Visiting Music Teachers

Mark McKnight - Guitar and Rock Band leader

Mark's experience as a music industry professional, both in terms of education and performance, is extensive.  He has tutored hundreds of musicians in a wide variety of educational environments ranging from one-to-one private lessons to lecturing/master classes in Higher Education.  Mark's approach to instruction is informed by his studies with some of the world’s most renowned musicians and educators at both the Skidmore Jazz Institute and Berklee College of Music. 

In addition to teaching Mark is in demand as a performer and has toured extensively both as a leader and a sideman, playing clubs and festivals in counties such as Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia and Switzerland. He has released two critically acclaimed albums as a leader featuring some of the UK and USA’s most prominent jazz musicians and performed and/or recorded with internationally recognised musicians such as Seamus Blake, Terell Stafford, Tim Warfield, Sam Yahel, Will Vinson and Jason Rebello. 

Further to his work within the field of jazz Mark has much experience of contemporary genres such as rock, pop and blues having, at the age of 18, been a finalist in Guitarist Magazine’s ‘Guitarist of the Year’ Competition and in the same year won the 'Ernie Ball/Musicman Guitarist of the Year' Competition.

Mark is passionate about music education and holds a BMus from Berklee College of Music and a PhD in Jazz Performance.

Mark's latest album Do or Die is available now.

Emily Armour - Singing

Emily Armour is a soprano with a flourishing performance career.  She has trained to post-graduate level at Trinity College of Music, where she has received specific teacher training. 
Starting to sing from a young age has many advantages.   Emily Armour’s method of teaching helps her pupils gain a good grounding in transferable music skills, while having fun.  They learn to sing with a good technique, to read music, to develop good listening skills and to work well in ensembles with other musicians.  Her pupils acquire stage presence and poise and the ability to project, both in speech and in singing.  She encourages her pupils to think about the meaning of song lyrics and how to convey them effectively to an audience. 
Emily hopes to instil an appreciation of a wide range of musical tastes and a love of music that will stay with them throughout their lives.  Once started, your own voice is not an instrument that you can ever ‘give up’.

Emily’s recording Evensong in Blue is available.

Sam Leak - Jazz Piano

 Sam Leak is a jazz musician and composer of national standing and increasing international reputation. He has an album released on the highly regarded Babel Label that has received a fantastic critical reception from publications including the Financial Times, Jazzwise, The Guardian and Mojo Magazine (“Multi-faceted and smart as pin, this is poetic chamber jazz of a very high order”). His music is regularly featured on Jazz FM and BBC radio. Furthermore, Sam has extensive experience of teaching the piano to students of all ages and abilities.