Music has the power to inspire......
Music has the power to inspire......
Music has the power to inspire......
Music has the power to inspire......
Music has the power to inspire, teach and transform lives and I strongly believe that every person of every age should have access to music education and a platform to express their musicality.
As I view practical music making as an integral and vital part of school music lessons I have always delivered the curriculum, in part, via the "Band Method". This is a multi-instrumental approach that necessitates every child playing a symphonic woodwind, brass or percussion instrument in lessons. Each class becomes a wind band and learns musical literacy, aural skills and performance from the context of an instrumentalist, thus preparing students for their continued musical studies into GCSE and A Level. This approach is complemented by my work for BPM (The Bristol Music Service) where I am employed in the capacity of Resident Conductor and Wind Tutor for the Bristol Schools Wind Band and the Bristol Schools Flute Group.
Whilst I love this highly effective method of whole group teaching and learning and I encourage all of my students to become involved with group music making activities whenever possible it is no substitute for individual 1:1 lessons and the bulk of my teaching time remains in private instrumental lessons.
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Instrumental lessons can either be just for fun or focused on passing graded exams. Exam preparation usually follows the syllabus of the ABRSM or Trinity Guildhall.
WOODWIND INSTRUMENTS have been played by some of the greatest jazz and classical musicians in history. From the jazz saxophone of John Coltrane to the haunting simplicity of James Galway's flute, these instruments form a vital and rich part of our musical landscape. In addition, wind bands, ensembles and youth orchestras all need a constant supply of these dynamic instruments.
Playing a woodwind instrument can have a positive impact on both the body and brain. If you start learning and stick with it, you will see significant improvements in your hand-eye coordination and memory skills, as well as in your hearing and listening ability and the social benefits are undeniable.
THE FLUTE is a small and extremely versatile, side blown, woodwind instrument. It's easy to take anywhere; to school, a friend's house or any of the numerous bands and ensembles that rehearse in and around Bristol. Flautists can play in most types of ensemble, be they large or small, with any combination of instruments. Whether it's Classical, Jazz, Pop, Folk or any other genre the flute can fit in with the sound and can always be used to accompany or lead a performance. This is not the case for every instrument, so this gives you opportunities not every instrumental player has.
So if you are looking for an instrument that you can not only play alone but also have many different ensemble options, learning the flute is the way to go!
THE CLARINET has a single-reed mouthpiece, a straight, cylindrical tube and a flared bell. If you see yourself as a woodwind player, then you will love the versatility of the clarinet, it is an exceptionally flexible instrument with a wide and varied repertoire. The cylindrical bore is primarily responsible for the clarinet's distinctive timbre, which varies between its three main registers, known as the chalumeau (low), clarion (middle), and altissimo (high).
Clarinets are one of the most affordable instruments and a plastic clarinet that is well made can serve you for many years, will require little in maintenance costs and is extremely portable.
THE SAXOPHONE is a woodwind instrument with a reed yet the body is made of brass, and so it forms a bridge between the woodwind and brass families. It has a single reed and a conical bore and at one time, there were two distinct schools of saxophone playing: the classical, and the jazz or popular, but why limit yourself?
There are many reasons for you to start playing the saxophone and not just because "It's cool" or "Lisa Simpson plays it". Despite probably being best known as a Jazz instrument Saxophones can be found in most musical genres so it suits almost every creative taste!
The saxophone is a great instrument to play! With its wide dynamic range, variety of tonal colours, and smooth, rich sound it is possible to musically convey almost any and every emotion, whilst really enjoying the whole process of learning and playing an instrument.
THE PIANO has always been an outlet for those seeking escape, creative expression, and simply happiness and relaxation. Piano practise also boosts cognitive and intellectual abilities, which is to say it makes you smarter, and studies show that time spent at the keyboard improves mental health.
Whether your interests lie in classical, jazz, rock and pop or in writing and performing your own material there is no doubt about it, piano is a fantastic instrument to learn. It is great for exploring harmony, improvising and composing, whether you use these skills in school, as part of a band or just for your own satisfaction. It also provides all the building blocks needed for understanding music theory and is a very useful skill to have for studying GCSE, A Level and beyond.
As instrumental skills progress, development in MUSIC THEORY and musicianship becomes increasingly important and helping students gain a thorough understanding of the elements of music is essential for them to achieve a full and satisfying performance.
Studying music theory give students a thorough understanding of the building blocks of music, starting with the basics of rhythm and notes, and going on to cover harmony and counterpoint, composition, and a broad knowledge of western music, including composers and their works, structure, style and period.
Listening lies at the heart of all good music-making. Developing good AURAL SKILLS is an important part of any music education and the ability to hear how music works helps students with all aspects of their music-making and learning.
Having a good musical ear and well developed listening skills enhances all aspects of musicianship, including:
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