I offer individual singing lessons in Manchester, where I teach privately. I am a member of the Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM) and follow its guidelines for hourly rates of pay and professional conduct. I use the ISM's Private Teaching Agreement and usually teach in 45 minute or one hour sessions, and will consider travelling to teach, at a reasonable additional cost.

My work as a group teacher, workshop leader or facilitator is covered by a separate page on this website. I am a member of MusicLeader and follow its code of practice, which can be downloaded as a pdf from my Vocal Animateur page.

My teaching follows the bel canto technique. The basis of bel canto is healthy, economical and beautiful singing; it has a long tradition. The theory in the books and treatises from the early twentieth century are now backed up by modern investigative research, as exemplified by Richard Miller's "The Structure of Singing".

My priorities in teaching are dictated by each student individually. An initial discussion will give me an indication of experience and knowledge of singing, other instruments played, musical notation, performance and familiarity with languages. I would also ask about musical taste, purpose of taking lessons, interest in grade exams, the ease of achieving and amount of time available for singing practice. If there are any health-related issues, for example asthma or dental braces, this is a good time to mention them.

The variety of skills I would intend to extend with a student include:

• Clarity and consistency of vocal tone
• Employing imagination, movement and concentration to build a healthy singing technique
• Gradual extension of singing range, strength, flexibility and stamina
• Diction, both spoken and sung, use of languages, understanding of International Phonetic Symbols
• Interpretation and context of text
• Effective use of practice time; quick, practical and creative decision-making
• Sight-singing and memorisation
• Knowledge of repertoire and performers
• Presentation and performance practice, stagecraft and ease of posture

I actively encourage students to perform, go on singing courses and use all possible resources to improve their singing eg public libraries for scores and recorded music, going to concerts, watching celebrated singers on TV and DVD.

Principally I sing as a soloist in opera, oratorio and concert. In the past, I have sung in cathedral choirs, oratorio and opera choruses and in a variety of other settings: for instance, as a backing singer for Procul Harem and at Thursford's variety-style Christmas show. I am working on a project at the Zion Centre in Manchester with GMMAZ (Greater Manchester Music Action Zone) with the broadest range of performers. I take regular courses to increase my skills as a singing teacher, most recently at a weekend at RNCM with the internationally renowned Dalcroze Eurhythmics practitioners, Karin Greenhead and Bethan James. More generally, my musical background was firstly as a pianist; I studied with the formidable Alkan specialist, the late Ronald Smith. I also played the cello in my teens.