Tom Allen
About
For the past 15 years I have worked as a professional musician and music teacher, primarily as a double bassist. I also play and teach guitar/ukulele and bass guitar.
I have worked all around Europe performing with a wide range of different artists and ensembles, Playing music from folk to jazz to rock, from small street music festivals in Italy to big stages at Glastonbury festival.
As a music teacher over the past 12 years I have gained a great deal of experience. I have taught a range students from the age of 5 up to the age of 80. This has really helped me to develop my approach to teaching in a way that recognises that every student is unique and will require a personal approach in order for to get the best out of there musical education.
I often work with students studying the Rock School syllabus on bass guitar and guitar, Or the Accosted board of the royal school of music (ABRSM) on the double bass. I will also teach a more personalised program for those who don’t wish to obtain their grades.
I am currently providing bass and guitar tuition in primary and secondary schools in Wiltshire, as well as privately teaching a number of students out of school hours.
I’m comfortable teaching all genres from classical to jazz to pop and rock.
What I / we help young people achieve
Having played music with so many different people in so many different situations I have a very strong belief that playing and learning music should be fun, and can really help young people develop self confidence and belief in their abilities. In the long run this will be beneficial both academically and socially. I have seen this so many times with young students who have come to me as very shy children who are unsure of themselves, and within a year of music lessons they are itching to get up and perform in front of hundreds at their school concerts, with their newfound musical friends.
I also believe that the very act of regular practice will really help develop a child's focus and discipline, mainly due to the fact that in musical study there will usually be a very tangible sense of progress which is very gratifying.
When not working through grades with students, I like to put a strong emphasis on building a solid understanding of music theory. This will improve a students musical interaction with others a great deal, making the experience of music deeper and more profound and ultimately more fun.
Opportunities for children & young people
- To learn to play an instrument and / or develop skills on an instrument
- To create / write music and / or lyrics
- To play, perform music with others
- To learn things about oneself , other subjects or life-skills through musical activity
- To work with and support other young musicians
- To develop their wellbeing
Times
- Term Time
- After School
- Weekends
- School Holidays
- Project based
- Seasonal
- Drop in
Taught Instruments
- Strings
- Guitar & Bass
- Music Theory
- Songwriting / Composition
Ages Taught
- 4 and under
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
- 14-15
- 16+
Level Taught
- Beginners
- Intermediate
- Advanced
- Tasters
Qualifications, Grades & Certificates Taught
- Instrument grades
- Rockschool
Musical Clusters Covered
- Chippenham
- B-on-A / Corsham
- Calne & Melksham
- Trowbridge (CSL)
My Training & Development
I am constantly seeking to improve my own musicianship and still take lessons myself from time to time. I’m a big believer that you can never stop learning and improving. I like to explore and learn about different exam board syllabuses so that I can offer as many options as possible to students.