(I talk about myself in the first person on this page as well.)
Accordion
Sam started playing the accordion when he was only four years old. He passed all his accordion examinations from grade one to grade eight, along with various medal exams and diplomas. He is an associate of the Victoria College of Music and was taught by Elaine Beecham. Over the years he's competed and performed in many festivals, competitions and shows.
When he was a member of the Colchester Accordion Showband
Sam toured the west coast of America and performed in venues across the UK.
Sam plays a wide variety of music including polkas, musettes and modern art music. At university
he performed music composed by Jurgen Lochter, Pietro Frosini, Karen Fremar and works performed by the accordionist Friedrich Lips. Sam played accordion in a few live songs with the band Daylight Saving.
Clarinet
Sam started the clarinet at the age of seven, mainly because he wasn't big enough to play the Alto Saxophone. He has taken Associated Board clarinet exams, many (including grade eight) with distinction. At college he had lessons with Susan Boddy, and then he had a year of tuition at Canterbury Christ Church University with Professor David Campbell.
Saxophone
Sam jumped some of the exam
hoops on the sax, including
honours in the Guildhall School
of Music's grade eight Jazz
Saxophone exam. The sax became
Sam’s outlet for jazz and
improvisation. As a saxophonist
Sam was a dedicated member of
the big band and jazz-fusion
band at Canterbury Christ Church
University. Sam played both alto
and tenor saxophone for Daylight
Saving, The Mop Collective and
Fiddler's Elbow.
Piano
Sam had lessons in piano playing and harmonisation at the piano whilst studying music at school. He has taken grades three, five and six with the Associated Board.