Tutor handbook 2009-2010 Contents Page

Damien Morris - Deputy Head of Guitar



Damien graduated from the Musicians Institute 10 years ago and has been a session player and teacher ever since. Session work has been both live and studio and he has played with many bands including the Sugababes and Moby. Damien has also worked with members of The Average White Band, Jamiroquai and M People.





Steve Smyth - Guitar Tutor

Steve was born in the USA and started his career in the progressive metal band Ariah supporting bands such as Vicious Rumours and King Diamond. Following from Ariah he teamed up with Vicious Rumours and recorded the studio album Something Burning (1996). This was then followed by Cyberchrist (Massacre Records, 1998) in which he collaborated in songwriting as well as performing. Steve finally left in 1999 to join metal legends Testament after the release of their album The Gathering. Consequently he supported the likes of Megadeth, Dream Theatre, Arch Enemy and Accept and played to nearly 500,000 fans over the course of his tenure with the band. Other music projects to follow included Dragonlord and Nevermore. He now focuses on his own music label Two Louder Music and is concentrating on his new venture, The EssenEss Project. Steve’s influences draw from AC/DC, Metallica, Iron Maiden, Aerosmith and Queen.





Martin Cooper - Guitar Tutor

Since graduating from the Guitar Institute in London in 1997 Martin has toured North America, Europe and the UK over a dozen times with various different artists and also worked on sessions at studios such as Abbey Road and RAK in London. He also writes songs and does production work and has recently had an instructional guitar book, CD and DVD released.





BASS DEPARTMENT



Franc O’Shea - Head of Bass

Franc O’Shea is regarded as one of the best bass players of his generation. He has recorded and played with many renowned artists including legendary Yes guitarist Steve Howe, Level 42’s keyboard player Mike Lindup, 90’s soul sensation Lisa Moorish, top garage band Bah Samba, Jorge Pardo from Chick Corea and Paco de Lucia’s bands and members of Jamiroquai. He was a featured artist at European Bass Day 2003 in Holland and has appeared on compilation albums with top bassists such as Marcus Miller, Victor Wooten, Doug Wimbish and Michael Manring. "When everyone else realises how good O’Shea is remember where you heard it first" Steve Lawson, Bassist Magazine.





Dan Mckinna - Bass Tutor

Dan held down bass duties for the fantastic Straw (Warner Music, Columbia) as well as The Jeevas (Cowboy Music, Sony Japan) with Kula Shaker’s Crispian Mills. With BIMM’s own Andy Nixon on drums, they’ve become one of the best powerhouse rhythm sections around, and have toured the world in the last 2 years and now form two thirds of The Magic Bullet Band. In the last year he has also been playing with James Morrison, Stuart A. Staples (Tindersticks) and A Man Called Adam. Dan is also involved with the band Ben’s Brother and has been busy recently doing various festivals, including V and Montreux Jazz amongst others. He is a graduate of Goldsmiths’ College and an expert double bass player.

Eddie Myer - Bass Tutor

Eddie is a well rounded bass player who also plays upright bass. He’s been a member of Turin Brakes band since their inception in 1999, recording on their gold-selling albums and touring and performing on TV and radio in the UK, Europe, the Middle East, America and Australia. Along the way he has clocked up 4 appearances on Top of the Pops among other unimaginably prestigious engagements. He’s also performed and recorded with many other acts such as Bah Samba, Lucky Jim and Ben’s Brother and has worked for Virgin, EMI, Island, Sony, Mr Bongo and Skint, as well as other independent labels, with esteemed producers Tony Hoffer, Ali Staton, Mike Pelanconi and Ethan Johns. He’s co-written an internationally-released single and album track for Sia, as well as other writing and production projects, and back in the mists of time he also played for Ozric Tentacles!





Max Taylor – Bass Tutor

Max’s career started at 17 when he was the bass player for the band Clor (Regal/Parlophone).Since then he has worked with many artists and bands including Roots Manuva, Esser, frYars, Mutya Buena (Sugababes), The Plump DJ’s, Tom Robinson, Filthy Dukes, Ali Love, The Bays, Willis and more. Most recently, he recorded and toured worldwide with dance outfit Groove Armada. Max has performed at major venues like the Hollywood Bowl and Glastonbury and toured extensively all over the world in Australia, Serbia, Japan, South America and North America. He’s also performed on TV and radio such as Jools Holland, Radio 1, XFM, T4 Popworld, BBC Radio 6, Transmission, TOTP and even Terri Wogan’s Eurovision Runners up! Max currently works with Lisa Michell, Tiger Style, The Dhol Foundation, Theoretical Girl and Mercury signed artist Tiffany Page (due for release in 2010).





Dan Partington - Bass Tutor

Dan is in very high demand as a bassist and finds himself in a wide variety of musical situations. His time spent outside of BIMM is spent touring with bands, learning lots of new sets for function bands and recording. This enables him to help you develop the diverse musical repertoire and broad range of musical situations required to be successful within the music industry.





Russell Carr - Bass Tutor

Russell is one of the hardest working players in Southern England and has worked with a variety of artists and producers covering everything from rock (Mark Richardson, Feeder), pop (Carolyn Owlett, 411) and world music (Nitin Sawhney). He has played at many of the UK’s finest venues (and some of the worst!) from Wembley Arena to Skegness and made various appearances on British and French TV. As well as a busy playing schedule Russell writes and produces work with Garth Vader and other original artists. He also directs a number of corporate bands and covers acts.





Silas Maitland - Bass Tutor

Silas Maitland is a London based session musician who graduated from the Musicians Institute in 1989. He has played and worked with Geno Washington, Robert Fripp, Seal, Steve Jansen, Micky Moody, Melanie Blatt (All Saints), The Blues Brothers , Noman, Bob Carlton, Independent Television, Whoopee Club, Mark Lamarr, The Flashmonkey, D’Nell, Marcus Malone, BBC Television and Radio, Channel 4, Discovery Channel, Mentorn Films, April Hill and Marlon



Saunders. Silas is a professional musician with 20 years experience in studio and live playing situations. He is also in demand as a producer, writer and arranger and has over 15 years teaching experience.







DRUM DEPARTMENT



Andy Nixon - Head of Drums

Andy has a vast amount of live and studio experience. He’s made six albums and signed deals with V2, Warners, and Sony. Festival Appearances at Glastonbury, T in the Park and V2001, and tours with Sheryl Crow, Jeff Buckley, Alanis Morisette, Reef, Gomez and Feeder have helped make Andy a world class player. As a member of Straw he was in one of the best power pop bands of the era. More recently he’s been touring the world with The Jeevas alongside Dan McKinna and Crispian Mills. Andy is also a founding member of the The Magic Bullet Band.





Steve White - Drum Tutor

Legendary drummer Steve White has worked extensively with Paul Weller. His credits include Weller’s band The Style Council, Oasis and Ocean Colour Scene. At BIMM Steve teaches technical development and also takes special masterclasses at BIMM Bristol. Steve also became the youngest drummer on stage at Live Aid at Wembley in 1985 and also played the LIVE8 gig at Hyde Park with The Who. Talking about his new position at BIMM, Steve said: “It’s a great honour for me to be asked to take part in this year’s course. BIMM’s reputation is second-to-none. I totally get the values and ethos of what is taught in the class room and importantly, the emphasis on what it takes to succeed in the fast and furious world of music.”





Pat Garvey – Deputy Head of Drums

Pat Garvey has been a professional drummer since he was 17. He is a highly gifted musician and has been noted for being one of the hardest working drummers around in the UK. Pat has enjoyed residencies at some of the countries biggest studios, has played on over 500 jingles, singles and albums, toured all over the world and signed major and independent recording and publishing agreements. He has performed extensively with numerous bands and artists and for various management companies, record companies and agencies. Television credits include Jools Holland Show, Channel 4, Panasonic, BBC 1, BBC 2, Sky TV Main, Vectone Music Media, MTV UK, MTV Europe, MTV America, ITV, Channel 5, Top of the Pops and CD UK. His current band 12 Stone Toddler is signed to Amazon Records.





Adam Bushell - Drum Tutor

One of the UK’s foremost session drummers, Adam has played and toured with hit artists including Sheryl Crow, Faithless, and Celtus. Adam is a regular column contributor to Rhythm magazine, and is a veteran of major label record deals. Adam uses his vast experience to specialise in advanced technical development.





Vinnie Lammi - Drum Tutor

Vinnie is undoubtedly one of the UK’s premier session players. He has performed worldwide and recorded with an array of top artists including Robbie Williams, Emma Bunton, The Cocteau Twins, Supergrass, All Saints, Take That, Mel B and A Man Called Adam. Vinnie recently recorded and

performed with ex-Spice Girl Mel C and was booked up for The Spice Girls world tour 2007 and 2008.

Michael Bowes - Head of Level 2/Drum Tutor

Mike is a world class drummer and has performed with artists including Nellie Furtado, Joss Stone, Tears For Fears, Amerie, Mario, Heather Small (M People), Michelle Gayle, Sid Owen, Black Legend, BLOW and Macy Gray. He has performed on nearly every live TV broadcast going including: Top of the Pops, Big Breakfast, SMTV live, Richard Blackwood show, MTV, VH1, GMTV, and The Jerry Springer show. As Head of Level 2, he is responsible for day to day communication and teaching for all the Level 2 students.





Pino Trono - Drum Tutor

Pino has worked with a range of top artists, musicians and producers such as Paul Corkett (Bjork, The Cure, The Coral, Nick Cave) Gavin Goldberg (Britney Spears, Youssou N’dour, Moby) Gabriel Nuzzoli (Ricky Martin, Courtney Pine, Gloria Gaynor) Luca Campaner (Blue, Westlife, Beverley Knight) and the soul legend Geno Washington. He has been living in London since 1996 but has also toured extensively throughout several European countries, sharing the stage with acts such as Morcheeba, Placebo and Hooverphonic. He has been working in many high profile studios such as Mayfair, Rack, Milo, Boogie Back and Moles both as a drummer and producer. In 1999 he joined Sublama and co-produced their debut album “Picturehouse” with Nick Hunt (Dave Stewart, Urban Species, and Placebo). In 2002 he started up Fodez and produced the critically acclaimed "Shine EP" and his first solo album “To be continued...” thereafter.





Preston Prince - Drum Tutor

Preston has over 10 years teaching experience here in the UK as well as many performances, and touring credits with such artists as James Hunter, Van Morrison, Violla Wills, Bap Kennedy, Camille O’Sullivan, and Astrid Williamson. Originally from New Zealand Preston now resides on the South Coast of England where he has established himself as one of Brighton’s most in demand teachers, and performers.





Andy Maclure - Drum Tutor

Andy was the drummer and co-songwriter for 90’s hit band Sleeper, enjoying 3 UK Top 5 Albums and 9 UK Top 40 singles. Andy has also written, recorded and gigged with artists such as Sophie Ellis Bextor, Bernard Butler, Mel C, Matthew Jay and Nashville artist, Kim Ritchie. He has worked with record producers Giles Martin, (The Beatles, Kula Shaker), Stephen Street, (Kaiser Chiefs, Blur) Damian Le Gassick, (Jewel, K D Lang) and Ali Staton (Lamb, Sophie Ellis Bextor) He also runs Punk Rock Karaoke Ltd, the UK’s original live karaoke band with Radio 1 DJ Steve Lamacq. Andy is a multi-discipline tutor, running various sessions at both Diploma and Degree level.





Martin France - Drum Tutor

Martin France has played with some of the world’s finest musicians. He has performed in four continents, spanning over 40 countries worldwide. He has studied under Geoff Riley, Kenny Clare, Joel Rothman, Richard Smith and Principal Percussionist with The Halle. He is an active studio musician working on TV and Film and is involved in programming and composing for many projects and artists. Artists with whom Martin has performed include Elvis Costello, David Gilmour, John



Taylor, Kenny Wheeler, Ralph Towner, Lee Konitz, Dave Holland, Arild Anderson, Mark Johnson, Steve Swallow, Bob Mintzer and The Yellowjackets, Nils-Petter Molvaer, Bugge Wesseltoft, Mike Gibbs, Maria Schneider, Sidsel Endresen and Maria Joao. He is also a regular performer with NDR Radio Orchestra in Hamburg.







VOCAL DEPARTMENT



Kate Cameron - Head of Vocals

A professional session singer for 15 years, Kate has sung on several gold albums including Ministry of Sound’s Ibiza ’99. Kate also enjoyed great success with Norman Cook’s band Freak Power and their amazing album ’Drive through Booty’. As well as being signed to MCA/Universal she has collaborated on several tracks charting in the UK Top 40. Kate’s collaborative partners include the likes of Judge Jules, Boy George, Tim Westwood, Danny Rampling and Paul Oakenfold.





Kéllé Bryan - Vocal Development Coach

Chart-topping artist Kéllé Bryan, singer with hit band Eternal, has an impressive catalogue of industry experience. In her five years as part of the band, Kéllé notched up an incredible fifteen top fifteen singles (including the classic number one hit ‘I Wanna Be The Only One’), four top ten albums and global sales in excess of nine million, helping Kéllé cement her place in the record books by being part of Britain’s most successful R&B group of all time. After starting her media company Red Hot Entertainment in 2000, Kéllé created a bespoke style of professional artistic development (called PAD) which she hopes will aid her coaching at BIMM.





Kirk Brandon - Vocal Tutor

Kirk started his musical career in seminal Post-Punk band Theatre Of Hate in 1980. His first album ’Westworld’ was produced by Mick Jones of The Clash. Kirk then went on to form Spear of Destiny in 1983, whereby he recorded and toured extensively worldwide. Kirk recently released Spear of Destiny’s new album, ’Imperial Prototype’ in February 2008. Kirk is also a member of Dead Men Walking. The band consists of Captain Sensible (The Damned), Slim Jim Phantom (Stray Cats) and Mike Peters (The Alarm). Theatre Of Hate recently reunited and toured extensively with various dates in the U.K. and Europe.





Elliot May - Vocal Tutor

Elliot May has been in many bands since the eighties, both as a lead and a backing vocalist, working with artists such as The Brand New Heavies, Stan Campbell and Gavin Rossdale. She fronted the jazz funk band Pushmipullyou and toured extensively in Europe in the mid 90’s before working with ambient drum and bass DJ LTJ Bookham. Her most well known track as lead vocalist is on ‘Do your thing ...’ by Basement Jaxx that reached no. 24 in the UK top 40, 2005 and is still heard on film, TV and radio frequently today. She’s currently working with a collective of established artists called ROAD, touring and recording. Her vast body of work includes Radio 2 idents for the Jonathan Ross show and many other adverts around the world.





Chip Jenkins – Deputy Head of Vocals

Chip is a vocalist who runs her own funky jazz band Chip Jenkins Jazz, Performers Agency and has a solo career. Her industry experience is extensive and she also teaches at Chichester



University. Her onstage charisma and seductive appeal have not gone unnoticed by HRH Prince Albert of Monaco and Roger Moore; she


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s had them on the edge of their seats! Her musical and visual style has been influenced by several years living in Paris and Monaco. Chip is surrounded by truly exceptional musicians from the London Jazz scene. Having recorded at London


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s 606 club; Chip has also performed at venues such as Claridges, The Dorchester, The Savoy and The Natural History Museum, London. In January 2008 she was featured in The Moscow Times for playing for Ex-President Gorbachev!







Julie-Alanah Brighten - Vocal Tutor

Julie-Alanah has a career which has covered many aspects of the industry. As an actress, she has starred in the West-End as the original Belle in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, with Robert Lindsay in Oliver and sharing the run of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s one-woman show Tell Me on A Sunday with Denise Van-Outen. On TV, she’s worked with the likes of Paul Whitehouse and Kelsey Grammer. As a singer, she has been a guest vocalist for some years for the Kitsch Lounge Riot at The Café de Paris in Piccadilly, singing alongside Sam Brown, Clare Teal, Jamie Cullum and The Foundations. She has also sung backing vocals for jazz singer Oliver Darley when he supported Tom Jones at the Route of Kings concert in Hyde Park.





Sue Richardson - Vocal Tutor

Sue has a varied musical past - she began performing from an early age, playing with big bands by the age of 16. Following a classical music degree at Goldsmiths Sue spent many years touring the world, gigging in hotels, jazz clubs and on cruise ships. She has worked for the BBC, performing at The Last Night of The Proms. A rising star of the UK jazz scene she has recently recorded with Ian Shaw and played Ronnie Scott’s. She regularly guests with the Humphrey Lyttelton Band.





Sarah Jay – Vocal Tutor

Sarah has over 20 years experience in many aspects of the music industry. Predominantly a prolific songwriter whose sultry vocals have been enjoyed on numerous deep house and techno releases across the globe. Sarah has seven international tours to her name including Massive Attack with whom she collaborated on the album Mezzanine. Sarahs’ songs and voice have been featured in blockbuster movies “The Matrix”, “The Jackal”, and “Welcome to Sarajevo” and many more TV, radio and Independent film scores. Other collaborators include Shara Nelson, Charles Webster, Warp records and plenty more. Sarah believes, “The language of music is universal and is my biggest inspiration and passion. Sharing all my experience and knowledge with those hungry to learn gives me tremendous satisfaction. I loved teaching the masterclasses at Bristol and Brighton schools and am excited and honoured to be involved with BIMM as a new team member this year.”





SONGWRITING DEPARTMENT