry Grove Music page on Facebook: (20+) Facebook
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