Information About Stepan - Barnet teacher -

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Personal Description:

Introduction

I am of Ukrainian / Irish descent and come from a musical family. I was accordionist & co/songwriter with the original line up of BBC DJ John Peel favourites Wedding Present spin off The Ukrainians. Appearances included Ukraine's second anniversary of Independence in Kyiv, to the Bumbershoot & Glastonbury festivals in the USA & England, & numerous European festivals & venues. We also recorded a sound track to a Nike sports wear advert. I toured with "The Ukrainians" around Europe Canada and the US, and Ukraine for the joint tour with Ukraine rock giants V V. Radio appearances included BBC radio Peel & Kershaw sessions & other British, Canadian, US, & European Radio & TV. I grew up playing Irish and Ukrainian music in the Ukrainian and Irish communities.

My Mum's cousin was Eddie Rabbit, the Irish/American Country singer who wrote "Every which way but loose" for the Clint Eastwood film with an Orangutan, and "Kentucky Rain" sung by Elvis Presley.

Other ventures:

Metelyk dance ensemble
I was accordionist for Reading based Metelyk Ukrainian Dance and folk ensemble during late 1980's including performances at Llangollen Welsh international folk festival, and Europe Aide international folk festivals in Belgium, France, and Majorca.

The Ukes

This was Folk/rock trio for a few years consisting of vocals/accordion, bass and drums playing rocked up Ukrainian folk and some originals. Gigs included the UK, Germany and Canada from 2004 up to around 2007.

Here be Dragons

Accordionist for Welsh Folk Rockers Here Be Dragons 2007 to 2014 for American ABC TV Debut and Celtic Music Festival in Chicago in 2007, Italy tours of 2011 and 2012, France 2014. Headlined at Cardiff International Arena for Welsh Beer and Cider Festival 2013.

Some Session work / Other projects

Intro music for Canada's west coast Ukrainian Community radio show Nash Holos.
Music for Frederic Molnar's play "Husbands and Lovers", London City Lit.
The Bishop of Buffalo, Rev Hammer, produced by New Model Army's Justin Sullivan… The Bridewell Taxis's release "Cage" produced by Roxy Music's Phil Manzanera.
Accordion on NY Ukrainian duets Darka and Slavko Повір (Povir / Believe) .
Accordion on "Elvis Lives Here", by The Swagger Band featuring Swill (Phil Odgers) also of The Men They Couldn't Hang.

Consultation on music for a scene in the film Bitter Harvest.
Ukrainian song I recorded placed in Canadian film "They Who Surround us" (2020)

Currently

Translation and releases of Ukrainian songs in English and vice versa, and original compositions, still performing solo, and with Waltham Cross based Ukrainian function band Zhnyva, (since before The Ukrainians). I also perform with my daughters Natalka and Chrystyna, and with folk trio Karpatski Zvuky (Carpathian sounds) playing music from Ukraine and other countries through which the Carpathians mountains rise.

Tutoring Experience:

I have taught Piano Accordion at Ukrainian Saturday school in Waltham Cross and at the Ukrainian Youth Association's Summer Holiday Camp in Derbyshire. I focus mainly on playing Irish, Ukrainian, and other mainland European traditional and folk music.

Tutoring Approach:

Children, and adults starting later in life like to see immediate use of what they are learning so I take a song/tune based approach and cover technique and theory along the way as new repertoire is learnt.

My availability is currently Monday to Friday 10 am until 2 pm, and after 7.00 pm on these evenings, and Saturday afternoons by appointment according to availability due to other existing teaching commitments as I am also a swimming teacher. I am not available on Sundays.