Angus Moncrieff

Lessons Online

I now deliver lessons online, via zoom. I teach all brass instruments, including trumpet, cornet, trombone, euphonium, tuba, french horn, etc., plus I teach music theory and arranging.

Now is a great time to learn an instrument! — email me to set up a lesson.

When teaching children online child safety is of paramount importance of course. I ask that a parent is on hand throughout lessons to supervise the child’s safety and to provide assistance if required. For younger students it might be necessary for a parent to participate throughout the lesson. Outside of the lesson itself any and all communication must be between myself and a parent.

I am fully DBS-checked and trained in up-to-date Safeguarding procedures. Please read my full Online Lessons Policy.

In order to get maximum value from the lesson please do the following if possible:

  • Some of zoom’s default audio settings are optimised for speech, not for playing an instrument, so please do the following in zoom:

    Settings > Audio Settings > Advanced >

    • Suppress Persistent Background Noise — turn OFF
    • Suppress Intermittent Background Noise — turn OFF
  • The instrument should be ready to play and not require any immediate maintenance — let’s not waste lesson time oiling valves! However, if in doubt then wait till the lesson and I can demonstrate. (NB. parents should do this as valve oil can be harmful if swallowed.)
  • It is sometimes useful to have the student play to a metronome, so please set one up ready to go — i.e. either a physical metronome, or a phone/tablet app (free ones are available), or the google metronome.

  • It is sometimes useful to have the student play to backing tracks (provided on CDs with the music books or provided by me as mp3s) so please set up an appropriate music player with relevant tracks close at hand.

    NB. Laptop and tablet speakers don’t have much power or bass and so might be difficult to hear by the student while playing, so please use speakers a bit stronger. E.g. a typical bluetooth speaker should be fine.