Tutor Profiles

Barbara Pommerenke-Steel | Alan Jones | Graeme Thomson | Calum Harbison | Les Donaghy | Eddie Smith | Peter Cooke | Adele Neilson

Tutor Profile - Barbara Pommerenke-Steel

	Location: Hamilton Instruments: Classical Mandolin Classical Guitar	Qualifications: Barbara studied Music in Berlin and at Strathclyde University. Diploma in mandolin teaching, Bundesakademie / Trossingen, Germany
Playing / Experience: Barbara is the LGMA's Musical Advisor and is the conductor of the adult mandolin and guitar orchestra Da Capo Alba and the youth orchestra MANGO. She teaches at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, and performs regularly in a piano & mandolin duo. Barbara has been on the committee of the European Guitar and Mandolin Association. Barbara is chairperson of the British BMG (Banjo, Mandolin, Guitar) Federation. Through her work with the BMG she has become involved in the development of the new syllabus for mandolin, which has been published by Victoria College of Music. Teaching: As the LGMA's principal tutor, Barbara runs several weekly mandolin courses for adults and children. Barbara teaches both adults and children, in classes and private tuition and conducts Da Capo Alba adult orchestra and MANGO youth orchestra. Barbara is a class teacher at a secondary school for young people with additional support needs. She co-founded the Lanarkshire Guitar and Mandolin Association and has designed, developed and delivered a wide range of music courses for young people, adults and professional musicians and tutors. See the Classes page for times and locations of Barbara's classes. Email Barbara at mandolinscotland@yahoo.co.uk

Tutor Profile - Alan Jones

	Location: Hamilton Instrument: Mandolin
Playing: Alan comes from a Celtic background and played in the ceilidh band Hot Toddy. Teaching: Alan teaches mandolin for Lanarkshire Guitar and Mandolin Association, Glasgow Fiddle Workshop and South Lanarkshire Council. See the Classes page for times and locations of Alan's classes. Email Alan at jonahj@blueyonder.co.uk

Tutor Profile - Graeme Thomson

	Location: East Kilbride Instrument: Mandolin	Qualifications: In progress: BEd (Hons) Music Teaching, RSAMD Grade 8 Mandolin (with Distinction), Victoria College of Music Advanced Higher Music Grade A (Training and Directing) BMG Mandolin Teachers Course 2006
Playing: Graeme has been playing mandolin since he joined the first LGMA mandolin class in 1998. Since then Graeme has won the British BMG Federation Mandolin solo competition three times and is the first Mandolin player to be accepted into the RSAMD. Graeme is currently leader of Da Capo Alba, the LGMA's senior mandolin and guitar orchestra and plays with the LGMA youth orchestra, Mango. Studying / Teaching: Graeme developed as a mandolin teacher with the LGMA through the Youth Music Initiative as a trainee tutor, working with existing tutors to gain experience. He now runs classes for both the LGMA and the Glasgow Fiddle Workshop teaching mandolin. Graeme believes that a good grounding in technique is essential to successful mandolin playing; however this must also be enjoyable, so pieces are integral to this systematic learning process. He is a great believer in the importance of music theory and notation due to the freedom it allows players. Graeme teaches both adults and children, in classes and private tuition and is fully Disclosure checked. See the Classes page for times and locations of Graeme's classes. Email Graeme at graemethomson@hotmail.co.uk

Tutor Profile - Calum Harbison

	Location: Hamilton Instruments: Guitar
Playing / Experience: Calum has been involved with the LGMA since it began in 1999. He grew up learning piano and took up guitar when he was a bit older. He plays guitar, mandola (in the Da Capo Alba orchestra), piano and church organ. He has been involved in church music for more years than he'd like to count and is responsible for the music in Trinity Church in Hamilton. In recent years he has arranged music for Da Capo Alba and MANGO, in particular adapting popular music for guitar and mandolin orchestra. Teaching: Calum began teaching guitar in Youth Clubs in Dundee and in Hamilton, and discovered that a lot of young people have great enthusiasm and often great talent for music which is waiting to be developed. His teaching responsibilities with LGMA are mainly in Rock & Pop Guitar, and he teaches three classes in Hamilton for the LGMA, working with young people aged 11 to 17 in a group situation which includes acoustic and electric guitars, beginners through to advanced players. Calum designs courses of music to suit the stage and musical styles of the young people. See the Classes page for times and locations of Calum's classes. Email Calum at calumkaren@yahoo.co.uk

Tutor Profile - Les Donaghy

	Location: Dunbartonshire and Lanarkshire Instruments: Mandolin, Guitar, Bass Guitar	Qualifications: BMG Mandolin Teachers' Certificate 2006
Playing / Experience: With an initial training in classical music, Les has experience of playing and teaching in almost all areas of music; from classical to rock, folk to pop and beyond. His early work saw him playing in theatres and for radio stations, so if you're of a certain age, you may well have heard Les on a jingle or two! In 2007, Les stepped down as the longest-serving leader of Da Capo Alba, the LGMA's adult mandolin and guitar orchestra. Teaching: Les has been a full-time teacher of stringed instruments, and in 2007 he became the first Council-appointed mandolin tutor in the UK. While Les works mainly in West Dunbartonshire, teaching several mandolin and guitar classes each week, he also tutors privately in both Dunbartonshire and Lanarkshire. While Les works mainly with children, he also has several adult students both in classes and as individuals. Les's focus is on building the appropriate skills within the player for them to achieve all they would wish to in their playing. While technique and discipline are important, Les is a firm believer that music is an art form, and therefore to be enjoyed, so learning with Les should be fun! Email Les at les@lomond-music.co.uk

Tutor Profile - Eddie Smith

	Location: Hamilton Instrument: Mandolin	Qualifications: MA (Hons) F.E.I.S. Principal Teacher of History at Strathaven Academy until 2006 BMG Mandolin Teachers' Certificate 2006
Playing / Experience: I have played guitar since age 12 and have worked as a semi-professional musician in many club and dance bands. I have been playing mandolin seriously since 2001 and am a member of Da Capo Alba. I have a wide knowledge of all musical styles and as a member of Comhaltas Ceoltori Eireann, the Irish Traditional Music Association, I specialise in this genre. I also sing and accompany myself on guitar. Teaching: I have 30 years experience of teaching in schools throughout Lanarkshire. I have been teaching adult beginners at Glasgow Fiddle Workshop since 2006 and also teach classes at East Kilbride Arts Centre. In my classes I focus on good technique and ensemble playing. See the Classes page for times and locations of Eddie's classes. Email Eddie at all.smiths@btopenworld.com

Tutor Profile - Peter Cooke

	Location: East Kilbride Instrument: Guitar	Qualifications: BMus (Hons) in Classical Guitar, RSAMD Endoresment in guitar Teaching, RSAMD
Playing/Experience: Peter began studying classical guitar at the age of 10. As a solo guitarist Peter has performed in Glasgow, Stafford, Tixall and Lichfield, and has taken part in the Dudley Competitive Music Festival winning both the Guitar Recital and Overall Festival Recital trophies. Performances with The Lobos Classical Guitar Duo include the renowned De Vere Belfry in the West Midlands and playing for HM The Queen's reception at Stafford County Council Chambers. Peter has played with the National Youth Guitar Orchestra, the Staffordshire Guitar Orchestra and the Staffordshire Youth Jazz Orchestra. With the L&V duo, lute song has been heard in venues such as Trades Hall, Glasgow and St Mary's Monastery, Perth. Outside of classical music Peter has performed with various rock bands, playing both guitar and drums. In January 2008 Peter began playing acoustic guitar for contemporary folk singer Eilidh Grant as part of The Eilidh Grant Band. Other instruments: Whilst at the RSAMD Peter began studying Lute with Dr Peter Argondizza. He has since provided renaissance music for concerts and functions including medieval themed banquets. As well as performing solo lute works he brings the songs of the renaissance back to life as part of the L&V Duo. See the Classes page for times and locations of Peter's classes. Email Peter at classicalguitar@hotmail.co.uk

Tutor Profile - Adele Neilson

	Location: East Kilbride Instrument: Guitar	Qualifications: BMus (Hons) in Classical Guitar, RSAMD
Playing/Experience: Adele has been playing guitar since the age of eight and has become one of Scotland's most vibrant young performers after graduating. Her successes to date include obtaining a scholarship for her undergraduate study, first prizes in the Chanterelle and the North East Scotland Guitar Society competitions, as well as performing a British Premiere of South American music in London in March 2007. During her four years at the RSAMD, she has attended classes with great masters such as Pavel Steidl, Gary Ryan, Tomasz Zawierucha and the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet. Adele played the Malcolm Arnold Serenade with the RSAMD String Orchestra in February 2008. Teaching: She teaches at St George's School for Girls in Edinburgh and also with Renfrewshire Council. See the Classes page for times and locations of Adele's classes.

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