RECORDING STUDIO
+ TEACHING




TEACHING

Phil Graves - Teacher/Owner
I put on concerts for my students to perform in, and enter them into exams. I cater especially for those pianists who want to take the new (and excellent) jazz piano grades. For guitarists and bassists I use the Rockschool grades, which use a similar more modern format and I encourage all of my pupils to sing and teach them to accompany themselves.
Piano Exams Available
Associated Boards straight piano grades (classical)
Associated Board jazz piano grades
Trinity piano duets grades (with a friend)
Trinity keyboard grades
Rockschool rock piano grades
Guitar Exams Available
Rockschool electric guitar grades
Rockschool bass guitar grades
For 20 years prior to opening Dove Studio in 2011, I ran a successful private teaching business with an active waiting list for new pupils. A dedicated teacher with a specialism in 'Music for Education' as part of my degree, I offered a personal service tailored to each individual's needs.
With the opening of my spacious Dove Studio I can now cater for individuals and groups. My teaching method tends to start with music that inspires the student now, rather than routinely, as in many traditional music schools, beginning with 400 year old music and working through to the 21st century. In my experience many pupils never make it! I prefer to start with music that inspires the student now, whatever that is, and go from there!
Lessons include: piano/keyboard, guitar or bass centred teaching incorporating general music skills and activities, i.e. singing, improvising, ear work/aural/copying, recording projects/song recordings and general use of music technology.
RECORDING STUDIO

A comfortable and roomy recording space ... a place for bands to play together and to be recorded together.
With 30 years of experience in recording the aim is to get a crystal-clear, punchy but soft sound, recording simply and without too many machines getting in the way.
"I am listening to an 8-track demo I did at Phil's studio over the last month or so and have to say it sounds just like the real thing. The band is a jazz trio of sax/flutes, double bass and drums. The results are in no way 'amateurish' and show Phil's innate skills as an engineer and inveterate knob-twiddler (jazz is almost always a one-take experience and you rarely have the luxury of endless overdubs to capture the perfect take. Many thanks to Phil for his hard work. I can recommend Dove Studio for anyone who is looking to record for demo or for release"
Rob Palmer - Trio East