Information About Jay - Colchester teacher

Personal Description:

Jay’s wide experience in the music industry spans nearly 4 decades and includes almost every aspect of musical life, from playing guitar with artists including Roger Waters, Mike Oldfield, Suede, Scott Walker, Slim Whitman, David Allen Coe, Kirsty McColl, David Dundas, Westernhagen, David Mead, Henning Staerk, Toyah Wilcox, Bucks Fizz, Peter Jay, The Stiff All-Stars, Michael Kamen, Kevin Rowland, Dexy’s Midnight Runners, etc. to being signed as an artist to a major label; from writing music for TV and Films to setting up his own label and publishing company: from playing gigs in venues ranging from wine-bars to football stadiums, running his own studio and demonstrating high-tech music technology for Roland, Digidesign, and more.

Jay was recently a judge on the London Underground panel awarding licenses to buskers and delivers masterclasses on stagecraft and songwriting for the London Mayors Office.

Jay owns a recording studio on Mersea Island on the North Essex coast (driftwoodstudio.uk). This is a bespoke private recording facility for music production, tuition, etc. Recent projects include
producing a new recording of Steve Reich’s “Electric Counterpoint,”
co-writing with artists including Tony Shevlin, Nina Ferro,
library music composition/production in genres including electronica, rocktronica, Western Swing,
EPs for artists including Andy Williamson, Marcus Valance, Nina Ferro, and more.

Jay’s ongoing live work includes taking the role of First Guitar in the first full-format live production of Mike Oldfield’s “Tubular Bells” since 1976.

Tutoring Experience:

Jay’s experience as a teacher includes course-writing and teaching at all levels (including B.Mus) and delivering masterclasses on various aspects of music composition, production and delivery, stagecraft, performance,etc.
From 2013-2015 Jay was Deputy and Acting Programme Leader on the BA (Hons) Songwriting course at the ICMP, running all aspects of the programme while the PL was on maternity leave. Jay was involved in the QAA/HER review process and in the forefront of implementing the Virtual Learning Environment at the college.
2008 – 2016 Institute of Contemporary Music Performance. As member of guitar and songwriting faculty Jay has delivered on BMus, BA Creative Musicianship, BA Songwriting… Higher Diploma and Diploma programmes. Jay wrote degree-level courses on Music Technology, Live Technology, Creating Music, Music for New Media, Showcase Workshop, Digital Audio Recording, Performance Project Workshop.
2014-15 Colchester Institute. Jay delivered elements of the RockSchool syllabus at FE level.
1975 – current Private teaching.
2004 – 2005 Guitar-X faculty member, teaching on degree and Higher Diploma programmes, guitar, live performance and music technology courses. Wrote and delivered music technology course.
1987-1992 Faculty member at The Guitar Institute, teaching guitar and live performance workshops. Wrote Country Guitar course.
1988 – present day Masterclasses and clinics at a range of private colleges and other institutions, public masterclasses and gigs with Jerry Donahue, The London Mayors Office, TfL.

Tutoring Approach:

Jay delivers jargon-free, practical tuition for the real world of project studios and contemporary recording studios. Testimonial from a recent client: "Jay was a knowledgeable and patient mentor throughout the course, and I had very positive and productive experience. Despite the short time frame (3 days), I learnt far more than I had in entirety of my time hopping between online tutorials. Regardless of your level of expertise in audio engineering, I’d highly recommend studying with Jay. I am hoping to return to Driftwood Studios in the not so distant future."