Information About Michael - Sandy teacher -

(1 review)

Personal Description:

Michael is a classically-trained composer and pianist, now working as a freelance composer, orchestrator, arranger and teacher. He won a scholarship to study composition at the Royal Academy of Music under Paul Patterson, graduating with First Class Honours in 2003. He was awarded first prize at the National Young Composer of the Year Competition in 1997 and was awarded third prize in the Oticons International Film Scoring Competition, 2014.

In Summer 2013, Michael scored two short Thai films by Disspong Sampattavanich. Playground won first prize at the Department of Land Transport Short Film Competition, Thailand in 2013, and The Guardians won the best film and best actor prizes at the 9 FilmFest Bangkok Short Film Festival in 2013.

Since late 2012, Michael has been working as an orchestrator and/or composer of additional music on twelve feature films scored by George Kallis.

Michael has access to a professionally-equipped studio centered around a Hackintosh running Cubase or Logic Pro. From the studio, he is able to produce orchestral/instrumental mock-ups and realisations of the highest quality with a quick turnaround.

Tutoring Experience:

I have taught music technology peripatetically at Eton College, Berkshire, and have given lessons to classes at Channing School, Highgate. I have also taught composition/music technology on a HEFCE summer school held at the Royal Academy of Music.

Privately, I have had a small number of private pupils studying piano, composition and theory over the years.

Tutoring Approach:

I feel it's important to ascertain exactly what it is each pupil wants to achieve from their lessons, and to tailor the lessons to suit each individual as appropriate.

I always try to explain everything in detail. One problem I had with the tuition I received at school is that many teachers simply told us facts, but never gave us the reasoning behind them.