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Since September 2021
Instructor since September 2021
Music Theory lessons with Dr Jonathan (in person or online)
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From 115.29 C$ /h
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*** Music Theory lessons with Dr Jonathan ***

I am a composer and educator based in South-East London who has recently obtained a PhD in composition from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, having previously studied at Cambridge and the Royal Academy of Music. My passion for music feeds directly into my passion for teaching, and I hope that I can inspire as many people as possible to deepen their love of music by learning to understand it from the inside out.

I have been teaching music for over 10 years both in schools and as a private tutor, ranging from interactive workshops with primary students to university-level one-to-one composition. I have previously been the resident composition teacher at Eton College (2015-17) and City of London School for Girls (2017-20), as well as delivering workshops at schools around the country in a visiting capacity. I am as comfortable working with students taking their very first steps in theory and composition as I am with those who are more advanced, and can teach across a variety of styles and genres including classical, jazz, rock and musical theatre.

As a tutor, I always seek a student-led approach, adapting content and delivery to individual tutees’ needs. Above all, whether in theory or composition, I always try to enthuse students by conveying my own love of music and encouraging theirs. No element of music or musical development can be considered in isolation, and so I seek to link up whatever a student is working on with their wider musicianship and listening – classical or otherwise – to put things into context. Another important part of my teaching practice is preparing tailor-made resources for students which are theirs to keep, ensuring that any material covered can be revised and consolidated.

Time is split between teaching key concepts (including providing tailor-made resources) and looking through student work, always balancing the discussion between aspects of the work which are more or less successful. While most of my theory students take ABRSM theory grades, I also teach theory and musicianship more broadly without focusing on specific exams and boards.
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At teacher's location :
  • London SE10, UK
Age
Teenagers (13-17 years old)
Adults (18-64 years old)
Seniors (65+ years old)
Student level
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Duration
60 minutes
The class is taught in
English
Availability of a typical week
(GMT -05:00)
New York
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04-08
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12-16
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20-24
*** Composition lessons with Dr Jonathan ***

I am a composer and educator based in South-East London who has recently obtained a Ph.D. in composition from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, having previously studied at Cambridge and the Royal Academy of Music. My passion for music feeds directly into my passion for teaching, and I hope that I can inspire as many people as possible to deepen their love of music by learning to understand it from the inside out.

I have been teaching music for over 10 years both in schools and as a private tutor, ranging from interactive workshops with primary students to university-level one-to-one composition. I have previously been the resident composition teacher at Eton College (2015-17) and City of London School for Girls (2017-20), as well as delivering workshops at schools around the country in a visiting capacity. I am as comfortable working with students taking their very first steps in theory and composition as I am with those who are more advanced and can teach across a variety of styles and genres including classical, jazz, rock, and musical theatre.

As a tutor, I always seek a student-led approach, adapting content and delivery to individual tutees’ needs. Above all, whether in theory or composition, I always try to enthuse students by conveying my own love of music and encouraging theirs. No element of music or musical development can be considered in isolation, and so I seek to link up whatever a student is working on with their wider musicianship and listening – classical or otherwise – to put things into context. Another important part of my teaching practice is preparing tailor-made resources for students which are theirs to keep, ensuring that any material covered can be revised and consolidated.

The core of my composition teaching is of course discussing and dissecting students’ music, but alongside this go technical exercises, score analysis, music history and live listening which feedback into the compositional process and put the music written into context. Most importantly, I meet students on their own stylistic ground, helping them to achieve the best possible realization of their personal artistic ambition while also encouraging them to listen and explore as widely as possible.
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Regarding my previous experience in tutoring, I have given 1000's of hours of guitar tuition both privately and in school settings. These experiences have given me a keen sense of how to motivate students and offer them concise and useful advice. I have worked at many excellent institutions in the past, including Streatham and Clapham Girls' School (one of the top private girls schools in the country), Orpington Music Studio, The Royal Arsenal School of Music and Canada Blanch Music Academy.

I have found over my experiences of being taught and then eventually teaching that the best method for getting the most out of a student is to listen. If the tutor is acutely aware of where their student needs help and where they are already confident, they can tailor classes carefully to make the best use of the time allowed and to get the maximum potential out of them. This philosophy leads to classes being student-oriented, in that the student leads the tuition. The tutor acts as a supportive crutch, first working through problems together, then allowing them to explore it themselves with the tutor to lean back on.

In my first years of training, like many others, I completed grades. Because of this I have a very good knowledge of what it takes to move along this system. However, the grade system should not be seen as the only way to learn an instrument. The same achievement can be gained through simple discussion between student and teacher and the correct prescription of pieces and studies to work on. I am more than happy to walk down whatever avenue they wish to explore.

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Artist Development Insights: Learn effective strategies for collaborating with artists and bringing their musical visions to life.

Efficient Workflow: Master the skills to deliver polished compositions, songs and recordings.

Creative Collaboration: Enhance your collaboration skills to foster productive partnerships with other musicians and industry professionals.


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Whether you're an aspiring artist, producer, composer or simply passionate about music, these lessons are individually tailored to you: designed to inspire and nurture your creativity.

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Composition Techniques: Learn how to structure songs, craft memorable melodies, harmonies, and rhythms, and bring your musical ideas to life.

Audio Mixing: Master the art of balancing tracks, EQ, compression, and reverb to create professional-quality mixes that stand out.

Plugin Use: Explore Logic Pro’s vast library of stock plugins and third-party options to sculpt unique sounds and enhance your productions.

Sound Manipulation: Dive into advanced techniques like pitch correction, time-stretching, and creative sound design to transform your music.

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Good-fit Instructor Guarantee
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