Your teacher
As an experienced and professional teacher on guitars, lutes and piano, a workshop leader, and vocal and ensemble coach, I work both privately and within a variety of schools, educational, cultural, community and care settings. I am a full member of the Incorporated Society of Musicians and hold a clear and up-to-date DBS enhanced certificate. We are all musicians, and music is all around us. Inspiration, satisfaction and fun are the reasons we make music, and all my pupils - whatever age, ability and background - benefit from my passionate belief in positively enriching and empowering our musical experiences and lives.
Your lessons
You will have the opportunity to learn many styles and approaches. Your individual preferences, strengths and wellbeing are always my priority in helping you achieve the progress, success and satisfaction you deserve. Together we will focus on fun and practical ways to build the strong foundations that all musicians enjoy:
  • confidence, motivation, independence and self-awareness
  • rhythm, pitch, tuning, notation (staff and tab), aural, and theory skills
  • maintaining a healthy and effective technique, posture, attitude and instrument​​
While learning with me you can also enjoy many other benefits:
  • a personal web page updated for every lesson, with everything in one place
  • ​the latest technologies and apps to enhance your learning and motivation
  • professional recording equipment and software for your projects
  • 100% success rate in exams (ABRSM, TCL, RSL) and auditions​​​
Where?
As well as teaching in schools, lessons can be at your home, or in the music room at my home on Bristol’s historic harbourside where you will find:
  • a large, well-equipped space with a piano and outdoor area
  • an environment dedicated to your creativity and productivity
  • a central location with easy access by foot, bike, ferry, bus, train or car, with parking available​​
​All relevant COVID-19 restrictions, safety measures and risk assessments will be followed when providing lessons. I will always work with you to find the best options for keeping your progress, enjoyment and satisfaction on track.
Online lessons are also available, with the same level of dedication, support and interactive materials as in face-to-face lessons. Many pupils around the world already enjoy this for the convenience and possibility it offers.
When?
I will always work with you to find the best times for your lessons. As well as teaching in schools, there also are some practical benefits to having lessons outside school:
  • no missed school classes and activities, or work to catch up on
  • less pressure on time and more focus
  • direct communication with the teacher about scheduling, progress, advice, etc
  • parents and carers are always welcome to attend, join in, assist, observe, take notes, or just relax
My background
My own musical journey began at a young age with violin lessons in the Suzuki method, and continued as a music scholar at Bristol Cathedral Choir School where I also studied piano and percussion and sang in various choirs. Weekends were always busy with local youth (and grown-up!) orchestras and ensembles, and I won many prizes including the City Wait award for young musicians. I went on to play in the National Youth Orchestra, and ended up finishing my postgraduate studies with a scholarship at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London. As a performer I work everywhere and anywhere with many world-class artists and ensembles.
For many years I have taught at schools in London, most recently as the visiting specialist guitar teacher at Faraday School. I have also given workshops and seminars for The Purcell School and the Guildhall School of Music & Drama Junior Department, as well as training screen and stage actors for important musical scenes. With Brecon Baroque Festival, Brighton Early Music Festival, and The Multi-Storey Orchestra I have delivered many participatory performances and workshops throughout the UK. Together with soprano Emily Owen I also work with leading music participation and development charity Live Music Now to bring music-making to those that otherwise might not experience it, including children with SEND and older people with dementia. Every day we can all experience the powerful ways that music transforms our lives, leading to improvements in:
  • concentration, confidence, motivation, productivity
  • ​numeracy, literacy, reasoning, creativity
  • cognitive and motor functions, coordination
  • sociability, communication and wellbeing
Further thoughts
Here are some key points from two small books I often think about. Along with my own training and experience, these have inspired some of my approaches to nurturing progress and success over the years.
The Inner Game of Tennis by W. Timothy Gallwey​​
  • Everybody has the natural ability to get better at anything they stick at.
  • We are often the obstacle to our own progress by reinforcing self-critical instructions.
  • We can get the results we want when we start to think of the processes that we (and our teachers) know will lead to successful outcomes.
  • We can positively reinforce these in our own practice and performance.
Zen in the Art of Archery by Eugen Herrigel​
  • ​If all we think about is trying to hit a target, we will struggle, sometimes unbearably.
  • Sustainable rewards come from a present but detached awareness in the processes of a task.
  • The bow will shoot the arrow when it is ready (likewise, music will sound when it is ready).
  • What happens will happen when it is ready.
  • Expectations, efforts, plans and desires should not be allowed to block the way completely.
  • Be calm, organised, patient, persevering and realistic at each and every stage.
  • These virtues are worthy goals in and of themselves, and rewards will follow them effortlessly.
  • Your teacher is here for you, and you may even be pleasantly surprised with the results.
Practice cat says ...