ABOUT PATRICK

Now based in North Yorkshire, Patrick has over 35 years experience in the world of music education.

He worked in and around High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire for 19 years, teaching music in secondary schools (including 12 years as Head of Department) before going freelance in 2009. Patrick’s current week is based around his work for the online Cambridge Home School, for whom he teaches right across the age ranges through to GCSE and A Level. He also offers private piano and singing tuition to children and adults.
 
His most recent work for High Wycombe Music Centre involved directing and arranging music for the Intermediate Orchestra but, as can be seen across the following pages, for a long time he also ran the Senior Big Band and Stage Voices, not forgetting his monthly adult choir Mill End Voices. This flexibility left him plenty of time to work on his three major loves: writing, composition and arranging.

Patrick’s most recent e-book, Being a Head of Music: a Survival Guide (co-written with colleagues Jane Werry and David Ashworth)is now widely regarded as the ‘bible’ for anyone starting this role. The book was named Music Education Product of the Year at the the Music Teacher Awards for Excellence in 2018. 

Patrick is also the chief content writer for icancompose.com for whom he regularly devises listening packs and composition units.

He is an experienced composer/ arranger, and has had arrangements published by Faber, Banks Music Publications and Music Sales. His greatest asset is his versatility: whether it is Bach, Mozart, Gershwin, Gilbert and Sullivan, church music, Motown, funk, improvised jazz, pop or music theatre, Patrick is more than happy to play or write it. He plans to continue in his role as Resident Composer for the Fourways Theatre Company and Chiltern Shakespeare Company.

His first original musical, The Emperor’s New Clothes, written with Victoria Davis, was successfully premiered at the Arts4Every1 Centre in High Wycombe in October 2015.

Please take the time to browse through the following pages, and Patrick looks forward to hearing from you very soon.