Information About James - Southampton teacher -

(4 reviews)

Personal Description:

I am a full time, professional musician. This includes working as a lecturer of various disciplines at The Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford, subjects are changeable but include electric guitar, composition, film scoring and music theory. I also work as a film composer for independent movies, and perform in various ensembles including pop and rock bands, jazz quartets and string quartets.

In previous years those groups have included soul bands Maddison Heights and Big Brother soul, jazz quartet Midnight Blues, original hard rock bands Timshel and Bring The Revolution, acoustic artists Megan Linford and Wise Children, and local cover bands Mama Belle, River Gypsies and Teapot Junkies. Those acts have given me some fantastic experiences- BBC radio live sessions, main stage at Wickham festival, exclusive black tie parties, Big Bike Bash main event, a pagan wedding- an amazing array of events! I've been lucky enough to open for some great acts too over the years- Ugly Kid Joe (my personal heroes!), Chuck Mosely (of Faith No More), Tax The Heat, The Wurzels, Focus, Wishbone Ash, Chaz and Dave, Steve Cropper, The Animals- again an amazing selection of musicians and fabulous venues!

I have been involved in a number of community projects, and am currently running groups for people of all ages.

Aside from those various ventures, I also run a busy private teaching practice from home where I offer lessons in a range of instruments including-

Guitar (any style- classical/acoustic/electric/bass)
Saxophone (alto/tenor)
Clarinet
Cello
Music Theory
Composition
Ukulele
Piano (beginner or contemporary style)

Please note charges are £30 for 60 minutes and £20 for 30 minutes.

I have a number of adult students as well as younger learners, currently ranging from the age of 8-75, so please don't feel nervous if you are a more mature person looking to learn. Whatever style you want, whatever pace you wish, I'm experienced in all ages and abilities, beginner to advanced. I don't just teach the grades and the notes, I teach how to perform. My lessons are fun and relaxed, and whether it's Mozart, Stravinsky, The Beatles, Deep Purple, John Coltrane, Madness or Metallica, I'm comfortable with whatever you throw my way!

Tutoring Experience:

I have been teaching privately since the age of 18 and have been working full time as a musician since 2008. Along with my private music tuition I have been working as a university lecturer for the past 3 years and running groups and conducting amateur ensembles for some years also.

Tutoring Approach:

I am always keen to match my lessons to the individual learner. For those who like a clear and structured approach I follow syllabuses provided by ABRSM for those of a more traditional mindset, or Rock School for those who prefer more contemporary repertoire. I am able to provide lessons in classical, jazz and rock (and its many sub-genres). For the more casual learners, I provide a repertoire driven approach largely based on the tastes of the individual.