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Class Teachers
at Yamaha Music School Altrincham
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Andy Smith
BA (Hons) ARCM Piano and Keyboard
Pianomate,
Piano School For Children, Play For Keeps, Junior Play For Keeps
Andy began his musical career
straight after university, teaching piano, theory, clarinet and
saxophone in the music departments of Rugby School and Bilton
Grange. In 1987 he moved to Cairo to spend 9 years as Head of Music,
running large departments in two International Schools. From there,
in 1995 Andy moved to take up a position in a music school in the
Western Fjords of Iceland. Over the years his travels have taken him
around Europe, to the Middle East and Asia, as well as working in
Poland, Czechoslovakia, Germany and France, building a school, a
playground, digging ditches and working with the handicapped.
Since returning to the UK in 1996 Andy has worked with Yamaha as a
teacher and instructor and currently also examines for Yamaha Music
Schools and Trinity College, London. As well as his teaching Andy
also has experience of directing musicals, conducting orchestras and
ensembles, as well as performing as a soloist and accompanist both
in the UK and abroad. He is
a member of the
European Piano Teachers
Association.
Karen Ward
Junior Keyboard Specialist
Junior
Music Course, Junior Play for Keeps, Play for Keeps, Pianomate
and Piano School For Children
Karen has been involved with Yamaha
Music Schools since 1984, first as a pupil and then a teacher. In
1987 she was asked to be part of a national recruiting team for
Yamaha Music Schools, visiting state schools throughout the UK.
After training in Sept 1987 she worked at the independent YMS in
Southport, taking over that school in 1993, and in 1994 joined
Dawsons to run their Wigan School. In 1999 she joined the YMS team
at Dawsons in Altrincham to concentrate on Yamaha junior courses,
becoming an instructor for the Junior Play For Keeps course in 2005.
As well as her considerable experience with Yamaha Karen has enjoyed
performing at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, and in 1992
represented the U.K in the European Yamaha Electone Festival final
in Milan. It was here that Karen won an outstanding performance
prize with her own composition.
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Vernon Fuller Cert.Ed
Guitar and Vocals
Guitar
Encounters & Vocal Encounters
Vernon Fuller's relationship with
the guitar started in London, where he cut his musical teeth in
reggae and jazzfunk outfits, playing venues such as Upstairs at
Ronnie Scott's.
After moving to the midlands in the late 80's, Vernon became
involved in the R'n'B and Jazz Fusion scene, playing regularly at
the Rep Theatre Cafe Bar in Birmingham and at the Birmingham Jazz
Festival as part of the Bean Machine (Jazz Fusion Band). Now based
in the North West, Vernon who is a self-taught musician, has pursued
his love of jazz academically as well as creatively by studying at
Wakefield College and at the North Wales Jazz Guitar Summer School.
He performs regularly at the Southport and Marlborough Jazz
Festivals.
Vernon has a Certificate in Education issued by the University of
Manchester and he is a registered guitar tutor with the Registry of
Guitar Tutors. |
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