About Me
The person behind One2One Music Tuition
Mission Statement
To provide a friendly environment for all ages and abilities, where the student can learn at their own pace whilst having fun.
More than Just A Music Lesson
What Will I Get Out Of It?
Playing music can be enjoyed at many levels and I aim to cater for whatever the student wishes to learn. Whether you wish to play in a band with like-minded musicians, or simply to play at home for your own pleasure; my lessons offer the student whatever their individual requirements, as everyone has different aspirations.
A Brief History
I started my musical journey like most children, in the school recorder group shortly followed by the school brass band at the age of about 9 or 10. Growing up in Hull in the 70’s meant that I became part of the Hull Music Service, and received peripatetic lessons at school so that I could join the school brass band (I initially wanted to play trumpet/cornet but was told my arms were long and so was made to play the trombone instead!). Those were the days when lessons were free at school and instruments were provided, as long as you attended regular weekly rehearsals at one of the Music Services’ bands. I had initially learnt treble clef trombone to enable me to play in the brass band, however, as the Music Service Brass Band was full with trombonists, I was told to join the Concert Band, and so had to then learn bass clef.
Although my choice of instrument, and later on my choice of band was changed, my upbringing on trombone (both bass and treble clef) stood me in good stead for the future, and whilst at school I also added euphonium to my list of instruments.
My brother, who was a lot older than me had trained as a cabinet maker. One of his hobbies was making guitars and so, after I showed an aptitude for learning instruments, my brother thought I might be up to a challenge and bought me a small guitar for Christmas when I was 9 years old; I have never looked back!
I initially had private classical guitar lessons with a young woman who, looking back, was not very good! As luck would have it, she left to study in London after about a year of me starting, and I was very fortunate to find a superb teacher called Martin Glover, who not only corrected my technique, but inspired me to work hard and achieve my Grade 8 after only 4 years of his teaching.
In the January of 1983 I went on to join the army as a military bandsman after a successful audition on trombone. The army in those days had plenty of potential brass players, but woodwind was not as common, as it was stereo-typically girls that played flute and clarinet whilst the boys played tuba and trombone! As there was only one female band in those days (The Women’s Royal Army Corps Band), woodwind was more of a scarcity and so I was told that I would be accepted into the band training programme as long as I re-traded onto clarinet.
I spent a year on what should have been a two year course as a “junior” bandsman at Bassingbourne Barracks, Royston, Herts before being posted to my first Band ‘The Duke of Kent’s Band, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers’. My year’s training saw me progress from absolute beginner to a Grade 8 clarinettist and join my new band as their fresh faced 3rd clarinet player in 1984! Two years later I did a one year Pupils Course at the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall and studied under the Professor for Clarinet, Mike Farnham from which I then returned to my band as principle clarinettist (much to the annoyance of some of its members); a total study period on the instrument of only 4 years and a position I held for the remainder of my army career.
The Depot Queen’s Division. Bassingbourne Barracks, Royston Herts, Circa 1983. I’m the fresh faced clarinet player, front row, second from the right!
I left the army in 2005 as the Band Sergeant Major of the now-disbanded Normandy Band of the Queen’s Division, with my time in the army furthering my woodwind knowledge by playing Saxophone. My guitar playing also took on a variety of forms, with Classical Guitar being used for Mess Nights and Cocktail Parties, and Bass and Electric Guitars for the Military Dance and Jazz Bands.
On my retirement from the forces, I was immediately “headhunted” by the North Yorkshire Music Service to become one of their peripatetic teachers, and have taught all over the county of North Yorkshire from Nidderdale to Wensleydale and surrounding areas for a total of 16 years!
2022 onwards sees a new direction for me, as I handed in my notice with the North Yorkshire Music Service at Christmas 2021 to focus fully on my private tuition. I now work at one of the local secondary schools teaching all styles of guitar and woodwind, and no longer working for the Music Service has enabled me to free up a couple more days and evenings so that I can add to my ever-growing number of private pupils.
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From The Archives
Stranger On The Shore
Made famous by Acker Bilk, this clarinet solo was recorded by me over 10 years ago, which explains the grainy picture, (and the slimmer physique) at Brompton on Swale Methodist Church.
Cavatina
This well known classical guitar piece was recorded by me many years ago by firstly arranging as a duet and then recording both parts.
