Peter Morrell

Can you tell us a bit about what you're doing now?

I am running my own Music teaching business called Sound Foundations Music.

I operate in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames as a singing and piano teacher, for all ages. I teach around 20 children every week, and 5 adults. The age range of my clients is 4 – 80! I’m also working for the local council, teaching at a Saturday Music Centre.

Why did you decide to study at City, and how did it help you get to where you are today?

My City education has been immediately useful in my first two years outside University. I can respond to a wide range of current clients, with different musical tastes and abilities. I have ready answers to their questions, and I feel confident in myself as a professional musician.

I wanted to study Music in London, because it’s such a lively, amazing place to be. I didn’t apply outside of London. The studios, and practice facilities at City were, in my opinion at the time I came on an Open Day, second to none. The location is awesome! What with all those venues serving up regular live Music, it wasn’t long before I had some amazing experiences of my own, on London stages as a rock singer!

I had a very ‘Classical Music’ upbringing, and I wanted to get away from that to develop other interests, which I had started to develop. City offers African, Gamelan, as well as jazz, classical and more besides. It was a paradise! The lovely students I met on the Open Day were proof that this was the right place for me; I felt at home.

What did you enjoy most about your course?

As a singer, my Jazz singing lessons at the Guildhall were probably the best experience. Also, not to be overlooked, I loved the local supermarket, next to the College Building. Best homemade sandwiches ever!

Were there any lecturers who particularly inspired you?

So many of the tutors have made a lasting impression on me for the great individuals they were. There was ample scope to socialise with the staff, and to engage with their work beyond the classroom, for example by seeing them perform or hearing their works performed in London.

For that reason, I would say I think back with special gratitude to my classes with Shirley Smart and Laurie Blundell, my musicianship teachers, and Aaron Einbond, my composition supervisor.

What are your long-term career plans?

I want to write best-selling books about what I do. I’m cultivating that dream in my spare time! For the present, I am focussed on being the best teacher I can be, and enjoying that. Being self-employed is wonderful, because I have such flexibility with my time.

Do you have any advice for someone who might be considering this course?

Keep an open mind. You can’t control all the outcomes of your choice to start a particular path in life, and the reasons you have for staying at a University, will be different from the initial buzz, or whatever it was, that made you sign up in the first place.

Go with the flow! City is a special place to develop as a musician. It is an ideal environment for people who want to listen and learn from others, and with warm encouragement to let your star shine.