Information About John - North Shields teacher -

(2 reviews)

Personal Description:

Taking up the violin as a child in Birmingham, John studied Western classical music and jazz at the Royal College of Music (BMus Hons) followed by a postgraduate in jazz at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (MMus).

As well as working with orchestras including the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Royal Northern Sinfonia, and performing as a chamber musician in prestigious venues including Queen Elizabeth Hall, St. David’s Hall, and Wigmore Hall, John has performed with renowned artists including Stewart Copeland (The Police), guitarist John Williams, Junior Marvin (The Wailers), and saxophonist Chris Potter. He has appeared at everything from The Last Night of the Proms to the London Jazz Festival and toured internationally (including to Bosnia, Serbia, China, Japan, Thailand, Portugal, France and Switzerland).

A busy session musician, John’s playing has featured on Bridgerton, adverts for Adidas and Liverpool FC, as well as on records by artists including The Pale White, Sway Dasafo, KSI, Kid Creole and the Coconuts, and Othon.

He studied South Indian Carnatic violin for several years with Dr. Jyotsna Srikanth, and has, since 2021, been studying shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute) with grandmaster Cornelius Shinzen Boots of the Black Earth Shakuhachi School.

John is the co-founder and director of Turquoise Coconut, an independent record label with an eclectic catalogue. Guided by his study of Buddhism and meditation practice, John is always seeking ways in which music can be a force for social justice, and regularly organises fundraising concerts and recordings. He is currently pursuing a PhD at Newcastle University, where he is the recipient of the Clara Whittaker scholarship.

Tutoring Experience:

I am a tutor at the Centre for Advanced Training at The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, as well as a senior lecturer in jazz violin, Western classical, and composition at Leeds Conservatoire, teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. I have worked extensively as a private violin teacher, beginning in Birmingham in 2008, continuing in London, and now in the North East. I am the co-director of Mudita Arts, North Shields, where lessons take place.

Tutoring Approach:

My focus is to help students develop as instrumentalists whilst also broadening their horizons and imagination. Through studying a mixture of repertoire from various styles and exploring different approaches to improvisation, students are encouraged to nurture their unique creative voice in a playful, curious, and supportive atmosphere.