PAST PROJECTS
Here is a little info about some of the previous projects I’ve run, including vocal groups, compositions and courses
Classical Music Unravelled was a music history course for adults which I wrote shortly after graduating from Cardiff University. Using examples of recorded music from Gregorian chant to the present day, it charted the evolution of classical music and explored how various styles and conventions influenced each other. It was the first time I had produced something which was designed to increase participants enjoyment of music by giving insight into the music itself – a theme which is still very important to my work today. The course ran over 10 sessions in 2007 and was expanded into a 14 week course the following year with several participants coming back to do it all over again a second time.
Classical Music Unravelled
Cantito was a non-performing choral group which learnt and explored a range of classical music. I started the group to offer singers a way to enjoy and learn about classical repertoire without having to worry about attending every rehearsal or performing the music. The group ran for one year and only stopped when I had to reduce my workload in order to study for my MA.
Cantito
I ran a musical theatre group ran at the Lockwood-Urban School of Dance for 3 years. It was open to singers of all ages, and provided both children and adults with the chance to learn a wide range of songs as well as developing performance skills. Each session involved some group singing, and a mini masterclass where anybody could perform a song of their choice and get constructive feedback from the group as a whole. We put on regular performance evenings open to family and friends, and members were also able to take musical theatre or popular music vocal exams using repertoire of their choice if they wanted. It was a huge amount of fun, and several members stayed in touch long after it ended.Musical Theatre Group
In This Time & Place was a composition project I undertook with the world music community choir Levow an Bys under the leadership of the wonderful Pip Wright. Choir members were invited to anonymously submit lyrics on blank postcards, and I set 8 of the submissions to music, writing carefully to the choir’s strengths. We devised the project originally when the choir applied for some funding to commission new music. Unfortunately they weren’t successful, but the project was so appealing I did it anyway. The choir very generously provided funds to publish the sheet music in a beautiful volume which we packed full of artwork and photographs from the choir, and we even recorded the entire set on a CD. Music from this collection has since been sold and performed around the world. The book is now out of print but sheet music can still be bought from me directly (please enquire by email). The whole project was a joy, and I’m still extremely proud of it.
In This Time & Place
Over the years I’ve run workshops privately, as well as in school/university settings and for the European Piano Teachers Association (EPTA). Topics have included effective practise skills for instrumental learners, composing for non-composers, and an introduction to pedagogy (the science of education). More workshops are in development, including an exploration of the ways instrumental teaching can be shaped by graded exams, and a guide to coping with performance anxiety. I look forward to finding ways to lead workshops digitally in the near future.Workshops and Masterclasses
