Nigel

I am a multi-instrumentalist, playing guitar, cello and percussion to professional level. I also play bass, keyboard, drums, vocals, recorder, trombone and most other brass. I have over 40 years' experience as a performer, playing in orchestras, brass bands, jazz and rock groups. I am fluent in the musical language of many different cultures, including classical (historical to contemporary), jazz, rock, R&B, electronic, African, Indian, Indonesian and Caribbean. In my own performance and composition, I take influence from all of these cultures to create new sounds and textures that reflect the global society of the 21st century.

Tutoring Experience

I have 35 years of teaching experience at all levels from early years to post-graduate, although I mostly work in Further and Higher Education. I designed and delivered the internationally acclaimed BA Honours Music Composition for Film and Media degree course at Northbrook College in Worthing, training many successful composers of music for film, TV, advertising and computer games. My specialist areas are cross-cultural fusion, polyrhythms, harmony, orchestration, improvisation and the practical application of music theory.

Tutoring Approach

I believe that active listening is the key to understanding how music works. I believe that there is only one musical language, but many different dialects. Comparing music from different cultures usually requires a shift in perspective: often, we only hear the differences, but as we become more familiar with the sound, we start to find similarities and appreciate the unique qualities of each culture. If we apply this philosophy to life in general, I believe that the world will become a better place for everybody.