Practice makes perfect has always been a cruel lie; not only is ‘perfection’ in a musical performance physically unattainable, it isn’t even especially desirable. That so many music students appear to have internalised this unhelpful little platitude is becoming a…
Music Tuition In Lockdown Full Video
The full-length version of my joint Instagram Live with Matt Lacey, talking about our experiences of teaching drums during lockdown over the past twelve months and what we can take from this period as tutors as we start to return…
Music Tuition In Lockdown
I’m very excited to be joining a friend and fellow drum tutor Matt Lacey for an Instagram Live discussion about our experiences of teaching music lessons during lockdown. The lockdown and the school closures have been extremely tough on music…
Coronavirus Practice Diary 2021
I am returning to the idea of uploading regular ‘practice diary’ videos on my Facebook Page during the latest lockdown period this January. The idea is (as I explain in the video) to demonstrate the practice techniques I always talk…
Your Sibelius Toolkit at Benslow Music Postponed
Due to the ongoing coronavirus situation, I am very sorry to have to announce that my Avid Sibelius workshop at Benslow Music entitled Your Sibelius Toolkit scheduled for June has been postponed, as the Benslow Music centre will remain closed…
Sistema Fiesta: Ten Years of Sistema In Norwich
In September 2011, I wrote about how proud I was to have joined an El Sistema-inspired music education programme in my home city of Norwich, working with students in inner-city schools teaching orchestral percussion an general musicianship. The project —…
Summer Exam Success
Huge congratulations once again to all my students who took music exams during the summer term exam period. With entries spanning all levels from Grade 2 to Grade 8 – across piano, drumkit, music theory and music production exams –…
Your Sibelius Toolkit at Benslow Music
As a working musician, I find myself using Sibelius notation software all the time, in a variety of different contexts. With a hectic work life which spans touring with bands, teaching private students and youth orchestras and a wide range…
Sistema In Norwich Performance Project featured on Sistema Europe website
A recent article on the Sistema Europe website has put the spotlight on Sistema In Norwich’s ‘Performance Project’ – a brand new Sistema initiative for 2018-19. Over the course of 12 concerts and just under a year and a half,…
Exam Success: Christmas Term 2018
I am delighted to be able to report another term of exam successes for my students – with candidates taking exams on piano and on drums, ranging from Initial Grade up to Grade 5, with a 100% pass rate once…