Performing and Teaching Services

With degree in music from the University of Wales (B.Mus. Hons) and postgraduate instrumental studies at Trinity College of Music in London, I have a strong grounding in harmony, the conventions of standard notation and the use of specialised notation used in avant garde classical, jazz, rock/pop and theatre styles of music.

After completing my studies at university and conservatoire in 1983, and a period of work in research and arts administration, I have since worked extensively as a performing and teaching musician and as a music engraver/copyist and composer/arranger.

Performing

As a performer, I am a pianist, accompanist and electronic keyboard player.  I have performed in classical recitals, rock concerts (as an orchestral keyboard player for the UK tour of The British Rock Symphony), jazz concerts and many theatre productions at most major UK concert venues including Symphony Hall in Birmingham, Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, St. David's Hall in Cardiff and The Royal Albert hall in London.  I Have also been an accompanist for festivals and examinations.

As a conductor, I work in the theatre (mostly in the UK Midlands) and have worked with both orchestras and choirs (examples of music conducted are Copland: Appalachian Spring, Barber: Adagio for Strings, Gershwin: Piano Concerto in F, Dvorak: Stabat Mater, Britten, Rejoice in the Lamb etc.  in June 2001, I conducted a Gala Concert at The Royal Albert Hall in London.

In the theatre, I have been Musical Director for around fifty productions including Cabaret, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Kind and I, Follies, West Side Story, Chicago, Oliver!, Return to the Forbidden Planet, Chess, Robin - Prince of Sherwood, Into the Woods, The Wizard of Oz, Piaf and many more.  I am currently working on a production of Disco Inferno.  Future projects include Company and The Wedding Singer.

As a composer, I have written works ranging from solo piano to orchestral pieces, including incidental music for the Dennis Potter play Blue Remembered Hills.  In June 2001, I composed music for a Gala Concert performed at The Royal Albert Hall in London.  During 2008, my Street Opera 24/Seven was produced on the stage in Birmingham and London and is currently being made into a film, due for release later this year or early 2010.  More information about 24/Seven can be found on the 24/Seven page.

Teaching

I have been established as a piano, keyboard and theory teacher since the beginning of SPMS in 1989.  I taught instrumental lessons in schools in the UK Midlands across a 15 year period and continue to take private students.

Music Theory Consultancy

If you are studying or want to study to sit graded theory examinations but have no teacher to work with, SPMS can be consulted about any point of musical theory.  Live online sessions via a free dedicated chatroom can be booked to discuss your work.  These sessions are based on £26.00 per hour and must be pre-paid, either by sending a cheque or via PayPal.

Your worked practice theory papers can also be marked and returned with annotated comments.  These must also be pre-paid either by cheque or PayPal and can be sent in the post or scanned and e-mailed.  To avoid Postage Rates for returned papers, it is free if you opt to receive your marked papers scanned via e-mail.  The cost for marking and annotating each graded paper is:

Grade 1 - £3.00
Grade 2 - £4.00
Grade 3 - £5.00
Grade 4 - £6.00
Grade 5 - £7.00
Grade 6 - £8.00
Grade 7 - £9.00
Grade 8 - £10.00

Please e-mail SPMS to discuss your music theory requirements.


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