I’m often asked if I teach

usually I reply that I do but it’s not something I’ve done a huge amount of

I’ve had students over the years and enjoy the process of teaching

but it’s never been my main work

then one day I realised that I have in fact

done much more teaching that I thought

~ I’ve taught myself


I’ve taught my self to play lots of instruments

from diverse families in disparate styles

more importantly I’ve done so without really noticing

that this was an unusual thing to do

and with a continuous sense of joy and exploration

I learn through play 

some people think that play is a small word

associated only with children, which I find sad

adults need to play as much, if not more, than children

and music is a wonderful way to do this


Indeed we call it 'playing' not working

even at a professional level we ‘play’ gigs and concerts

for me play is about pattern forming

about repetition and variation

structure and freedom, chaos and form

about the physicality of making sounds

with pieces of wood and string, skin and metal

about finding out what sounds a new instrument can make

and how those sounds can be pieced together

to invite this glorious illusive spirit we call music

So over the years I’ve learned a lot

and in the process I’ve learned how to learn, or at least how I learn

in teaching friends and students I’ve also been lucky enough 

to explore something of how other people learn

and have developed some resources and skills around this too

playing lots of quirky traditional folk instruments from different cultures

has been a rich source of musical inspiration and education

as many of these have limited abilities

limitations can be a nutritious food for creativity

inviting one to tread new paths with fresh patterns

This has been my path and one of my great life joys 

I’ve learned to love sharing it with enthusiasm 


I have enough Western Classical knowledge

to express the things I know in that language where required

but not so much that all other tongues have been excluded or lessened

So if you'd like to explore playing with sound 

and experience what you can achieve together

with an array of fun and unusual 'adult toys'

then I’d love to meet you


If you prefer to do Grade exams in the western style

then I’ll happily recommend a friend or colleague

who may be able to help with this