Information About Douglas - Renfrew teacher

Personal Description:

I will only be able to offer tuiton ONLINE! I felt that you should be aware of this before investing any further reading time.

I have a wealth of experience as a performer and a tutor in various settings around the world! Given the recent global developments, I'm re-engaging with tutition and have complete flexibility in terms of who and when I can teach, working from my home set-up and offering high-quality online tuition. I currently work with a UK group, the Tenement Jazz Band, arranging and archiving older New Orleans Jazz material to be ready to roll once things return to some kind of normal. We're aiming to do a recording sometime later this year and produce a live concert before Christmas. I also work in Belgium as a freelance tutor and aim to work between the two countries, with the majority of my work being done over the web.

Tutoring Experience:

Drake Music Scotland - Associate Musician September 2018 - 2020
Working with children to create music in Scotland who have learning difficulties. Have previously worked with a school that specialises in children with autism, aiming towards a performance at a venue in the city, playing with other groups associated with Drake Music Scotland.

Assistant Tutor/Resident Musician – Tinderbox Orchestra- Edinburgh 2010 - 2020
My role varied considerably but generally involved helping out with various aspects of running the orchestra and delivering a unique opportunity for young musicians aged 13-25. These roles included being a tutor within the rhythm section, maintaining and setting up equipment, leading sectionals and on occasion full rehearsals, checking scores, marketing and putting up posters/handing out flyers, orchestrating and planning aspects for performance, stage plans and spec sheets and looking after the members of the orchestra.

Sounds of Palestine - April -July 2017 

10 weeks in Bethlehem teaching double bass to young children, aged 6-10, in an orchestral environment, akin to El Sistema. Other highlights included working and performing with musicians in the local scene and developing an idea of Palestinian and Syrian songs as well as learning some introductory Arabic. I was also pulled in to cover other instrument lessons or provide accompaniment as and when was needed to help with the running of the school.


Volunteer Music Workshop Leader - Project Hope, Palestine - 11/07/2016 - 1/09/2016

Role involved arranging daily lessons and workshops for young people and children ranging from age 4 to 25 in up to 12 classes for Summer Camps and Summer School programs across the West Bank city of Nablus, as well as other places in the Occupied Territories. Working alone for one week but with a partner for 6 weeks, we led choral ensembles, composition and singing workshops and when we had the opportunity, one on one instrumental lessons. The aim was to raise confidence and empower the children and young people through music and to also provide some much needed respite from the situation at present. 



Project Band Tutor - September 2017- June 2019
Working from Aberdeen Performing Arts at the Lemon Tree to deliver weekly workshops on songwriting, theory, recording and all other practical aspects of working in the music industry. Involved a once weekly commute from Edinburgh for a 2 hour session, and put in charge of approximately 20 young people, aged 15 - 18.



Ukulele Tutor - Wester Hailes Education Centre March 2014 - December 2014

Main duties included leading group lessons on how to play Ukulele. Participants were older (60+ years) and were led through ten weeks of tuition. In total, two terms were taught.

Tutoring Approach:

I have a broad approach towards music, looking to explore harmony within existing materials (pop music, jazz harmony, classical harmony) or working on original music through compositions on open source notation programs such at Musescore. As well as writing music, I frequently enjoy recording materials and enjoy sharing my parts and ideas within my bands and can offer up advice on how to do this as well. Composing and making music online is more important than ever these days so I believe that knowing how to communicate and work together in this manner is essential.

I also feel that music is one of the most important languages that humans have developed and learning how to engage and express ourselves through it is a process that gives us immense release and pleasure, ensuring well-being and connection to others on a much deeper, emotional level. I find it a privilege to be able to guide others in discovering their own way of understanding music and what it means to them, whether that means playing comfortably as a hobby or really trying to research and find the sound they're looking for.