The Yamaha Music School at Dawsons in Altrincham

Su Ancliffe

Piano

More information soon!

Vernon Fuller

Guitar Encounters & Vocal Encounters

Vernon Fuller's relationship with the guitar started in London, where he cut his musical teeth in reggae and jazzfunk outfits, playing venues such as Upstairs at Ronnie Scott's.

After moving to the midlands in the late 80's, Vernon became involved in the R'n'B and Jazz Fusion scene, playing regularly at the Rep Theatre Cafe Bar in Birmingham and at the Birmingham Jazz Festival as part of the Bean Machine (Jazz Fusion Band). Now based in the North West, Vernon who is a self-taught musician, has pursued his love of jazz academically as well as creatively by studying at Wakefield College and at the North Wales Jazz Guitar Summer School.

Vernon has a Certificate in Education issued by the University of Manchester and he is a registered guitar tutor with the Registry of Guitar Tutors. He has become a very successful Yamaha Music School teacher at our Music School in Altrincham.

Andy Smith BA(Hons) ARCM

Play for Keeps, Piano School for Children & Piano Mate

Andy began his musical career straight after university, teaching piano, theory, clarinet and saxophone in the music departments of Rugby School and Bilton Grange. In 1987 he moved to Cairo to spend 9 years as Head of Music, running large departments in two International Schools. From there, in 1995 Andy moved to take up a position in a music school in the Western Fjords of Iceland. Over the years his travels have taken him around Europe, to the Middle East and Asia, as well as working in Poland, Czechoslovakia, Germany and France, building a school, a playground, digging ditches and working with the handicapped.

Since returning to the UK in 1996 Andy has worked with Yamaha as a teacher and instructor and currently also examines for Yamaha Music Schools and Trinity College, London. As well as his teaching Andy also has experience of directing musicals, conducting orchestras and ensembles, as well as performing as a soloist and accompanist both in the UK and abroad.

Karen Ward

Junior Music Course, Junior Play for Keeps, Play for Keeps & Pianomate

Karen has been involved with Yamaha Music Schools since 1984, first as a pupil and then a teacher. In 1987 she was asked to be part of a national recruiting team for Yamaha Music Schools, visiting state schools throughout the UK. After training in Sept 1987 she worked at the independent YMS in Southport, taking over that school in 1993, and in 1994 joined Dawsons to run their Wigan School. In 1999 she joined the YMS team at Dawsons in Altrincham to concentrate on Yamaha junior courses, becoming an instructor for Junior courses in 2005.

As well as her considerable experience with Yamaha Karen has enjoyed performing at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, and in 1992 represented the U.K in the European Yamaha Electone Festival final in Milan. It was here that Karen won an outstanding performance prize with her own composition.

AJ Smith BA(Hons)

Play for Keeps

AJ began playing the piano at the age of 9. Since then his musical career has gone from strength to strength culminating recently in his award of the BA (Hons) Music Studies degree at Leeds College of Music. Following this, AJ is continuing his studies in music at Masters Level having been accepted at Leeds College of Music, York and Durham Universities.

Whilst completing his ABRSM grade examinations at William Hulme Grammar School in Manchester, AJ was awarded the D M Williams Memorial prize for music. Whilst studying at Leeds College of Music AJ received master classes from many world famous artists: Martin Pickard and Lynn Dawson to name only two. Two premieres of his compositions were also performed by ‘The Goldberg Ensemble’ and ‘The London Sinfonietta’ respectively during his time there. Ultimately AJ was rewarded with the Sir Michael Grady Memorial Prize for Composition.

AJ is a competent and established pianist, having performed in many prestigious venues such as Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall and Manchester Cathedral. He has also become principal conductor for The City of Leeds Wind Ensemble, a post he shall be commencing in September.

Rodrigo Constanzo AA(Mus)

Guitar Encounters

Rodrigo Constanzo was born in Madrid, Spain. He moved to Miami, Florida where he lived for 29 years. There, he began studying classical piano at the age of four and later, guitar in his early teens. In high-school he formed, and directed, the South Miami Senior High School Rock Band, which performed regularly at school functions. He graduated in 1994 and went on to study Music at Miami Dade College. While there, Rodrigo won, and placed, in several composition competitions and earned an Associate of Arts degree in Music.

Rodrigo has been teaching for over thirteen years in a variety of settings. He draws on his classical background to give students a solid foundation, but uses his experience in playing in countless rock bands to make the classes more fun. He moved to Manchester to pursue a degree at Salford University.