Hi! My name is Ryan Jacob and I am the brass teacher at SNS.
I began playing trumpet aged 10 and haven't stopped enjoying it since! I am a performer whose passion in music spans Jazz, Classical, Pop and Experimental genres.
Music has taken me around the world and I have been lucky to perform, write and record with the likes of Bonobo, TLC, Kano, Jamie Cullum, Jacob Banks, Heritage Orchestra and with my own band project, Dollars Trio.
I have been teaching music for over 15 years and enjoy sharing my knowledge and experience with pupils. My lessons will focus on sound, technique, repertoire, improv and how the instrument fits to the different musical styles and settings that interest you.
Ryan Jacob
Brass Tutor
“Hello, my name is Luca (pronounced “Lutza”) and I teach singing. I was born and raised in Hungary where I studied violin and singing. I have lived in London for 14 years now and I just love being in the middle of this eclectic place.
When I teach, my aim and my dream is to equip you with a solid technique that will give you confidence to sing your favourite music whatever the style. I will do my best to nurture your natural talent, to challenge you to grow and discover as many styles and genres as possible all the while having lots of fun!
Whether you already know you have a great voice and want to improve it or you are thinking “well this is embarrassing but I kind of wanna try this” - I look forward to meet you and share your journey of self-discovery.”
Luca Kocsmarzky
Singing Tutor
Hey! My name is Andy David and I’m a blues/rock guitarist, and guitar tutor. I picked up my first guitar when I was 3 and it’s been my main focus ever since.
I studied music in London, and now have a higher diploma in guitar, and a bachelor’s in music. Besides teaching guitar, I also do some session work and have played many cool places around London, did some shows in LA and even played Glastonbury 2017.
Andy David
Guitar Tutor
Hi, my name is Laurence Wilkins and I am a trumpeter, guitarist, producer and composer. I recently graduated from the Royal Academy of Music and have performed and recorded with the likes of Alfa Mist, Stamina MC, Pyjaen, Lucy Lu and Faye Meana. I play music in a wide variety of styles including jazz, hip-hop, afrobeat, pop and more. I also run my own band Zeñel, a laptop-based electronic jazz project with whom I've performed at prestigious venues including Ronnie Scotts, Love Supreme Festival and La Petite Halle in Paris.
I also work as a mix engineer and producer, creating instrumentals in a wide variety of modern popular styles. Since graduating, I'm starting to break into the world of film and TV music, landing sync placements with popular brands and shows including ITV's Love Island and Eurosport.
Laurence Wilkins
Woodwind / Jazz Band Tutor
Hi! My name is Giovanni Cresseri, and I play Electric Bass and Double Bass.I started my career as a rock and funk bassist, attracted like a magnet to the unstoppable groove of people like Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Les Claypool (Primus), Marcus Miller, and so on and so forth.
Recently I have been seduced by the sound of the double bass and the feel of jazz, so I decided to attend a postgraduate course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama - Can't wait to teach you some of the grooviest music that's out there!
Joe Abraso Cresseri
Bass Tutor
Hi, my name is Iain Goodall and I have been playing and teaching drums for a very long time. I have played for many great musicians such as folk violinist Seth Lakeman, Irish singer Cara Dillon, guitarist Keith Airey (Nik Kershaw/ Tom Jones), and a band called Equation, which toured America numerous times and brought out four albums.
I am very passionate about music, drumming, and teaching and I will help you to work through grade books or just help you to learn your favourite songs. As well as that, I can show you how to improve your technique to help you get the best out of your drumming.
Iain Goodall
Drums Tutor
Neil is a pianist, writer and composer from the Shetland Islands. He appears regularly and widely as a solo pianist and chamber musician, and has performed as a soloist all over the world, and at UK venues such as King's Place, the Queen Elizabeth Hall, the Barbican, St David's Hall in Cardiff, the Colston Hall in Bristol and the Queen's Hall in Edinburgh, as well as more unconventional venues like the Village Underground and the Glastonbury Festival.
Neil is Artistic Director of new-music group the Ossian Ensemble, and is a member of the six-piano group Piano Circus. Neil has performed with the Kammerklang Ensemble, the Arcomis Ensemble, the Continuum Ensemble, the Riot Ensemble and the London Contemporary Orchestra. He also performs in a piano duo with James Young, giving their London debut at The Forge in Camden in 2014 for the Park Lane Group.
He enjoyed a prize-winning academic career on scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music. He completed a Masters degree with a highly-acclaimed thesis on the role of the performer in classical music, which became the exemplar dissertation for Masters students, then became a Fellow at the Academy working with composers on new music.
This is Neil Georgeson's third year teaching at Stoke Newington School. He also has a studio of private students, and has given workshops on piano and composition at the Royal Academy of Music, the Royal College of Music, Royal Holloway University, Forest School and Wellington College.
Neil Georgeson
Piano Tutor
Tamas Teszary started learning drums at the age of ten in his hometown in Szeged, Hungary with Mr. Pal Barkanyi, Principal Timpanist of the Szeged Symphony Orchestra.
Upon recommendation of his teacher he soon continued his studies in the Szeged Conservatoire where he spent four years furthering his skills as a classical percussionist, learning to play the timpani, vibraphone and marimba to name a few.
After the successful completion of the Conservatoire he went on to the prestigious Ferenc Liszt University of Music majoring in percussion.
Years later walking away with his degree he decided to move to Canada where he got involved with studio and freelance projects and exploring different styles such as rock, jazz, funk, folk and latin music.
Later again, he decided to try himself in a cruise ship environment as he completed a six-month contract playing his way around the North and the Baltic Sea and the British Isles.
Tamas has shared the stage/played with such great artists as Joan Baez, Gwilym Simcock (Pat Metheny), Michael Mondesir (Billy Cobham), Abram Wilson, Robin Banerjee (Amy Winehouse), Cameron Pierre (Courtney Pine), Roberto Pla, etc.
Based in London, UK Tamas leads a busy life keeping a balance between being an educator, band leader, session musician and composer. He leads his own quartet as a vibraphone player, plays drums and vibes with several jazz/funk/soul/latin formations and maintains his teaching posts at various educational institutions.
Tamas Teszary
Percussion Specialist
Hi! my name is Si, I'm a musician/guitarist originally from Cheshire but have been in London for 13 years now! I studied music in London at Goldsmiths Uni and have taught lessons and workshops all over London. I have gigged around the UK and abroad playing Rock, Classical Guitar and Folk/Jazz in various bands.
I teach electric and acoustic guitar at SNS - I enjoy helping students with song writing/improvisation and approaching the guitar creatively. I also run an increasingly popular 'Guitar Club Online' YouTube channel where you'll find lessons & arrangements I've used at SNS performances over the last few years.
Si Clif
Guitar Tutor
Hi! I’m Emma Holmes and I’m a classical flautist and woodwind tutor.
I started playing the flute around age 10 and have recently graduated from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. I’ve only just moved to London, but already love being in such a vibrant and exciting place where music studies are thriving!
I’m a keen performer of orchestral music and have been involved in many concerts and productions, including performances at Symphony Hall, the Birmingham Hippodrome, the Barbican Centre, and Saffron Hall. I’ve also worked with several prestigious conductors, such as Sir James MacMillan, Ludovic Morlot, Paul Murphy, and Joshua Weilerstein.
My approach to teaching is always fun first! In lessons, we will work to find out what you hope to achieve on the instrument – whether that is a high technical prowess, building creativity through improvisation, or learning about world music – all ambitions are catered for!
Emma Holmes
Woodwind Tutor
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
How does SNS offer lessons that safely follow COVID restrictions?
All students will be prompted to sanitise their hands and all shared items (such as music stands) before and after each lessons. In areas where possible, windows will remain open for ventilation. Where this is not the case, we will provide safety screens between students and their tutors.
Does my child miss curriculum lessons to study an instrument?
Yes, however, the timetable rotates every week so that your student will not miss the same lesson every week.
Where do I store my instrument?
We have a locked instrument closet for storage. Just ask a music teacher for they key
How will I know when my lesson is?
Lesson timetables are emailed out to parents every term as well as notification of any changes. Timetables are also posted in the corridor outside of B05 as well as linked at the top of this page.
Where does my lesson take place?
In the music department practice rooms or the studio.
Do I need to practice?
Yes, you will not progress without creating time to practice and apply what you learn in lessons. If you would like to practice at school, rooms are made available three days a week during lunchtimes and after school.
Can I take graded examinations?
Yes, your tutors will guide you through the process.
Are there performance opportunities at Stoke Newington?
Yes, students are invited to perform as part of our many ensembles, for their GCSE recordings, lunch clubs/jamming with friends, and more.
Am I expected to be involved in extracurricular ensemble activities?
Yes, this is a fun opportunity to put your all your hard work to good use. At SNS students can join the Jazz Band, Chamber Orchestra, Chamber Choir, and Stokey Singers and Bloke Newington (Boys Choir).
What happens if I miss my lessons?
Students with unexcused absences will be notified. If this continues the students will be removed from lessons as we often have others on the waiting list.
What do lessons cost and how many are there per term?
The cost has increased to £100 per term (10) individual lessons or £50 for y7/8 group lessons. We are happy to help cover this cost if it is concerning for your family.