Daniel* comes from a jazz musical background. His primary instruments are brass sector instruments but he also possesses rudimentary guitar, piano and vocal skills. He has attended many Summer schools and evening classes in Jazz Improvisation and Performance.

Daniel has several years experience of group music and improvisation has led him to an appreciation of the value of music making in terms of boosting self-esteem. Combined with his situation of being unemployed and a desire to contribute his skills and knowledge to the community, he decided to attend the Community Music in the Workplace Course to find out whether work as a Community Music Tutor was a potential route for him.

 Daniel attended a course in August 2010.

Daniel found the course very helpful and said he benefited from working in a small group with support from the Trainer. He said: “The trainer was great. The tasks were challenging in a good way. The course notes were superb, packed with information, and they have served as a springboard to further reading. There were excellent opportunities for discussion provided, balanced with insightful tasks that were challenging but enjoyable.”

He found the sessions on running a music workshop helped with setting his objectives and breaking things down into manageable tasks.

Daniel feels that being a Community Music Tutor would use his skills and satisfy his belief in the benefits of music. In the months after the course he has been doing voluntary work running singing workshops, with the aim of establishing a choir.

*Not his real name, photo is posed by model.