Ruari Graham

Since leaving full-time education, I have tried to strike a balance between private tuition, live performance, arranging/ composing, and other interests. My students have ranged widely in age and ability, from beginners to advanced. This has given me the opportunity to practise differentiation of my learning material and delivery, adapting my teaching style to the students’ individual needs. I’m seeking more experience with younger students and groups, as I feel that this is an area of my practice I would like to further. 

As a tutor with Front Row Music, I have gained valuable experience with younger students, which has added another dimension to my teaching. Young children learn very quickly but the use of age appropriate language and play are key to unlocking this potential. Through teaching in group or full class settings, I have developed a number of interactive approaches which have helped me to find the balance between a firm demeanour and encouragement,  making  necessary adjustments for progress while maintaining rapport and preserving the students’ self confidence. 

I have performed extensively in Leeds, regularly nationwide, and occasionally abroad. I’ve participated as a guitarist, bassist, singer, arranger, composer, and director in a range of varied ensembles including Awen Ensemble’ which is an active project I play in and co-founded. The project is a hybrid of Jazz and Celtic-folk music and it has been showcased at festivals and venues across the country.    

Whilst studying at Leeds Conservatoire, I  worked independently to create authentic, high quality pieces of work. These include large ensemble arrangements, compositions and performances. I graduated in 2021 with first class honours. I specialised in Jazz Guitar and Jazz Composition on my degree, but I actively enjoy playing a wide variety of styles, such as Funk, Soul, Bossa Nova, Folk, Pop, Rock and Blues. In addition to the guitar, my course helped me to bridge gaps in my music theory knowledge, building a strong understanding of harmony, melodic development, complex rhythms, meters, arranging and orchestrating for other instruments. This subject knowledge has been a great resource to draw upon when working with students.

During my PGCE course, I acquired a comprehension of educational theory. I developed a variety of useful skills, such as  behaviour management, lesson planning and research-based approaches to teaching. These approaches have allowed me to incorporate both student-led and teacher-led learning where appropriate. They have taught me the importance of balancing input with activities to maintain student engagement and the impact that role modelling tolerance and respect for others can have.