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Information About Calum - Gordon teacher -

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This is how 2 referees rated Calum:

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Instruments Taught

Bagpipes

Hourly Fee
Beginner £30.00
Intermediate £30.00
Advanced £30.00
Expert £30.00
Casual £40.00

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Personal Description:

I'm originally from the West Coast of Scotland and learnt my piping at school. I live in rural Scotland and I'm lucky enough to make a full time living from this wonderful instrument through teaching, performing and more.

When I'm not fiddling with reeds, transcribing tunes, playing with pipe bands, or ironing a kilt, I occasionally scratch out a tune on the fiddle and amuse myself by pretending to learn the accordion.

Tutoring Experience:

I started teaching on an ad-hoc basis at university, mostly supporting fellow band members, and then later took on more formal roles tutoring a group of youngsters (a few of whom are now professional musicians themselves). A move to Edinburgh a few years later heralded a change to more formal one-on-one lessons, which is the majority of what I've done since. I have taught piping full time since 2014.

My pupils have released CDs, performed at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, and play in folk bands. I've yet to produce a first rate Gold Medal competitor, but I live in hope!

Tutoring Approach:

I'm interested in the psychology and pedagogy of music teaching, and I tend to organise my teaching around my understanding of how musicality is developed. I believe that in a sense, the learner teaches themself, and my role is simply to facilitate this process. I talk quite a lot about practice, how to organise it and how to work on it.

I am also fairly experienced in remedial work, for those who have been unlucky enough to have poor tuition, or have taught themselves or who haven't played in a number of years.

I teach using the framework of the SCQF (Scottish Credit & Qualifications Framework, since you asked!) exams set by the PDQB (Piping and Drumming Qualifications Board), although I tend to teach a bigger repertoire at each level than the minimum required by the syllabi. I'm openminded about whether or not pupils go ahead and take the actual exams, as I realise not everyone wants or needs the bit of paper. However, for those who want to mark off clear milestones, the exams are an excellent progressive set of goals to work through.

I teach primarily online, though students in Berwickshire are welcome for face to face lessons.

I charge lesson fees on a monthly basis at a flat rate of £134.40 per month (the figure of £30 quoted is the approximate hourly equivalent). Pupils will normally have a fixed lesson slot from week to week. I will refund this website's contact fee in the first invoice.

Tutor Resources: (free to download)

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Native Language: English (British)
Availability: Weekdays (all times)
References Available: Yes (✔ On File)

Qualifications:

  • MOD (2000) - MTQ1 (Other) (✘ Not On File)

Tags: Gordon Bagpipes teacher, Gordon Beginner Bagpipes teacher, Gordon Intermediate Bagpipes teacher, Gordon Advanced Bagpipes teacher, Gordon Expert Bagpipes teacher, Gordon Casual Bagpipes teacher