For as long as i can remember music has always been a part of my life. I have been teaching and playing music for over 25 years, gaining a huge amount of experience during that time, both as a musician and as a teacher.

My instruments are the alto and soprano saxophone and the clarinet and my specialist area is playing and teaching jazz and jazz improvisation.

 One of the highlights of my career so far, has been playing alongside the great British jazz saxophonist, Don Rendell.

I graduated from Leeds College of Music with a Grad Dip in Jazz, Contemporary and Popular Music and started my private teaching practice soon after I graduated. Around the same time I also started working for Essex Music Service, teaching in local Schools and in a local Music School on a peripatetic basis. I worked for them for eight years and also ran a couple of Summer music workshops in local Schools whilst working for them. 

Around the same time I also co-ran a local music workshop group, for the local community. 

 In the past I also worked for 'Loughton Music Academy' and 'Creative Music' based in Sawbridgeworth.

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Teaching:

As well as teaching the alto saxophone (which is the first instrument I always suggest for new students to learn out of the saxophone family, as it is considered the easiest to learn for a variety of reasons for a beginner), I also teach the tenor saxophone in addition to the clarinet. I teach all levels from beginner to intermediate level and I am very experienced with preparing any students who may wish to take music exams (although I never pressure any of my students to take them).  I am fully experienced with teaching both children and adults and have an up to date DBS as well as a 'Level 3 Award in Education and Training' which is a basic teacher training qualification for the adult sector.

I really enjoy inspiring my students and regularly use teaching books with backing tracks to play along to, as well as duets, in addition to learning the basics including learning scales, sight reading and the use of study books. As well as the basics I also teach my students what they would like to play and learn, as I believe learning is more rewarding if you are enjoying what you are playing and having fun!

I organise annual concerts for my students to perform in which are always a fun, social event.

I am a friendly and sympathetic teacher, do please get in touch to make an inquiry about booking lessons.

 

 Playing and performance experience:

 Regarding my playing experience, I have been involved in doing some recording session work for BBC 3 and I have played in various covers bands, jazz duo's, trios, quartets and quintets over the years too numerous to list here but some of the highlights include playing in France with a band called 'The Peace Artistes' as part of a European music festival. I also played in a world music band called ''Soma' for three years and we played in several music festivals in the UK, including Bedfordshire and Wales. (During my time with them, we performed at the popular 'Rhythms of The World' festival, two years running).

 I also played with the 'Barry Sapsford Big Band' for many years and later on with 'The Mosaic Orchestra'.

My earliest performance experience (apart from playing in the School band), was with 'The Harlow Concert Band'. and whilst with them, I won musician of the year award.

 

Currently, I regularly play in a jazz Quintet, which can also go out as a jazz quartet, trio, or duo and I am also able to play as a solo act, playing with the use of backing tracks and my small PA, either pop or jazz, or a mixture of both, as required by the client. (This is ideal for weddings and parties).

I have also regularly performed with 'Robs Acoustic Emporium' and I feature on one of Robs albums on a couple of tracks playing soprano sax and clarinet.

 I recently joined a blues band called  'The Monday Mojos Blues Band' which is great fun to play with.

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Last year (2021), I performed with a local pianist and singer at the very last Linkfest festival in Harlow, I also perfomed at 'The Gibberd Garden' Summer picnic/Camera Beer Festival. (We have been asked back to play there again this year by popular request!)

I also played at local music venues on numerous occasions.

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This year so far, I am playing so far, at 'The Gibberd Gardens' on the 17th June with the jazz quintet, as previously mentioned. (This is a ticketed event only and is very popular!) Please go to their website nearer to the time for more details.

We are also playing at HatFest, Hatfield Heath Music Festival on the 5th of June and again on the August bank holiday weekend (details yet to be decided, at 'The Countess of Warick's County Show' at Little Eastern Manor.

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I will be adding in any other future dates as they come in. Thank you for reading,

Kate.

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