James

Whether you’re learning bass guitar, guitar or piano, James brings real industry experience into every lesson. As a producer and multi-instrumentalist, he has toured throughout the UK, Europe and the USA with the acclaimed band Porij, performed at Glastonbury Festival, supported Coldplay at Manchester’s Etihad Stadium, appeared on BBC television and amassed over 15 million Spotify streams. Alongside his performing career, James is a thoughtful and encouraging teacher who tailors every lesson to the individual, helping students build confidence, develop strong musical foundations and, most importantly, enjoy making music.

James takes time to understand each student’s musical interests, goals and preferred way of learning, creating lessons that are both structured and inspiring. Rather than simply teaching students what to play, James helps them understand why music works, developing a language for music alongside their playing and giving them the confidence to become independent musicians. Questions and mistakes are an important part of this process, helping students develop curiosity, creativity and a deeper understanding of the music they love. Drawing on his experience as a professional performer and producer, he also helps students understand why particular musical skills matter in real-world situations, bringing practical context to everything they learn.

James teaches students of all ages and abilities, from complete beginners to more advanced players. He teaches bass guitar, guitar and piano, as well as music theory, composition and music production. His lessons can support students preparing for graded exams, GCSE or A Level Music, auditions, or those simply wanting to explore and enjoy music.

For instrumental lessons, James draws on Rockschool, Trinity and RGT/LCME materials where appropriate, while also using the music students already enjoy listening to, performing or writing. For theory and composition, he uses ABRSM resources alongside practical analysis and creative projects, helping students develop a deeper understanding of the music they love.

As an experienced producer and recording engineer, James also offers music production lessons using Logic Pro, with experience across Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Cubase and GarageBand. His approach is that production is about far more than making beats; lessons explore songwriting, arrangement, recording techniques, sound design, mixing and the creative role of a producer, giving students an insight into how music is created from the first idea through to a finished recording.

Alongside his teaching, James has built a successful career as a member of Porij, writing, performing and producing music across pop, indie, rock and electronic genres. Highlights include co-producing Porij’s debut album Teething with David Wrench and producing Petit Boy in collaboration with Metronomy. His work has received BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 6 Music airplay, international radio play, and press attention from publications including NME, The Observer and Rolling Stone.

Whether a student is learning for enjoyment, working towards exams, writing original music or considering a future career in the music industry, James brings warmth, patience and a wealth of professional experience to every lesson.