Peripatetic Music Lessons
An opportunity for additional learning
Here at Smithdon we offer an opportunity for students to continue their music education outside of the music classroom. We offer private music lessons taught by specialist teachers throughout the school day.
Students come out of their normal lessons for half an hour each week to work on their chosen instrument with their teacher. The lesson time changes weekly to ensure students are not always missing the same curriculum lesson; however it is the student's responsibility to make up any content missed.
We currently offer lessons in guitar, bass, drums, piano, woodwind, voice and violin, but are happy to look for additional instrumental teachers if students show interest in a particular instrument.
There is a fee associated with these lessons, however there is additional support provided for students in need. If you are interested in starting lessons, please see Miss Miller to pick up a registration form.
Meet out Peri's!
Emily Savage - Woodwind
I have a BA Honours degree in Music and have been teaching instrumental woodwind in Norfolk and Cambridgeshire since 2000. I work principally for the Norfolk Music Service in primary and secondary schools, but I also teach on a freelance basis, having taught at Smithdon High School for about fifteen years now. I enjoy working with adults and children of all ages, and am a long-standing tutor and director of the saxophone ensemble at West Norfolk Music Centre. More recently, I’ve been invited to join the WNAT team of music teachers who will be working in conjunction with the Norfolk Music Hub to redress the lack of uptake in lessons on orchestral instruments; ensemble opportunities will also be made available to pupils.
Besides teaching, I’m an active musician and play in various bands, including the Alan Norris Big Band, Centre Stage Swing Band and the Regis Saxophone Quartet.
Eddie Seales - Double Reed and Orchestra
Eddie not only does he conduct our Junior Trust Orchestra Eddie also works with students teaching them double reed instruments like Oboe or Bassoon.
Outside of school Eddie not only teaches but has his own band playing a wide assortment of styles of music for a variety of events.
David Maddison - Brass
David Maddison teaches brass instruments across the West Norfolk Academy Trust, including trumpet, cornet, french horn, trombone, baritone, euphonium and tuba. Having originally learned to play trumpet when he was a student at Springwood High School, he has a Bachelor of Music Honours degree from the University of Birmingham. David is a professional musician and has experience performing across the UK and Europe in many wide-ranging genres including funk, jazz, blues, soul, folk, classical, pop, rock, reggae, ska and punk!
Suzanne Collins - Strings
Suzanne has a BA(Hons) in Music from Anglia Polytechnic University and a PGCE in Early Primary Education from University of East Anglia.
She was a classroom teacher for 13 years and then changed her focus to provide violin, viola and cello tuition in local primary and secondary schools and at the West Norfolk Music Centre. Suzanne has played with the Norfolk Symphony Orchestra since 1999.
Benjamin Howell - Piano
Benjamin Howell is a Teacher, Author and Performer
He currently works as a music teacher across schools in Norfolk, providing individual and class lessons, along with leading lectures and masterclasses for music students and teachers. Experiences also include teaching music in India, South Africa, Thailand and the USA.
Benjamin is the Regional Organiser for EPTA UK. Benjamin is one half of ‘The Missing Coda’ and has created and published resources, masterclasses and performances for teachers and students. Benjamin has toured the world as a musical director, pianist, keyboard and trumpet player. His musical career has seen him working on board cruise ships, as well as in a vast array of chamber recitals, choirs, musicals, pantomimes and UK theatre productions. On a local level, Benjamin works as a church organist. His interests include travelling, teaching English abroad (TEFL) during the school holidays, cars and sports.
Website: www.themissingcodamusic.com
Dan Ashby - Guitar, Drums and Bass
Dan has been playing musical instruments for as long as he can remember and by the age of 16 he was teaching at a local music school. After obtaining A levels in maths, physics and computer science he decided that instead of becoming an evil super villain he should make music his full time occupation!
Over the years he has performed all over the UK in various venues including pubs, holiday parks and theatres and also on cruise ships and hotels in various parts of the world that are in general much warmer and more exotic than the UK. However, once the nice weather and rock and roll lifestyle became boring, he relocated back to the UK and now teaches guitar, bass and drums both privately and in various schools around the area. He plays in several different bands and still refuses to grow up and be an adult.
Rebecca Harrington - Voice
Rebecca is the newest addition to our peripetetic teaching team. Rebecca teaches singing through the College of West Anglia, privately and now with Smithdon.
In addition Rebecca has her own studei, Harrington Performing Arts in Downham Market where she teaches singing, dancing and acting.
