Christopher

I am a recent Music graduate from King’s College, Cambridge, where I also sang in the world-renowned college choir and in the close-harmony group 'The King’s Men', so I am familiar with a range of styles.

I have recently become a freelance music and university tutor, teaching pupils at schools such as Bradford Grammar. I will be giving tuition to Oxbridge Music applicants here, and I gave a talk at the school in March on the Oxbridge Application process and on Choral Scholarship applications in and outside of university as well as assisting Year Seven pupils with their compositions in an academic music class. My composition skills include sixteenth or eighteenth century styles – Bach Chorales, Fugue and composition in the style of Tallis, Byrd, Taverner and Palestrina.

I am also a singing teacher for the Diocese of Leeds, and I teach members of the choirs of Leeds Cathedral and St Joseph's Church, Bradford. I teach both beginners and intermediate singers, focusing on technique, repertoire for grades and music for church services when necessary. I am also a capable accompanist for my pupils. Overall, I try to make singing fun!

In addition, I am also confident teaching up to A Level French and German, for which I have A-Level Qualifications (A-Grades for both, and additionally international level B2 for German - 'upper intermediate').

Tutoring Experience

Academic Qualifications:

• King's College, Cambridge (2016–19):
BA Hons, Music: 2:1 (Class I in 16th and 18th century stylistic composition; Class I in Vocal Performance).

• Prize (King's College, 2019):
Awarded the Harmer Prize for a particularly meritorious performance of church music.

• The 'Inlingua' Language School, Salzburg 2018:
German International Level B2 (Upper Intermediate).

Music Qualifications:
• DipABRSM 2016 (Vocal Performance – Distinction)
• ABRSM Grade 8 2015 (Organ – Distinction)
• ABRSM Grade 8 2013 (Piano – Distinction)

Woodhouse Grove School (2008–2015, Music Scholar):

• A Levels: Music (A*), French (A), German (A), History AS Level (A).
• GCSEs: Nine subjects (all at A*), including English, Maths, French, German and Music.

Teaching Experience:

• Visiting Music Teacher (March 2020 – present): Giving academic music tuition to Oxbridge Music applicants – an example of this is at Bradford Grammar School.

• Freelance University Tutor (March 2020 – present): Previous commitments include giving a presentation at Bradford Grammar School on Oxbridge Music applications and advice on how to apply for a Choral Scholarship.

• Singing Teacher for the Diocese of Leeds Music Programme, January 2020 – present (Part-time):
I teach both beginners and intermediate singers, focusing on technique, repertoire for grades and music for church services when necessary. I am also a capable accompanist for my pupils. Overall, I try to make singing fun!

• Year Three teaching assistant – volunteering for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, 2014:
Assisting once a week in a local primary school, giving individual help to children with their reading. Questioning them on vocabulary, plot lines, how to read fluently and with style.

• Music theory teaching assistant, Hereford Cathedral (2015–16): Individually helping choristers once a week with Grades 1–5 music theory.

• Assistant Teacher (work experience) at the MyPlace Summer School in Koblenz, Germany, August 2016:
Teaching German and English to teenagers, and supervision of afternoon activities.

Informal Help:

• Supporting a school pupil with their A Level composition coursework.

Voluntary support:

• Assistance with a student's Personal Statement (September–October 2019):
Giving an overview of university, giving aid for writing a Personal Statement, and giving comments and targets on the first and final drafts.

Extra-Curricular Activities:

King's College Choir (2016–19):
• Daily services, concerts and international tours (USA 2017, 2019 & Australia 2019).
• Solo performances in CD recordings and in the Christmas TV and radio broadcasts (2018 and 2019): We Three Kings, arr. Neary; Tota pulchra es Maria, Bruckner; I saw Three Ships arr. Preston.
• Membership of the close-harmony group The King’s Men.

Hereford Cathedral Choir (2015–16):
• Daily services.
• 300th Anniversary Concert for the Three Choirs Festival at Buckingham Palace attended by HRH The Prince of Wales.
• Guards’ Chapel Advent Service, London.
• Gloucester Three Choirs Festival 2016.

Project Organisation:

Historical Compline Service, King's College Chapel, February 2019:

• An historically-informed service set in the early Tudor period. This aimed to give an insight into the atmosphere in which music from this era would have been performed. The service was very well-attended, and a positive review was written in the Church Times in March 2019.

• Researching and writing publicly about the historical context, using musical and religious sources to compile the Order of Service.

• Directing a choir of 12 people in a nine-part piece and negotiating rehearsal times. Preparation in advance of rehearsals, marking specific passages, planning rehearsal time for each passage.

Organ playing:

• Playing hymns and voluntaries at school and in local churches; playing in national and international concerts, such as at St Nicholas' Church, Prague.

The Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award (2015):

• Walking expeditions lasting two, three and four days.
• Presentation of a particular topic for each expedition.
• Physical, skill and volunteering areas.

Tutoring Approach

My approach is to explain concepts and methods slowly, clearly and in interesting ways to the students, to be patient and understanding in all areas, and to give detailed feedback. I believe that everyone learns in a different way, and so I am eager to adapt my teaching depending on the pupil. I teach all standards, from pupils who are struggling to pupils who are doing well but who would like to do better. I encourage everyone to do the best they can.