GCSE, BTEC & A-level Composition
I have been working in high schools and colleges teaching many hundreds of students the rewarding and challenging art of composition for 18 years.
Composition is a core part of almost all Music syllabuses, but in my experience many teachers either have a lack of experience teaching it, or a shortage of time being able to give enough support to students in a whole-class setting.
This is where I can offer support. Most of my work is peripatetic, one to one during the school day, where I assist the students in realising their musical ideas and helping shape their composition into something that will achieve the very highest grades and levels. Sometimes these lessons are funded by the school or music department, and other times parents or guardians pay just like any other instrumental lesson.
Mike is our resident Composition tutor at Great Baddow High School and provides an outstanding education provision supporting our students to enhance and further their composition interests. Not only is this academic for realising the GCSE Music requirements but Mike also takes great care in learning the students’ personal music interests and allowing them to explore these. Mike is, without doubt, an excellent tutor and facilitates exceptional compositions that achieve high grades and personal reward for our students.
Mr Bentley (Head of Music, Great Baddow High School)
I have extensive experience in engaging with the widest variety of learners you can imagine, both in terms of ability as well as learning approaches. From extraordinarily talented musicians writing film themes for full orchestra to absolute musical beginners, I am able to quickly assess the kind of help and input the student requires in order for them to maximise their capabilities while producing top quality coursework. I have enjoyed the challenges of working with young people with a variety of learning challenges and neurodiversity such as Aspergers, Autism, Dyslexia, Deafness and others. These experiences have helped me hone my ability to curate specialised learning pathways for students of all backgrounds to succeed in creating interesting and high-scoring compositions.
I aim to enthuse students by giving them the confidence to develop their musical ideas and experience the joy of creating their own original compositions.
Mike has been an outstanding member of the music team at DPHS for 8 years now, teaching composition across a variety courses and Key Stages. Mike delivers expert 1:1 composition guidance to students for Level 2 Music Practice (production route), GCSE Music and A Level Music and Music Technology. Since Mike began at Debden, our compositions have been grade 7 and above for all students with a record number of students achieving 100%. We frequently get commended by examiners for our variety of genres and mixture of midi and audio. Mike also plays a huge role in the recording, mixing and mastering of our solo and ensemble performances at GCSE and A Level. Our examiners reports have consistently commented on the high quality of our recordings.
Ms Russell (Head of Creative Arts, Debden Park High School)
Here is a list of some of the institutions for whom I’ve taught composition and/or music technology. Some of my working relationships with these schools run to almost 20 years.
Chelmer Valley High School
Debden Park High School
Great Baddow High School
Colchester Institute
Ark John Keats Academy
Maltings Academy
Greensward Academy
Ormiston Academy
Seevic College
Maltings Academy
In addition, I have been hired for one-off or recurring sessions at many more schools, as well as delivering primary school music technology whole class experiences.
If you or your child would like some support for GCSE/A-level. composition, or you’d just like to start composing as a hobby, please feel free to get in contact with me and see how I can help and support your goals.