MUSIC TUTORS

Callum Stevenson

Guitar / Bass Guitar / Piano / Music Theory

Callum is an Edinburgh College graduate, with a BA degree in Music.  Having played keyboard since 7 years old, Callum also went on to learn guitar and is now an expert in both.  In addition he has Grade 8 in Music Theory. Since graduating, Callum has been tutoring pupils privately and also working for the Dads Rock Academy in Edinburgh, assisting children and their parents as they work towards their annual end of year show. As a guitarist and keyboardist, Callum has built a respectable reputation in the industry, working in various genres including blues, funk, hip hop and electronica.  Callum has also worked as a guitar tech for bands including Idlewild, created music composition for a computer game and worked at WHALE teaching song-writing to pupils of all ages. Callum plays in an indie/ska band, The Begbies, who have performed at venues and festivals across Scotland.

Luke Cunningham

Guitar / Bass Guitar / Piano / Keyboard / Music Theory

Luke has a BA (Hons) Popular Music from Edinburgh Napier University. He loves to teach music, working on teaching projects around Edinburgh City Centre, in the Glasgow area and has also spent two summers tutoring in the United States.

Luke understands that no two students are the same but that passion, learning, determination, enjoyment and achievement are mutual goals for all. Luke studies Guitar with a focus on jazz but he also has a keen interest for folk and contemporary acoustic guitar playing as well as rock/pop/blues electric guitar playing.

Luke also studies jazz piano but started out learning and working through the traditional classical piano grades.

Luke enjoys exploring popular music theory and performance by putting this to good practical use, as is evident in his one-man variety shows which have had full runs at the Edinburgh Fringe Festivals since 2016 – combining music and magic with theatre and comedy.

Garry Hall

Guitar / Bass Guitar / Mandolin / Piano / Bagpipes / Whistles / Music Theory

Garry is a professional musician and tutor, who teaches at various youth workshops and music classes and has lots of experience with both one-to-one and group lessons.

Garry graduated from Edinburgh University with a BMus (Hons) Music Technology after having completed a HNC Music Performance at Stevenson College. He has a range of experience in different styles including rock, jazz, folk and classical and he plays lots of instruments including the Guitar, Bass, Piano, Mandolin, Ukulele and Drums as well as the Bagpipes and Whistles. He is also a grade 8 classical singer and former member of the National Youth Choir of Scotland.

One of Garry’s passions is musical theory and he enjoys teaching pupils why they are learning, moulding them into great all-round musicians as well as instrumentalists.

He plays professionally in a swing band for weddings and corporate functions all over Scotland as well as local venues. Garry is also an experienced Sound Recordist and Live Sound and Lighting Technician. 

Chris Aien

Guitar / Ukulele / Bass Guitar / Bandjam

Chris is a professional musician who is experienced in teaching students with a wide range of ages, abilities and social backgrounds.  He has taught one-to-one lessons and also facilitated larger group workshops as a specialist youth worker for various organisations in the East Lothian and Edinburgh areas.

Chris is competent with numerous music genres, and the theory that goes behind them, including rock, pop and jazz.  He plays guitar and sings backing vocals for The Klones, a popular function band in the area, in addition to performing with various bands that write their own original music.  

Chris is currently in his fourth year at Napier University, studying on the Popular Music course as a mature student.

Fraser McMillan

Guitar / Bass Guitar / Ukulele

Fraser is a professional musician and guitar tutor who lives and works in Edinburgh and surrounding areas. Fraser has been playing guitar for over 14 years and graduated from Edinburgh Napier University with a 1st Class Honours degree in 2016.

Fraser brings a friendly and enthusiastic approach to his teaching and strives to help each of his students find their own joy in music. He has taught people of all ages to play guitar and has helped students pass SQA and Rockschool exams, pass university auditions, write and perform their own music, understand music theory and learn their favourite tunes!

As a professional guitarist, Fraser performs with some of Scotland’s top function bands and with various theatre companies. He also writes his own music and is currently putting together a band to perform his work.

Duncan Jones

Bandjam / Guitar / Bass Guitar / Ukulele / Music Theory

Duncan graduated from Edinburgh Napier in 2018 with a BA(Hons) in Popular Music, his focus there was Guitar Performance, Studio Recording/Mixing and Music Composition. Over the years, he has developed a keen interest in beat-making, live looping, synthesis, sampling, sequencing, rhythm, harmony, arranging and production.

Working in the festival and theatre circuits, Duncan has played in the orchestra pit as a guitarist for many productions and musicals, he has also worked as a Music Assistant throughout East Dunbartonshire with small and large music ensembles and has helped schools succeed in choir competitions.

Duncan believes that music theory is fun and can be used as a tool to inform the music making process.  He has taught music theory up to university level, helping those who previously struggled, from very basic theory through to its intricacies.

Duncan is incredibly passionate about music, believing it fo be life changing and everyone deserving of the chance to have a positive experience with it.

Chris Lyons

Violin / Viola / Piano / Guitar / Bass Guitar / Ukulele / Banjo

A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music in London, Chris is a multi-instrumentalist – he teaches violin, piano, guitar, bass, ukulele and banjo, plus plays many others including bayan accordion, drums and a host of exotic string instruments.  Chris has been teaching music since he was 13 years old and has taught in several different countries and in three different languages.

Chris is a classical composer and trained choral conductor, he has performed with renowned musicians including Gary Novak and Frank Gambale and given a number of premieres of contemporary works.

He performs regularly as a jazz and folk violinist, has toured as a balkan-folk accordionist, is an accomplished classical pianist who particularly tends towards unusual and neglected works. Chris has a deep knowledge of classical repertoire and has also worked as an opera repetiteur in London and in Berlin.

When not playing music, Chris can be found performing all manner of circus arts including juggling, trapeze and fire performance. 

 

Kari McKenna

Flute / Piano / Saxophone / Clarinet / Recorder / Music Theory

Kari is a highly qualified musician, having been classically trained at the Junior Department of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, before going on to achieve a BA in Music & English at Cardiff University and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Jazz Performance from Napier University, Edinburgh. Although Kari enjoys teaching pupils from beginner level, she is an incredibly accomplished musician and is more than able to work with the most experienced of students.  Kari herself is primarily a jazz musician but having studied a diverse range in music – from Indian classical music, to salsa, to Welsh folk music and everything else in-between – she is happy to teach all musical genres! Kari also has a theatre background, having studied acting in New York, but music is her first love and she has performed with numerous groups, orchestras and renowned musicians around the world.  Having now lived in Edinburgh for several years, and performed there on copious occasions, 2018 saw Kari showcase her own project ‘Cosmic Waltz’ at the Edinburgh Fringe to great acclaim.

Penny Jackson

Piano / Recorder / Music Theory

Penny is an experienced music teacher who teaches individuals to a high standard and has an excellent pass rate in Associate Board and Trinity Guildhall examinations.  However, making music is firstly about enjoyment for Penny, and therefore exams are an option, not a necessity – Penny’s main aim for all  pupils being to pass on her own enthusiasm, love of music and musical creativity. Penny has qualifications in practical music, musical theory, dance and music composition, she plays regularly at wedding ceremonies, as well as being Music Leader and Kirknewton and East Calder Church where she also runs a vocal group who perform each Sunday and at events in the Church Calendar.

Shuna Cook

Vocals / Piano

Shuna studied music at Edinburgh College and Abertay University and has a BA Honours Degree in Music Performance. Shuna is an experienced songwriter and performer and has been gigging as a solo artist for over 6 years, as well as performing in other bands.

She has a real passion for music and wants to share that passion and enthusiasm with her students. Shuna’s lessons are relaxed and intended as fun and enjoyable for everyone. Shuna’s music styles lie within the blues, pop and soul but she is happy helping students with any of their preferred genres of music.

Lynnette Cruickshank

Vocals / Piano / Flute / Recorder

Lynnette has a BA in Popular Music Performance through Abertay University, with a principle study in Vocals, however Lynnette also teaches piano and flute, and plays guitar, bass and recorder. Lynnette has previously worked with Dads’ Rock Academy and Portobello Music School assisting with individual lessons and overseeing two children’s choirs, for ages 6+. As well as teaching at Lamp House Music, she leads her own mummy-baby choir in Edinburgh.  Lynnette’s vocal experience is vastly varied and having sung in many styles – including classical, musicals, rock and pop – Lynnette is happy to teach in a wide array of music genres.  Lynnette has also proved her ability to support pupils through graded exams, with a 100% pass rate.

Maria Townsley

Vocals

With a BA Degree in  Popular Music from Edinburgh College, Maria regularly performs in her local area of West Lothian and also in Edinburgh.

Maria enjoys all genres of music, in particular jazz and pop, but is happy to teach any style. Maria also has grade 7 Music Theory and although her first instrument is vocals, she also plays a range of instruments including keyboard, drums and guitar.  

As well as having her own business through which she sings in retirement homes across Scotland, Maria is  a singer/songwriter and is currently woking on her first solo album.  In addition, Maria also works as an assistant in an after school music club, helping Primary 1s and 2s with their musical skills. 

Ryan Cairney

Drums

Ryan is a passionate and experienced drummer and tutor with many years experience playing for theatre groups, jazz orchestras, and ensembles of all styles. He received his BMus (Hons) in popular music performance through Kingston University, undertaken at Edinburgh College – receiving the Marsden Citizenship award in 2015. 

Ryan was involved in the creation of Dad’s Rock Academy in Edinburgh and as such, has taught a wide age range of pupils – always aiming to provide a fun but educational approach to lessons. His specialised styles include funk, latin, afro-cuban, jazz, blues and rock.

 Extremely motivated and passionate about music (especially drums!) Ryan has performed in bands and projects across the country.  Previous experiences include playing over 70 shows in the 2017 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, performing with professional ballroom dancer Tibor Poc, and touring with the Robin Robertson Blues Band. 

Simon Walker

Drums / Music Technology

A graduate of Napier University, Simon has been involved with playing music for over 20 years, with many years of experience teaching music from everything from large groups to one to one lessons. Simon has been a drummer with various bands over the years, taking him all over the world. He has played drums at some of the biggest music festivals including Glastonbury, T in the Park and toured supporting the likes of The Charlatans and Eliza Doolittle. His current bands include The Wynntown Marshals, one of Scotland’s top Americana bands, and Bones Carnival – where he is joined by another of our tutors, Chris – and has recorded a new album with producer Rod Jones of Idlewild. Simon works as a drum tutor and professional musician playing with various function and original bands, he is also a live and recording sound engineer.

Call us on 01620 825630 or

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