As a professional educator, I am currently a ‘First Study’ guitar tutor on the Young Musicians Programme (YMP) based at Sage Gateshead, ‘Centre for Advanced Training’ (CAT).
Over the last three to four years, I have taught in a wide variety of settings from 1:1 teaching to large groups working with ages 10 to 70. These lessons have included topics such as: Harmony; Sight-Reading; Improvisation and Ensemble Performance Practice.
For the past five years I have been part of the tutor team on the ‘Rick Taylor Ensemble Week’ based on the Isle Of Skye, which takes place every year during the Easter period. The course content covers a variety of styles from Classical, Folk, Blues, to Jazz / Improvisation. I have also ‘depped’ at Seaham Music Academy (UK) as the guitar tutor for a six week period, during this time I taught sight-reading skills and harmony.
My PGCE teaching placement took place on the B.Mus. degree programme at Sage Gateshead, under the guidance of Dr Paul Edis - here I taught Advanced Jazz Theory and Practical Skills (including Improvisation and the Guitar Ensemble).
An Individual Development Programme can be developed at a personal level to help and enhance the student’s musicianship skills in areas such as: Sight-Reading; Aural Skills; Technique; Improvisation; Repertoire; Performance; Enhancement of Personal Performance (i.e., Effortless Mastery).
At the 2017 Gateshead International Jazz Festival, I delivered an improvisation workshop with world leading tutors of jazz, Nikki Iles and Stan Sulzmann, as part of The Globe's Jazz Coorperative Play Jazz sessions based at Sage Gateshead. I have also led Jazz Cooperative Play Jazz workshops on topics such: ‘Rhythm Changes' and 'Easing The Flow Of Improvisation' - developing learners' improvisation skills and enhancing their musicianship skills.
With carefully structured lessons I can provide fun and friendly teaching in a relaxed environment. I can also help prepare students for graded exams, or entry into Further and Higher Education.
I am fully DBS checked too. For any more information regarding teaching for workshops / ensemble work, please do get in touch.