Meet the Team!
Each of the Nightingales teachers brings years of experience of teaching music to children and young people. They are all talented musicians and regular performers, and are great fun to work with.
Click on the teachers’ photos below to get more information including their currently available lesson times and to book in.
If you’re interested in 1:1 lessons we can offer you a few trial sessions first to see how you get on, before offering you a regular slot.
If you have any questions at all you can contact us by emailing [email protected]. I’ll look forward to hearing from you.
Charlotte McMillan
Hullabaloo & Musicianship
Charlotte McMillan
Hi! I’m Charlotte, and I founded Hullabaloo Pre-School Music in 2008. It started as a couple of small classes in Pencaitland (where I live) but has gradually built up over the years. We now have classes in East Lothian and around the West of Edinburgh, and of course have extended the invitation to older children in the form of Nightingales Music School. I’m delighted to have some great teachers on board with me now too – you can read all about them here; just click the names on the left.
I am a music lover and I play the clarinet (Grade 8), saxophone, piano (Grade 7), guitar and recorder and was even in a hand-bell team when I was at school! I am currently learning fiddle (well I’m trying anyway!). I have an A-level in music performance, and I also have a lot of experience at leading pre-school music classes, as I have taught for other organisations in the past. I hold an Arts Award from East Lothian Council jointly with East Lothian Youth Music Forum (ELJam) for “Early Years Music: Singing Rhymes and Percussion”, and I am on the Steering committee for ELJam as well as being part of their Local Haddington Working Group. I have trained with the National Youth Choir of Scotland and have completed various of their courses including Musicianship and The Kodàly Approach to Primary Methodology. I am also assistant director for one of the NYCOS East Lothian choirs.
I am the Youth Music Initiative Community Arts Worker for East Lothian Council and have been in post since 2017.
I love to participate in music outside of work and play sax in an Edinburgh soul band Soulacoaster. I also sing in a three part harmony group called “The Wintones”. I have recently had the pleasure of guesting for the Aberlady Moonshine Orchestra, where I’ve been dabbling in a bit of Jazz clarinet too.
I thoroughly enjoy teaching the classes and truly believe that young children benefit hugely from participating in musical activities at an early age. I put an awful lot of hard work and energy into preparing and delivering the classes, but for me it is very rewarding and worth every minute. I hope you will think so too!
Please feel free to contact me about any aspect of the McMillan Young Musicians school. I welcome any feedback or suggestions.
Kerry Turnbull
Violin, Piano & Musicianship
Kerry Turnbull
Kerry has always loved music and is delighted that from starting on her Nana’s keyboard aged 4, she now has a BA (Hons) in Music and not one but two dream jobs: teaching piano and violin, and running pre-school music classes. She has completed ABRSM graded exams in piano, violin and music theory and has attended several training courses in early years music with both NYCoS, Colourstrings and RSNO. She loves Scottish music and regularly attends Scottish song and fiddle workshops as well as playing with the Edinburgh Highland Reel and Strathspey Society https://www.facebook.com/ehrss/?fref=ts
Kerry has done a lot of work with children in various roles from After School Club Assistant, to Beaver Leader, to Holiday Club Coach where she runs music, art and sport activities for 3-12 year olds. She also enjoys providing music for her local dementia support group, and is grateful that she can share the joy and benefits of music with people of all ages.
At present, Kerry takes the Hullabaloo classes in Balerno and East Calder. Find more details about those classes here.
Kerry also teaches piano, violin and musicianship within our Nightingales music classes.
Martin Stewart
Violin, Bass Guitar & Ukulele
Martin Stewart
We’re delighted to welcome Martin to the team for Autumn 2019.
Martin began learning violin in primary school at age 8. He performed with the Edinburgh Young Orchestra and the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland on their tour of China. He went on to study at Edinburgh Napier University and then the Royal Welsh College of music and drama in Violin Performance. He performs with the Four String Quartet and freelances for musical shows. He plays a violin by the contemporary maker Colin Adamson. Martin also plays bass guitar and ukuele.
He will be teaching violin, ukulele & bass guitar and will be available initially on Thurs evenings and Saturdays, however if another evening is better for you please get in touch as we should be able to accommodate you. Martin also teaches our taster classes with Kerry and Neil (ukulele, violin and piano taster blocks).
Click here to view our full schedule or register your info here to see available slots and to book.
Gary Hollingsworth
Drums
Gary Hollingsworth
Gary has been playing drums for about 13 years and has played in bands around Scotland, from a Ronnie James Duo tribute band to currently playing in a function band called the Well Scrubbed Social Club. He has taught people of different ages and abilities, and fits his lessons to the student to ensure that they always get the best out of their time with him.
Gary has a BTEC Extended Diploma in Music Performing with a triple pass and
a grade A HND Music Performance certificate from the Academy of Music and Sound. Gary currently teachers with McMillan Young Musicians and for the Bridge Centre Music Project.
He has been to masterclasses and drum clinics with many different drummers, for example Gavin Harrison, Craig Blundell and the Basement Jaxx percussion section.
Gary currently teaches 1:1 drumkit lessons on Monday & Tuesday evenings. Click here to view our full schedule or register your info here to see available slots and to book.
Neil McCarroll
Piano, Guitar, Ukulele, Music Technology
Neil McCarroll
Neil studied classical piano from age 5 and has always been batty about music. While studying under renowned musicians and composers including Philip Hammond and Michael McGuffin, and pursuing his ABRSM exams, he was awarded the music scholarship to Campbell College Belfast and went on to study GCSE and A-level Music, soaking up folk, rock, classical and popular music styles, and winning various prizes for playing and composing. He also led the school’s choir and pipe band, where he was Drum Major and also taught the snare drum
He holds an MSc in Composition for Screen from Edinburgh University where he studied composing, orchestration, conducting and interactive sound-design, with a specific focus on music for films and games. Recent work was nominated for a Best British Animation award at the Edinburgh International Film Festival and he has participated in workshops and presented at conferences throughout Europe. He also holds an MEng in Electronic Engineering and various professional qualifications in Project Management and Process Improvement.
Over the years, Neil has played a variety of instruments in bands covering many musical genres, performing and recording with several number one artists. He currently enjoys playing keyboards for the 12-piece soul band ‘Soulacoaster’. He volunteers as a music group coordinator for the Edinburgh Headway brain-injury charity, and has facilitated composition workshops for primary school children. Neil has recently completed training with the National Youth Choir of Scotland in the Kodaly approach to early years, Going for Bronze choir leadership and Levels 1, 2 and 3 Kodaly Musicianship in their Royal Conservatoire of Scotland accredited modules.
Other eclectic activities have included running the African Drumming Society at Edinburgh University, performing as a red beastie drummer at the Edinburgh Beltane festival, singing in the Hereford Choral Society and playing percussion for an international women’s choir in Austria!
Outside music, Neil relishes time with his two young children and enjoys swimming, movies and coaching mini-rugby.
Neil teaches piano, music technology, ukulele and guitar but currently only online. Click here to view our full schedule or register your info here to see available slots and to book.
Jan Clark
Piano, Flute, Clarinet, Sax, Theory
Jan Clark
We’re delighted to welcome Jan to the team for Autumn 2019.
Having endured a soul-destroying career in IT, Jan decided to return to her first love – MUSIC – undertaking a Diploma in Music Teaching at the RNCM along with other associated courses :CT (“Certificate of Teaching”) and TME (“Teaching Music Effectively”)
12 years on and Jan has built up a successful career teaching piano, clarinet, saxophone and flute, both from her own private teaching practice which she runs from her home in beautiful Pencaitland and also in schools as the resident woodwind instructor at Cliftonhall and providing supply cover for Midlothian council schools.
Jan’s pupils range in age from 6 to 60 (and beyond). Some follow a formal path, taking grade exams (ABRSM or Trinity) others prefer to play just for fun or to play in ensembles with other musicians. Whatever the goal, lessons can be tailored towards every pupil’s individual needs and preferences. Jan is also happy to help any pupil work towards theory exams or for the “Listening” or “Composition” elements of their NAT5 and Higher exams at school.
When she’s not teaching, the rest of Jan’s time is taken up with playing music. She has her own ceilidh band, CopperCeilidh (oh, have we not mentioned her Accordion-playing skills yet?) and also does a lot of solo work for weddings and functions on piano (with a bit of singing added in for good measure) – and the mantra of “Who ‘ya gonna call?” keeps her busy depping for a variety of other function bands and ensembles as well.
Jan teaches piano, sax, clarinet, flute and theory and is available Mon-Fri afternoons. Click here to view our full schedule or register your info here to see available slots and to book.
Chris Aien
Guitar & Ukulele
Chris Aien
Chris is an experienced guitar and music tutor and has worked with various music and youth work projects throughout Scotland. He has taught people of various ages, abilities and social backgrounds, which has helped him to adapt his teaching style to suit the needs of the student. While specialising in guitar tuition, Chris is also experienced in teaching ukulele and drums. He has facilitated a wide range of musical workshops, including DJ sessions and songwriting workshops.
He currently plays guitar for a number of function bands, including Klones and The Well Scrubbed Social Club. Chris also works for the Upward Mobility Project, where he runs music workshops for adults with special needs.
Chris teaches with us on Mondays. Click here to view our full schedule or register your info here to see available slots and to book.
Dallas Patterson
Guitar, Bass & Theory
Dallas Patterson
Dallas has been teaching guitar and bass since 1999, and has done professionally since 2003.
He has worked with many different groups over the years, teaching large classes, ensembles, and those with additional support needs. Dallas does a great deal of peripatetic teaching in Midlothian, in both primaries and high schools. Dallas also has many years of 1-1 teaching experience with students from 7 to around 80.
Dallas was the guitarist with the busy function band ‘The Funktones’ and currently performs as a solo guitarist and accompanist.
Dallas teaches guitar, bass guitar and theory and is available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Click here to view our full schedule or register your info here to see available slots and to book.