BMus (Hons.) Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester
Post Graduate study, Royal College of Music, London
CRB Enhanced Disclosure
Junior Fellow in the Royal College of Music, London and member of the Musician's Union
References are available upon request

Subjects

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Personal Message

I am based in central Bristol (Old Market Street) and travel to surrounding areas. I am a professional teacher and player with years of teaching experience.

Interview

Which subject(s) do you teach?
I am a professional performing musician and teacher (age 26). I teach the Trumpet, Cornet, Tenor Horn and Euphonium from beginner to beyond Grade 8 level. In my lessons I also work on general performance skills, musicianship and theory - I believe in a holistic approach to music and to teaching it. I often write out music for students so they can work on the kind of music that they WANT to play!

I also teach the Cello to grade 4 standard (I have been a cellist since the age of 6!).

I also teach: the Baroque Trumpet; and Renaissance Cornetto; and the viola da gamba.

I also specialise in performance on the natural or baroque trumpet and teach this instrument to interested players. I can also introduce students to the cornetto, a rare instrument that falls between a recorder and trumpet.

Tell me about your qualifications.
I have played the trumpet since the age of 9 and the cello since the age of 6.

I completed an undergraduate degree in performance on the trumpet (BMus (Hons.)) between 2004 and 2008 at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, winning the Cecil Kidd prize for trumpet playing. My post-graduate training was as a scholar at Royal College of Music, where am just completing a prestigious Junior Fellowship.

What kind of experience do you have?
I currently teach at two schools in London and privately. I have also tutored degree-level students in historically informed performance at a number of institutions.

My first experiences of teaching were starting my undergraduate degree in the trumpet. I became very involved in educational workshops and musical outreach projects including projects for the Halle Orchestra (in Manchester), eventually holding a position in the Royal Northern College of Music's Community Outreach office four years later in my final BMus year. Around the same time I started to teach privately (one-to-one) and I have taught ever since. Since moving to London in 2008 I have been a busy instrumental teacher, working with an age range from 7 to adults. I moved to Bristol at the end of August 2011, where I am now based.

How much do you charge?
I charge £25 for an hour-long lesson and £10 for a 30-minute lesson.

I also offer a block-booking offer for 10 lessons: £200 for 10x hour-long lessons / £100 for 10x 30-minute lessons

I charge an additional £5 per extra student for group teaching (I charge this because more preparation is required to make the most efficient use of lesson time where there is more than one student).

Where do you teach?
Bristol and the surrounding areas, and I also teach in central London on a Sunday and on a Monday morning/evening.

When are you available?
I have a teaching day on a Monday in London term-time but will be available to teach in Bristol the rest of the week.

I am a performing, professional musician so do require a little flexibility with particularly weekend teaching slots, but I always give as much notice as possible where clashed occur.

Which ages and levels do you teach?
For trumpet/cornet/flugelhorn I teach up to and beyone Grade 8, from complete beginners. I feel that due to the physical nature of brass instruments that students below the age of 7 are too young to support and blow the instrument. I generally start students on the cornet or pocket trumpet as they are easier to hold. I can recommend instruments appropriate for all levels of playing and also tutor books and repertoire from popular music to jazz and classical playing.

For the cello, I teach from the age of 5 upwards. I teach the cello up to grade 4 standard.

Which qualifications do you prepare your students for?
I prepare students for ABRSM and Trinity/Guildhall exams. I currently have a 100% success rate for students who take exams - grades taken recently by students include 2, 3, 5 and 6.

I try to avoid June exams for students as school stresses tend to be at their height then. For December 2011 I should have seven of my London students taking exams (including grades; 2, 3, 4, and 6).

Do you have an up-to-date CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) disclosure certificate?
I have a current and up-to-date enhanced disclosure CRB check.

Describe your arrangements for online tutoring.
I can teach via Skype video/audio and I also provide a number of my own exercised/studies which I can print or email to students. I will be adding exercises gradually to this TutorPages page covering basic trumpet technique and scales over the next few months....

Do you belong to any professional organisations?
I am currently (April 2011) a Junior Fellow at the Royal College of Music. I am a member of the Musicians Union.

I regularly perform with a range of professional orchestras and ensembles in the UK and Europe. I have performed with RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Manchester Camerata, Irish Baroque Orchestra,Clonter Opera, Chisinau National Opera, Göttinger Baroque Orchestra, The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, the European Union Baroque Orchestra and I am principal trumpet of the contemporary group, Octandre Ensemble.

I also have rehearsal/scheme experience (educational) with the London Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, and London Sinfonietta,

Where and with whom did you train?
As a teenager I studied with Paul Beniston (Principal Trumpet with the London Philharmonic Orchestra). From 18-22, I studied with John Miller, Jamie Prophet and David Staff at the Royal Northern College of Music. Since then, I have studied with Alistair Mackie, Michael Laird and Ian Balmain at the Royal College of Music. These are some of the finest professional trumpet players in the UK and are all excellent teachers. I have also received masterclasses from the world-renowned Håkan Hardenberger, including one from my undergraduate degree which is on the commercial 'Masterclass Series' DVD!

Tell me about some of your current students.
I have a range of students, some of whom play purely for enjoyment and do not wish to take exams, others who are working on exam repertoire. I always vary the musical styles that I set students and combine a bit of technique with a fun tune and something that is a little more challenging.

I also teach some older students (16+) the natural or baroque trumpet (no valves!) and teach beginner players on the cornetto (something between a recorder and trumpet). I am also a viola da gamba player - similar to the cello - and can teach this at a basic level (to grade 5 equivalent).

Do you have a personal message for students?
Playing music should be fun, rewarding and educational. The life skills that you learn as a musician can help you in every part of your life - but for me music is about enjoying sound, making sound for myself and for other people to enjoy. Music lessons should build confidence and lead to social music making which is a lot of fun!

With a few basic ideas under control, I believe that anyone can progress on a musical instrument and get a lot of enjoyment from it! There are no 'hard' instruments, just different techniques and ideas to understand.