Barnaby W

My Passion & How I Inspire

I am hugely passionate about learning and so I will always try to establish a thirst for the subject at the start of the tutorial. This is especially so for areas in which you might be struggling. We’re all familiar with that feeling of despair when something is proving tricky and it’s important to take an open and positive approach. I go by a strategy of multiple short-term goals in order to progress efficiently to those long-term ones.

With Music, I take an equally artistic and academic approach. Having a solid understanding of music theory is useful for performance interpretation and simply appreciating musical processes more in general. Through my extensive experience in jazz and improvisation, I have come to understand that excellent communication and independent thought - two key elements in jazz - can be applied across all areas of learning and I encourage these traits in my students.

My Experience

Recently finished teaching Music at St Paul's Cathedral School, London. There I was teaching group theory, singing, improvisation, accompanying students and assisting more generally in the classroom as a teaching assistant. I've also taught privately for a few years now, both children and adults.

Currently completing a masters in jazz performance at Guildhall School of Music and Drama (2018-20)

Other experiences:

Musical Director of internationally acclaimed jazz vocal group, The Oxford Gargoyles, 2016-17. Arranged music, directed weekly rehearsals and oversaw the recording of a new album. Additionally, co-organised a successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, August 2017.

Shadowed Music Department at Salesian School, Chertsey, October 2017, exploring different teaching techniques.

Soloist in Shostakovich Piano Concerto No.2, Godalming (Surrey), 2013

Subjects That I Teach

  • English - Pre U
  • English
  • English - Interview Preparation
  • English - SAT
  • English - Cambridge Pre-U
  • Religious Studies
  • Religious Studies - Interview Preparation
  • Religious Studies - SAT
  • Religious Studies - Cambridge Pre-U

My Qualifications

University Awards:

Domus Scholarship (Academic)

Anjool Maldé Scholarship (Academic/Citizenship)

BA Hons, Music (University of Oxford) - 2.i (1st in Performance)

Cambridge Pre-U, Music and English Literature - Distinction Two (= A*) and Distinction Three (=A)

AS and A Level, Religious Studies - A*

ABRSM Diploma Classical Piano

Grade 8 Classical Trumpet - Distinction

Grade 6 Singing - Distinction

Grade 6 Double Bass - Distinction

My Video Introduction

Fun fact

I was once a child actor and had to die on screen :(