The first proper step on the road to Rock Stardom and, frankly, I’m a nervous wreck.

I arrive for my debut lesson at Clive’s Easylearn Rock School with a mix of emotions. There is definitely some excitement at what promises to be a fun journey as I make the transition from an enthusiastic intermediate guitarist into a Legend of Rock in twelve easy weeks. Some excitement, yes, but mostly blind panic at the thought of playing in a room-full of people when I am used to being my own audience.

It’s all a bit of a mid-life crisis thing again, really. What do you do if you reach forty and you can’t afford a sports car and you’re not a big fan of motorbikes? Well, you buy a guitar and pretend you’re twenty, naturally.

I have got this far by being self-taught but both my teacher and I decided that it was high time I got some professional help to continue the journey.

Of course, I do have my tongue pressed firmly in my cheek with the phrase “Legend of Rock”. In truth, my expectations are somewhat lower than this. The reality is that if I can get my family and friends to listen to me play without feeling that it’s a bit of chore then that will be a roaring success. Beyond this, if I can overcome my chronic stage fright to perform with my new-found band mates at the school’s charity gig in February then that will really be something.

I wait outside the door as the junior class before mine make a decent fist of playing Wild Thing and a song I’ve never heard before. I hope that my lesson will at least involve some songs that I already know just to give me a fighting chance. The musicians conclude their lesson to well-deserved applause.

I have been joined at the door by a few other guitarists, making my escape impossible. I imagine that the new arrivals are all seasoned pros whose skills will put my own limited talents to shame.

Well, only one thing for it, I conclude, as the door opens and I go back to school for the first time in twenty-something years.