Sam

Hi! My name is Sam and I'm a friendly, enthusiastic, reliable and encouraging teacher. I like to tailor my teaching approach to the needs of the individual student. Please get in touch with any questions or to have a chat and find out more.

I have been teaching saxophone, clarinet and recorder for 12 years.

I have extensive experience of private teaching, from primary school age children to adults, from complete beginners to advanced post-Grade 8 players. I am happy working towards ABRSM grades (classical or jazz) or working without that framework and setting alternative musical goals.

I regularly teach highly talented young musicians at Junior Guildhall. I also have extensive experience of teaching in schools, at both primary and secondary level, and in the state and private sectors. I've taught jazz saxophone and coached ensembles with music students at City University London, and delivered masterclasses/workshops to undergraduate and postgraduate students at the Guildhall School of Music and at Bath Spa University.

I favour a holistic approach to lessons, with a focus on all-round musicianship, developing aural skills and understanding. I like to talk to the student about their short and long term goals, and work on music that they really love.

Whilst jazz is my specialism - and I like to incorporate elements of improvisation into all my lessons - I also play classical music to a very high level, having studied on it for two years at conservatoire level and having taught classical lessons beyond Grade 8 level.

If you'd like to study jazz then we can work on improvising, playing by ear, learning tunes, transcribing classic solos etc.

I'm also an experienced performer: my albums have been reviewed in the Observer, The Times, Jazzwise and Jazz Journal, and play regularly at venues like Ronnie Scott's, Pizza Express Jazz Club, the Vortex, Kansas Smitty's and the Barbican.