BA (Mus, Hons); ARCO; CertMusEd
Keywords: theory, organ, piano teachers in Surrey, Middlesex, Sunbury, Twickenham, Kingston, Staines, Chertsey, Walton, Weybridge.
I have over 30 years experience as a teacher of piano, organ, theory, keyboard skills and composition. I have also taught violin and singing to intermediate levels.
I am director of music for Ashford Baroque Ensemble (which I founded in 2005), St Matthew's Church, Ashford, (Middx.), and Feltham Choral Society.
I am an experienced pianist for children's RAD ballet exams, and was a pianist at Elmhurst for 20 years.
I am a sympathetic accompanist, particularly favoured by singers, who often say that I seem to be "singing the piece with them".
I have a modest number of compositions, from simple children's pieces for teaching, to advanced instrumental and choral works. See my page at Composition Today.
I can produce high quality (that is, both musically and visually,) computer-set arrangements by request for any vocal or instrumental ensemble.
When performing music I want to 'speak' to people, to touch something deep within. Although I am sometimes seen as a Baroque specialist, I enjoy playing Chopin and Rachmaninov too!
Be a friendly face and treat people thoughtfully
Take music seriously and encourage the highest standards
When one level is achieved, look to the next one
Pay attention to detail, but also be aware of the whole
Have a sense of humour
Philip Buckmaster was born in 1959. After some initial piano lessons with his grandmother, he taught himself to improvise - a skill which has served him well over the years. At age 10 he started formal piano lessons with Tony Russell, and later piano and organ with Gillian Ward Russell. Whilst still at school he enjoyed directing ensembles, often trying out his own compositions. One of his music teachers remarked that "he knew what he wanted from his singers and players, and knew how to get it."
He then attended the Colchester Institute School of Music, where he was awarded an honours degree, studying the organ under John Cooper and Harrison Oxley and gaining the ARCO diploma, the piano under Ruth Harte, conducting under Chris Phelps, harmony and counterpoint under Alan Bullard. He also played the violin in the orchestra and sang in the chamber choir. He then followed a specialist course for music teachers at Kingston University, and now enjoys a varied career based in South West London, playing, teaching, directing, composing and arranging.
For many years he worked at the renowned Elmhurst School of Dance and Performing Arts as a dance pianist, (using those improvisation skills), an A level music teacher and a computer expert, (a skill he acquired in 'later life' through an interest in technical things) until their relocation to Birmingham in 2004. More recently he has taught organ at Hampton School and is currently a music teacher with the Richmond Music Trust, leading children's ensembles, often using his own specially tailored compositions. Since the age of 16 he has held Organist and Director of Music posts at various churches, (St Matthew's, Ashford since 1990) and has arranged, recorded and produced a collection of songs for children learning English as a foreign language. He has been Musical Director of Feltham Choral Society since 1991 and with them has performed several of his own arrangements and compositions. Drawing on his interest in Baroque music and historically informed performance, in 2005 he founded the Ashford Baroque Ensemble, an ensemble of professionals, semi-professionals and good amateurs playing music from the late Renaissance to early Classical periods. The ABE has quickly built up a reputation in the area for its varied, entertaining and high standard concerts, often championing lesser known composers such as the brilliant Thomas Linley.
Always guilty of "spreading himself too thinly", from 1993 to 2005 he also ran a part time business in building, maintaining and upgrading computers - naturally with music applications a speciality - and now supports ICT at St Ignatius Catholic Primary School in Sunbury. He is married with two grown-up children, both pursuing careers in the performing arts.
Biography - short version (can be used in concert programmes with permission)
Philip Buckmaster studied at the Colchester Institute School of Music, where he was awarded an honours degree, studying the organ under John Cooper and Harrison Oxley and gaining the ARCO diploma, and the piano under Ruth Harte. He also studied the violin, singing and conducting. He then followed a specialist course for music teachers at Kingston University, and now enjoys a varied career based in South West London, playing, teaching, directing, composing and arranging.
For many years he worked at the renowned Elmhurst School of Dance and Performing Arts as a dance pianist, an A level music teacher and a computer expert, (a skill he acquired in 'later life' through an interest in technical things) until their relocation to Birmingham in 2004. More recently he has taught organ at Hampton School and is currently a music teacher with the Richmond Music Trust, leading children's ensembles, often using his own specially tailored compositions. Since the age of 16 he has held Organist and Director of Music posts at various churches, (St Matthew's, Ashford since 1990) and has arranged, recorded and produced a collection of songs for foreign children learning English. He has been Musical Director of Feltham Choral Society since 1991 and with them has performed several of his own arrangements and compositions. In 2005 he founded the Ashford Baroque Ensemble, who have quickly built up a reputation in the area for their varied, entertaining and high standard concerts, often championing lesser known composers such as the brilliant Thomas Linley.
