Brendan

I have always been passionate about music, and it is exciting to have built up knowledge and experience that I can share with others. Since 2012 I have been teaching piano and trumpet around London, and have greatly enjoyed seeing my students progress. In lessons, I always try to strike a balance between creating an enjoyable learning environment, and encouraging students to stretch themselves. I feel that this gives my students the best possible chance to progress whilst having fun learning their instrument. As well as teaching, I perform regularly on both instruments and hope that my students will be able to enjoy the experience of making music with others as soon as possible!

Availability: I am flexible with my availability, but would prefer weekdays, either during the day or in the evening.

Willing to travel: 2 miles

Experience: My passion for music began at an early age, when my dad would teach me Scottish fiddle tunes on the piano. I began piano lessons with the Suzuki method aged 6, and trumpet lessons at the age of 8. I spent 6 years at St Mary’s Music School in Edinburgh, where I was taught piano by Richard Beauchamp, trumpet by Marcus Pope, Robert Baxter and Bede Williams, and composition by John Irvine and Tom Wilson. Whilst at St Mary’s, I won several prizes in the Edinburgh Competition Festival as well as first prize in the Moray Piano Competition Cathedral Class. After a gap year spent travelling the world and washing dishes to earn some pocket money, I started my studies at Selwyn College, Cambridge, where I held an instrumental award for chamber music. During these 3 years, I was lucky to have the opportunity to perform with all of the main orchestras and jazz bands, as well as in musical theatre shows and chamber music concerts. I decided to specialise in performance, and in September 2012 I began studying at the Royal College of Music in London. I also began teaching regularly at this time, and currently teach at Kingsdale Foundation School, as well as teaching a number of private piano and trumpet students. I have successfully entered students for ABRSM and Trinity exams on both instruments.
During my time in London, I have performed with various orchestras and ensembles, including the Multi-Story Orchestra, St Petersburg Ballet Theatre and the London Musical Arts Orchestra. In 2014 I spent 9 weeks in Malta playing with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra. A growing interest in early music and period instruments has led to performances on Natural Trumpet with the Dunedin Consort, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Eboracum Baroque and Leeds Baroque. On the pop music end of the spectrum, I play regularly with the Ma’Grass and the Congo Faith Healers, both of which perform their own music. I also play for the London Function Band and the Blue Lion Band at various weddings and functions. I play piano alongside violinist Anna Brigham in the Lantivet Duo. As a piano accompanist, I enjoy playing for both classical instrumentalists and jazz singers, and frequently accompany candidates for ABRSM and Trinity exams.
Having recently completed training as a BASI Level 1 Ski instructor, I hope to pursue this further as it allows me to engage with my passions for skiing and teaching at the same time. I am also a keen runner, having completed the Edinburgh Marathon in 2017, and will be taking part in my first 50 kilometre Ultramarathon in June 2019!