The key to good teaching is not to spoon feed the student but to introduce ideas and concepts of playing for them to investigate for themselves. Freedom to self-expression is the cornerstone of any serious study of music and the programme at Canterbury Christ Church University is laid out to develop this freedom, particularly through the study of books by Jim Blackley, David Garibaldi and Dave Hassell. Whether you are interested in metal, rock, funk, jazz or latin, you will be guided to the ultimate goal-to be able to musically express yourself in any genre. As the director of percussion studies at Canterbury Christ Church University, Mike has been responsible for making the percussion department the major centre for all things percussive in the southeast of England particularly with the flagship percussion ensemble "Cantaperc".
Currently Mike is the director of the Canterbury Christ Church Big Band who has played at festivals across the south east and who will tour to Spain in March 2010. The band repertoire ranges from early Duke Ellington, through the classic Basie, Goodman, Herman and Rich bands through to contemporary compositions by Bob Mintzer, Andy Sheppard, Dave O'Higgins, Gordon Goodwin and Andy Scott.
Mike has taught at the Junior School of the Royal Northern College of Music and has worked as a consultant with students from the Royal College of Music and with the Big Band of the Royal Northern College of Music. Specialised individual tuition is available for pre-audition and pre-conservatoire candidates, specialising in contemporary four-mallet marimba techniques and repertoire. Ensembles and sectional tuition is also available for most configurations including big bands and salsa/latin-jazz groups as well as the more traditional settings.
Currently Mike is the director of the Canterbury Christ Church Big Band who has played at festivals across the south east and who will tour to Spain in March 2010. The band repertoire ranges from early Duke Ellington, through the classic Basie, Goodman, Herman and Rich bands through to contemporary compositions by Bob Mintzer, Andy Sheppard, Dave O'Higgins, Gordon Goodwin and Andy Scott.
Mike has taught at the Junior School of the Royal Northern College of Music and has worked as a consultant with students from the Royal College of Music and with the Big Band of the Royal Northern College of Music. Specialised individual tuition is available for pre-audition and pre-conservatoire candidates, specialising in contemporary four-mallet marimba techniques and repertoire. Ensembles and sectional tuition is also available for most configurations including big bands and salsa/latin-jazz groups as well as the more traditional settings.