News Updates

Plans currently in progress for a Composer Workshop in Perthshire with pupils of Carol Hamilton and my own composers this coming September.

Other Ventures

November 18th 2012:

Group composition programme with Suzuki pupils at the Glasgow Academy, organised by Vera Borland, as part of a day of individual and group piano lessons and an art class associated with the project. Pupils dressed up for the 'musical play' as some children called the composition performance! 'The Woodland House' (based on a Russian Fairy Tale) was constructed, rehearsed and performed in the afternoon to great acclaim. This was the second such venture in Glasgow, the first taking place in October 2010, based on a Halloween theme.

April 2nd - 3rd 2013:

Presentation given to members of the Suzuki Teacher Training Course in the Music Dept. of Cargilfield School, Edinburgh. This was at the invitation of Mary Mccarthy. The aim was to encourage teachers to let their pupils compose and gain confidence in this, to take that first step to compose themselves, and offer ways to incorporate some simple composition work into group tasks. Gave talk on how I became involved in composition and how I started my Suzuki Composer Group with my own piano pupils, aided by video clip demonstrations and live performances by some of my students. Teachers and students then took part in a pre-set composition task in small groups, these were performed at the end of the two day presentation.

August 29th 2013:

Put the finishing touches to preparations to an away workshop this coming weekend. I'm off to Auchencairn in Galloway, South West Scotland. I will be taking part in a workshop with Suzuki piano pupils, organised by Judy Spinks. Three teachers in all, including myself, will be dealing with different aspects: movement, singing, piano performance, musical stimulus in artwork and hands-on composition within the context of drama. I will be looking after the composition programme. The day will end with a concert of all the work, including group compositions.

September 15th 2013

Received some great clips of the day in Auchencairn. The group performances were based on 'Peter and the Wolf.' Also pleasing feedback - everyone enjoyed the composition sessions and parents were impressed with what the children managed to achieve. Some other pupils present at the workshop are now coming up with ideas for composition as a result of the day, which is good to hear.

October 6th 2013:

1st concert totally dedicated to my composer students: a wonderful evening was had by all at the Edinburgh Society of Musicians. Splendid performances followed by refreshments and ad hoc background music.

October 18th 2013:

Preparing to travel down to the village of Kimpton, in Herfordshire, to teach on a 'Village Workshop' hosted by Suzuki teachers Mary Hoskins and Penny Grey. As well as giving piano lessons, I will launch my composition programme with an experimental taster session for parents, teachers and pupils.

June 8th 2014:

Summer Piano Concerts held at the Edinburgh Society of Musicians: varied performance programme including a number of pupil compositions.

March 8th 2015:

Informal Composer Group Concert performed the latest group task, set by a student, at the Edinburgh Society of Musicians, as well as other 'free' compositions.

March 16th 2015:

Posted a student portfolio of compositions and arrangements to the London College of Music, West London University.

March 28th 2015:

Postman delivered an A4 size envelope full of good news: 1st student of mine to enter for a formal graded composition exam. gained a Distinction at Grade Two, London College of Music, with very encouraging comments.

March 29th 2015:

Holiday consultation with own student, working on getting last of two compositions for piano written in presentable fashion on a music software programme, for school Higher Music Course. Both compositions initiated in piano lessons along with programme notes and a commentary.

April 10th 2015:

Pleasant evening with dinner and music making. Plans made with student and parent for Grade Four, London College of Music composition exam, and ideas launched.

April 12th 2015:

Interest shown in my composition programme at a parent session which formed part of a two day Suzuki Piano Workshop in the Music Dept. at Cargilfield School, Edinburgh. Listened to a pupil's composition work in progress for piano.

September 7th 2015:

Workshop in the beautiful Perthshire countryside, in conjunction with the pupils of Carol Hamilton. In the morning some of my pupils collaborated with hers in a group music making making project directed by three of my older pupils - two were in S2 and one in S6, who managed each group very maturely while Carol and I assisted in the background. After lunch we were joined by some of my composer families who travelled up from Edinburgh for a concert of the group items prepared in the morning, as well as individual items. Great fun was had by all!

February 15th 2016:

Posted student portfolio of compositions to London College of Music, West London University.

March 13th 2016:

Composer recording day at a family's Edinburgh home. Group tone poem collections and individual items were all performed and will be converted into individual CDs. A fantastic experience with recording process undertaken by a keen techie minded pupil who had just inherited some equipment.