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