Composer   |   Producer   |   Arranger

Nick is a keyboard and sax teacher who has been teaching for over 15 years. His teaching includes both Classical techniques and Jazz/funk improvisation in an attempt to broaden the students interest and allow them to discover what interests them, rather than following a more traditional and narrow path. Nick teaches from beginner level up to advanced, helping with both traditional ABRSM (Jazz and Classical) and Trinity exams and other musical endeavours such as school concerts, GCSE composition, Grade 5 Music Theory or a burgeoning interest in music production.

 

My teaching focus starts with basic technique (hand/finger positions), names of notes, basic rhythms but aims to get the student playing tunes in as short as time possible. I try to encourage memorising pieces initially to reinforce where the notes are and how the different areas of the keyboard or sax relate to each other in pitch before moving on to reading as this can create a barrier with many new learners and result in a loss of interest. Often the student will want to learn a particular song or piece that they like, I often arrange these into a manageable arrangement or try to focus on sections that will help and improve their playing. In terms of early practice, Nick suggests 10-15 minutes a day to strengthen the fingers, become accustomed to the layout of the instrument and to keep what is being learnt fresh in the student’s mind.

 

Having received his degree in Music and Masters in Composition from Bristol University, Nick began teaching group and one-to-one lessons in primary and secondary schools (both private and academy) as well as for multiple Music Schools for the next 15 years. As well as teaching, Nick leads a busy gigging life and is an award-winning composer in a variety of styles, many of which are played all over the world.

 

Nick offers both online and in-person lessons from his home studio.