Hi, my name is Paul Fletcher-Tomlinson.
I first became more seriously interested in music when I was 10
years old (back in 1970) when I met a friend at school who played the
Clarinet and soon after I embarked on learning the 'liquorice stick'
myself. This then progressed to the saxophone in various guises
(tenor, Baritone and later Alto and Soprano) and later my
favourite (and main) instrument the bassoon. During this time I also
started playing the guitar as an aid to learning harmony, as at the
time we couldn't afford a piano.
Early in my musical career I joined
the South Nott's Music School (aged 13) and played initially in the Concert Band
as a clarinettist and saxophonist and later in the Concert Band and Senior Orchestra as Principal Bassoonist. This proved a valuable
staging in my musical progression, and whilst still only 15 I was one
of the founder members of the Nottingham Youth Jazz Orchestra and took
up the bass guitar, later joining the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO)
whilst at almost the same time being invited to join the National
Youth Orchestra as principal bassoonist.
By the time I started
my A Level studies my two main music teachers at school were moving on
to pastures new so I therefore transferred to Clarendon College in
Nottingham and began a course of 2 years of intensive music study
there. This turned out to be a
very good move as I met and worked with a variety of outstanding
musicians (both Lecturers and Students) and learnt excellent skills as
a musician and performer whilst studying there.
After completing my
course at College (and gaining a number of both teaching and
performing diplomas) I worked for a short while in the music retail
industry before embarking on a career, in London, as a session
musician, over the years working with an enormous variety of named
singers, writers, bands, producers etc, etc.
In the mid 80's with
the advent of MIDI and computers I started to digress into music
composition and production work which in the mid 90's lead to my
meeting with my co-writer and co-producer Hussain with whom I still
work closely on various projects.
After meeting my
wife, whilst studying on a part time IT course, and now having a
family of my own (three daughters aged from 10 to 21 and a son aged 8)
I started to take a greater interest in passing on my musical skills to
others, and in 2000 commenced teaching music again after a break
of some 20 years. I feel that having spent time as a 'working
musician' in a variety of guises has given me an insight into the specific skills required
for many of today's performers, whilst having a young family has
taught me the patience and understanding needed in dealing with the
younger pupil.
In recent years I
have been concentrating on music production and composition rather
than performing and am currently embarking on a project to establish a
retreat and music production suite in the Auvergne region of France,
whilst here in England I'm now spending the bulk of my time teaching
and am currently in talks with local education officials with regard
to a number of Music in Education and Youth music projects.
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