Our Teachers
Andrew Parry
I have been involved in music throughout my life. During school I played the clarinet, piano, guitar and drum kit, and achieved Grade 8 on the clarinet and piano. I also played in many bands, groups and orchestras. I went on to study music at The University of Manchester, and when I graduated in 2009 I started teaching music, from one-to-one instrument lessons to whole class music lessons. Andrew Parry Music has developed from there. I have managed to pass on my love of music to many children over the years, and have given the opportunity for other enthusiastic and talented musicians in the area to do the same. I continue to teach music alongside supporting and developing the work of my teachers. This involves regular teaching and student updates, advice on resources and techniques, and making the most relevant training, safeguarding and CPD opportunities available to them. Our summer rock schools are the highlight of my year, and are great examples of how Andrew Parry Music strives to deliver inclusive, diverse and contemporary music teaching.
Matt Chesson
All credit goes to my family and friends. Without them, I wouldn't have had picked up a set of sticks. Thanks to them, I've performed at Festivals like Boardmasters, Secret Garden Party, Neverworld (LeeFest) and many more. I've had the privilege of recording two albums with different originals projects, as well as a smattering of Singles and EP's. Teaching wise, I've helped many students over the past 4 years to play their first grooves, as well as helping experienced players to develop their sound. Fitting in around this is regular wedding and function gigs around the country with a variety of bands.
Roxanne Hicks
Since I was 5 years old I have loved performing. Having attended and performed with theatre schools I then chose to go on and study Musical Theatre at University of Chichester. I began picking up solo gigs singing jazz and pop, but what I really wanted was to begin writing my own songs and musicals.
I have learned a lot over the last 20 years I have performed, from the start of my journey at such a young age until now. However, I believe studying music can build someone’s confidence as well as give them a creative escape, which is what I hope to give people while I help them increase their skills.
Petra Hajduchova
I have been playing music ever since I was 9 when I first learnt the guitar, but I soon discovered the piano and completely fell in love with it along with other keyboard instruments like the church organ and harpsichord. After studying in Salzburg, I moved to England to study at the Trinity College of Music. I've been lucky enough to be able to play many amazing places with lovely people and to pass this knowledge on to some great students.
Joshua Monks
My guitar journey began around my 13th birthday, as I really wanted to learn how to play guitar. At the time, I was obsessed with a video game called 'guitar hero' and I desperately wanted to learn how to play the real thing! I started learning songs by AC/DC, Arctic Monkeys, Led Zeppelin and Guns and Roses, which then led me onto studying more about commercial music at school, College and University. During my spare time at uni, I began teaching guitar to see what it was like and I fell in love with it. Nothing pleases me more than seeing my students pick up a guitar and having fun just like I did when I first grasped my first couple of riffs.
George Neighbour
My earliest memory I can recall with music was as a young boy learning recorder in Year 2. I had a music teacher who was really horrible, I don't think she thought I was very good at the recorder - but to be fair, I probably wasn't.
As a teacher and a musician I believe music should not be a chore but an enjoyable experience and a way of expressing yourself and generally just having fun. Yes, there is hard work that has to be put in but that is part of the rewarding experience. I also have a strong belief that anyone can do music if they put their mind to it.
Jack Randall
I found a passion for music at a young age, starting guitar in primary school. When I decided to pursue a career in music and enrolled in college to chase my ambitions. I furthered my education in music by studying at Canterbury Christ Church University, where I also focused my efforts on music production, live sound and mixing. Now a CCCU alumni, I work as head engineer for Lana Banana Studios as well as play bass professionally in a function band ‘Studio 33’ who regularly perform at a wide variety of events. I love to use all of my industry experience to help create the most exciting, tailored lessons for my students as possible, and now teach both primary and secondary ages
Joanne Wilson
I have been a piano teacher now for 17 years, and still absolutely love every second of it. I find it amazing that even though I can have taught a piece of music many times before, a child will play it to me and still teach me something new about it. I believe in teaching as a two way experience between the child and the teacher so that the child then feels they are on a journey, rather than being told what to do by a grown up.
I also play the saxophone, have a love for studying music theory, and sing in a choir every week. I didn't go to university, but as an adult I studied for a diploma in piano teaching with the ABRSM which I completed in 2020.
Claire Pitt Wigmore
I’ve been playing the guitar and piano for over a decade. I’ve played in a number of bands/ensembles over the past 10 years as well as having a solo music career, which has led to features in local magazines, BBC Introducing plays and live radio appearances. I completed a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Music Performance and an HNC in Music Performance, as well being part of a private agency called Musicians Academy Programme. I undertook ABRSM exams in piano and RGT exams in electric guitar as a teenager which not only helped develop my musicianship but also gave me the skills to teach students. As well as being a music teacher, I am currently learning Level 3 British Sign Language.
Olly Smith
I’ve been a musician since the age of about 7 where I first started to learn the keyboard. Over the years I also learnt other music instruments starting with the flugel horn (a bit like a trumpet) and then guitar. Music became a huge part of my life when I was a teenager and it has been ever since! I graduated from Canterbury Christ Church University with a first class degree and immediately started working in the industry both playing and teaching vocals, piano, guitar, trumpet, drums, steel pans, ukulele, and recorders and other instruments. I also have a wide experience of performing in live bands, both in small venues and big theatres and stages around the country. I am currently working on writing, recording and performing original songs for a solo project.
Suzy Silva-Gould
Suzy is a Drummer and Singer who is passionate about helping children experience the joy and confidence-building powers of learning an instrument..
Her rather varied career has included Acting, Musical Theatre performance and direction, choral singing in Southwark Cathedral, and a Medical Degree from King’s College London, with time spent as a Junior Doctor before specialising as a Radiologist.
After starting a family, she ran an online education business helping new parents care for unwell children at home, before taking a break from Medicine and pursuing her passion for playing the drums. This resulted in a new path into music performance and teaching!
Richard Moore
I have been working as a professional musician for the last 15 years. In addition to peripatetic and classroom teaching, I have a busy career as a session musician, touring musician, and as a composer for film and television. I studied the Violin, Piano, and Guitar up to grade 8, after which I attended the Brit School for two years. Following that I completed a degree in Classical Performance on the violin in Canterbury. For Violin and Piano I offer the ABRSM system, and for guitar I teach RGT. I also teach independent of grade systems, and I have a strong interest in teaching children how to play contemporary genres, as well as working on improvisation from an early point.
Rebecca Scott-Daly
My addiction to music began from a very young age, particularly in drumming and singing.
I had my first drum kit at the age of 11, took drum grades and regularly played in shows and assemblies at school. I went on to join bands, perform in rock festivals, and achieved grade A in both GCSE and A-Level Music. I began teaching after starting a family; I passed my level 3 Teaching Assistant Diploma and have worked in three primary schools supporting both whole class pupils and SEN pupils with multiple learning challenges.
I have been teaching with Andrew Parry Music since 2017 and it is the best job in the world! I deliver one-to-one drum lessons and whole class percussion and keyboard lessons. I take great pride in teaching others; I love being part of my pupils’ musical development and watching them reach personal bests through their own progression. I get to share my love of music and pass my enthusiasm and passionate energy on to the children I teach. I believe everyone has a unique and alternative learning style and I adapt my teaching methods to suit each individual’s needs including via musical therapy. The most important learning aspect is to have fun!
Mikey Price
I have always loved playing music from a young age. I grew up in a musical family and started gigging with my uncles when I was about 15. I have been teaching guitar since 2014 when I graduated from Bath Spa University having studied Commercial Music. During this time I sung and played the guitar in a band, and really focused on songwriting. We wrote and recorded an album and gigged a lot as part of our course, which I really enjoyed. I have continued to play as much music as possible since this, alongside teaching.
I really enjoy passing on what I have learnt and experienced to my students and make the lessons as fun and creative as possible.
Helen Vincent
I am a freelance singer, vocal and violin coach, and help out on Wednesday evenings as a receptionist for Kent Music. In 2020, I achieved a distinction for my PgDip in Vocal Performance at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.
My passion for singing started with choral music and continues to do so in my professional life alongside my solo work and teaching. I have some wonderful memories of singing with NYCGB, Ex Cathedra and London Voices, as well as several other choirs along the way. My claim to fame is blazing the trail for future generations at Lincoln Cathedral in 2011, where I became the first woman to be employed as a singer on an otherwise all male back row.
Kez Edwards
I am a drummer with 20+ years working in the music industry. I have worked with a bunch of great musicians in my time such as Marcella Detroit (Shakespeare’s Sister), Mike Rutherford (Genesis), Keith Wilkinson (Squeeze) and Molly Smitten-Downs (UK Eurovision 2014) to name a few. Drumming has been my passion since the age of 14 and I feel privileged to call it my full time job. I studied drums and contemporary music at The Academy of Contemporary Music and graduated in 2008. I first started teaching in 2011 and quickly realised how rewarding it can be but most importantly how something I am passionate about can be a tool for teaching others.
Ben Fagg
After receiving my first drum kit at the age of 6, this sparked my passion to pursue a career in music and drumming. In 2015 I graduated from Brighton Institute of Modern Music with a 1st Class BA Hons Degree in Professional Musicianship. Live performance is a big love of mine, from pubs to theatres and venues across the country, bringing live music to people feels incredibly rewarding. More recently I’ve been touring with a Michael Jackson show, showcasing his music in theatres across the UK and Europe! Shortly after graduating from university I began my career in teaching privately and later found a passion for teaching within schools. Seeing young musicians progress and interact musically is a great passion of mine, I truly believe that music can be a great enhancer of confidence and should be made available to young children as part of their educational development.
Carla de Jong
Coming from a musical family, I was introduced to the piano at a young age. A natural aptitude for the instrument was soon apparent, and my love and passion for music just grew from there. In later years I also picked up the violin, which I continue to play. After a few years of wearing a suit and braving a daily commute in London City, I found my vocation as a music teacher. My teaching style comprises of helping students explore their imaginations as artists, through music. I approach each lesson committed to improving a student's understanding of their chosen piece and enabling them to express their emotion through the music we create. I try to teach more than just piano, I aim to help my pupils become better problem solvers, learn independently, and develop resilience. I enjoy teaching students of all ages and abilities, putting a special focus on technique training and theory, combined with musicianship. The overall aim is always to achieve the ability to play piano, not just pieces.
Josh Wenham
Professional guitarist with over 7 years of music industry experience. Proficient in studio and live performance with premier musical theory knowledge and recently graduated with a Hons in Bachelor of Arts. Josh is highly adaptable to a variety of genres and working environments; thriving when approached with a problem and possessing a strong ability to work calmly under pressure. Josh started playing the guitar at the age of 14, influenced by such artists as Nile Rodgers, Rob Harris, Mark Lettieri and Guthrie Govan. His passion lies in playing all styles of music to best serve the music. Starting out in function bands and session work he has played and toured around the south of England as a working musician. Josh has worked with such artists as Sophie Winter, Diascia and Studio 33.
Joe Inkpen
I have been playing guitar for the last 20 years or so, performing in bands and writing music. After blagging my way onto music A-level at school (fake it till you make it guys!), I went on to study an undergrad degree in Commercial Music, followed by a Masters and PhD in Composition. As a teacher I take on 1-1, whole class, and workshops across Kent. My approach is very student-led – learning an instrument should be fun, creative and rewarding, and that journey will be different for everyone!
Phoebe Brooks
Phoebe has been performing since the age of 8, with various choirs which lead her to perform in renowned venues such as the O2, the Palladium, and performing a solo at the Royal Albert Hall. After finishing school, she carried on her musical education, completing a grade 8 vocal exam, and going on to study music performance at college and University; recently graduating from the Academy of Contemporary Music with first class honours,.
Phoebe's career has also involved various avenues in the music industry, including becoming the lead vocalist of the function band “Studio33” and acoustic duo “Strings & Roses”, and becoming a session vocalist, recording demos for songwriters and performing backing vocals for a variety of artists.
She is eager to impart the love of music as well as the history, vocal techniques and performance expertise onto her students.
James Clark
I have been a keen musician from an early age and began drumming from the age of 11 shortly after I also started to learn the guitar. In 2009 I graduated with an honours degree in Creative Music Technology from the University of Hull, where I focused on performance, recording technologies and studio production. Once I had left education I began my own business teaching drum kit and running African percussion workshops for children in schools, youth clubs and scouting groups as well as providing mobile recording facilities. I have played in a range of bands in a number of different genres. I have now been teaching for over ten years and get great satisfaction from helping young musicians develop in reaching their own personal goals.
Joe Whitnell
My grandfather was a singer and a drummer, my dad is a drummer, my uncle is a bass player, and my cousin is also a drummer. So, you might say music is in my blood! I have played guitar, keyboard, and bass guitar in bands since I was in primary school. Now I enjoy the privilege of helping others develop their musical gifts. As a qualified teacher with years of experience working in primary schools, I have carried my love of music into every school I have worked in. I am particularly interested in music as a tool for creativity, and as a way of supporting wellbeing.
Eve Lloyd
I'm Eve and I am a woodwind player. I have been playing clarinet since about 11 and have since achieved grade 8. I specialise in clarinet, saxophone and flute but I can also play guitar, bass and piano. I have been playing in orchestras and various ensembles since a young age and my love for music grew from there!
I completed both GCSE and A-Level music and am currently studying Music and Sound Design at LSBU. I enjoy creating music involving my instruments and recording them and other sounds. My degree gives lots of opportunity to perform and experiment.
Joe Atkin-Reeves
Hi! My name is Joe, I'm a woodwind player and teacher specialising in theatre and session work. My main instruments are saxophones, clarinets and flutes, but I also play a variety of whistles and ethnic flutes as well. I studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, achieving a first class BMus degree. My work since has covered a wide range of genres and has taken me around the world to perform for companies such as FIFA, BAFTA and Virgin working as a player, musical director and orchestral fixer. I've also played at some of the most prestigious venues in London including the Royal Albert Hall and London Palladium.
When teaching I love to find what motivates my pupils and help them build their love of music through engaging lessons that push them to the best of their ability. I have a 100% pass rate (merit or above) for my pupils entering exams, but most of all I aspire to instill a love and appreciation for music for life in them.
Kay Charlton
I am a trumpet player, educator and composer with many years’ experience of teaching brass, WCET and KS2 music. I also deliver creative workshops and CPD for schools and music hubs.
I completed an MA in Music Education at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in 2018, and was delighted to be awarded the Director’s Prize for Excellence in Music Education. I play the trumpet with Bollywood Brass Band, a 9-piece band of brass and drums, whose 2017 CD, Carnatic Connection, was nominated for a Songlines Magazine Award and was given a 5-star review in the London Evening Standard. My handbook - 'How to teach Whole-Class Instrumental Lessons, 50 Inspiring Ideas' (Collins Music) was published in 2020.
Tura Randall
I cannot really remember a time I didn’t want to play music – I think after several years of hiding in the music block and admittedly skipping a few non-music classes to get those extra practice sessions in, I realised that I had entirely fallen in love with it, which was good because I wasn’t much good at anything else anyway! Over the years, I have developed my skills in both piano, songwriting and orchestral composition and have achieved a first class degree in commercial music, specialising in keyboard and film music. I have been teaching for four years and love every minute of it – I think it is rare to be a part of something so rewarding. I believe in making music lessons fun and inspiring and always place my student at the heart of my planning, teaching them the music they really want to play, and developing real-world skills.
Steven Barnard
I’ve been playing guitar and performing for the better part of twenty years, starting out in my late teens writing my own material and gigging in rock bands.
My ever-keen interest in music has also led me to learn to play the bass guitar, ukulele, and sing. I attended Canterbury Christ Church University where I gained my Bachelors and Masters degrees in music in 2018 and 2020 respectively. I started teaching guitar in 2012 and my subsequent academic pursuits at university really gave me a passion for learning and imparting knowledge to others. I am a believer in the cognitive benefits of learning a musical instrument and the good it does for our wider well-being, creating structure, long term goals and an outlet for expression. Outside of teaching I still perform with various bands in many musical styles around the south east of England and am an enthusiastic scholar on music.'
Katherine Robinson
I developed a love of music from an early age and started playing the piano from the age of 7. After being awarded a diploma from The London College of Music I started teaching children and adults both the piano and music theory. Exams can be taken from Pre Preparatory up to Grade 8 if wanted. I currently teach in schools, from home and also offer online lessons. I also teach pupils online internationally in different countries ranging from the US to India.
My aim is to pass on my love of music and to help my pupils develop a love of music themselves which will last a lifetime. I ensure my lessons are enjoyable, productive and tailored to suit each individuals's learning style
Edward Greenhalgh
Since 1989 I have been an organist and from 2004 Choral Director at the parish church of St. Laurence-in-Thanet, which has also involved preparing choristers for RSCM awards for whom I have been an examiner..
As a professional musician I have a wide and diverse experience of working within the industry; directing and performing with choirs, orchestras and playing with a number of bands. One of my passions is Musical Theatre; I have been Musical Director on numerous shows including Bugsy Malone, South Pacific, Godspell, Joseph, Grease and Honk as well as working for various production companies.
Jake Rix
I have been practicing music since primary school, where I started learning guitar and piano/keyboard. During this time, I was obsessed with hard rock and metal, so my focus on learning leaned towards guitar. Since then, I have broadened my taste, incorporated that into my style, and also what I play. I adore teaching as a concept – the sharing of creativity and passion for something, accessible for all, is something I struggle not to see as one of the most important gifts we can give.