Music has always been a big part of my life, whether teaching my instruments, playing classical music with the quartet,swing with the big band or just easy listening with the Gravesend Borough Band. I conduct the Gravesend Borough Training Band, and enjoy writing arrangements for the classical quartet. In essence I love my music.
My days are varied musically-some people would say I have my fingers in many “musical pies” hence the creation of a single web site to encompass all the many aspects of my
music.
The Peninsula Big Band was formed some eight years ago, initially with friends who all like me enjoyed playing swing and big band music. The band has gone from strength to strength and one of the most significant recent changes was to ask Jim Harrison to be our Musical Director. Jim’s wealth of knowledge and experience has moved the band on dramatically. Have a look at and listen to the music of our big band here to find out more about what we do.
I have been involved with small group playing for many years: and I first formed Mainly Sax with my musical soul mate Jackie Wright ( who also plays lead tenor in the big band)and Margaret Day the quartet played not only sax music but also flute and clarinet music.Gradually the group focused mainly on sax music (hence its name). Nicola Adams is currently playing Alto. Although we perform some classical music we play a lot of jazz including jazz standards
It’s a great sound for background music at events. For example, we played recently at the Aylesford Classic Car Show and at a 50th Wedding Anniversary.Since I enjoy playing all sorts of music, when Mainly Sax became more jazz-focused, I wanted to get back to playing some purely classical music. I was asked by a parent of one of my pupil’s to play at the Red for Ruby charity event at Greenwich University and thus Il Quartetto Fienile was born. The concept was not new as we had been playing classical music for a while, but the title was. We have played at a VIP press launch for Beer Effects, at a local pub at their gourmet Italian evening and entertained the public at garden centres. The group is ideal for weddings, and we can play all the usual pieces generally associated with a wedding .
Starting someone’s musical life is a privilege and whilst I know music isn’t for everyone, I hope that those who do start to learn to play an instrument will enjoy music as I do and find themselves playing with a band in their spare time. Read more about playing groups and local bands
My musical day job is teaching, with students aged 7 upwards. I have been teaching for over 20 years and have really enjoyed passing on my love of playing. Some of my pupils have continued to music college; others have just become excellent players, I’ve been sad to say goodbye to them. If you are interested in lessons please see our page here.