Matthew Smith
Saxophonist
Biography
Saxophonist
Matthew has been performing professionally since 1994.
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He has recorded sessions for BBC television and radio, ITV, Channel 4 and SKY TV, and has toured and recorded across the UK and in Europe with a wide range of artists, including:
Jimmy James & The Vagabonds; The Dualers; The Memphis Belle Orchestra; The Blues Brothers; American Drifters; Ray Lewis; The Glenn Miller Tribute Orchestra, Mad Dog & The Sophisticats, The Illegal Eagles and many more.
He is also in demand performing at jazz clubs and festivals.
To date, Matthew has 4 albums to his name and has appeared as a sideman on many more.
From 1997-2000 he studied at the Leeds College Of Music, gaining BA (Hons) Jazz Studies. Prior to that he was a member of the Hull Youth Jazz Orchestra. His musical journey began, aged 8, as a chorister in the Beverley Minster choir
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Educator
Matthew's teaching practice has been described as "exemplary", "innovative" and "outstanding" by a variety of teaching institutions.
He works with pupils of all ages and abilities; he has helped adults with no musical experience to learn and develop to play in bands and perform gigs. He has also worked with younger pupils, some of whom have gone on to study at:
Leeds College Of Music, The Royal Northern College Of Music, The Birmingham Conservatoire, The Guildhall School Of Music.
Currently, Matthew runs his online saxophone school, Learn Saxophone with Matthew, through which he has pupils across the world. He also offers 1 to 1 saxophone lessons and is the saxophone tutor at Hull University.
Previously Matthew has worked as a lecturer at Hull University on their Jazz & Popular Music Degree, he has also been the saxophone and clarinet teacher at:
Pocklington School; Hull Collegiate School; Hull Grammar School; MAPAS (NE Lincs Music Service); East Riding College; The Keech School Of Music; Bramcote Lorne School (where he was also based as the Musician In Residence).