In this conversation, Andy and Jonathan chat with Gwilym Simcock, one of the world's most gifted pianists and imaginative composers. Gwilym moves effortlessly between jazz and classical music, with a ‘harmonic sophistication and subtle dovetailing of musical traditions’. His influences are wide ranging, from jazz legends including Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea, Jaco Pastorius and Pat Metheny, to classical composers including Maurice Ravel, Henri Dutilleux, Béla Bartók and Mark-Anthony Turnage. Although principally a jazz artist, Gwilym has composed numerous works for larger classical ensembles that combine through-composed elements with improvisation, creating a sound that is distinctive and very much his own.

Gwilym shares many insights from his childhood and formative years in this conversation. This centred around his time at Chethams and the Royal Academy of Music. Key teachers and their influences on him are celebrated. We also chat about compositional processes and how they are informed by and incorporated into improvisatory practice.

Music Learning Conversation is hosted by Jonathan Savage and Andy Scott, and is a UCAN Play podcast.

Produced by Josh Savage

Title Music - JellyBaby
Written and Performed by Dave Hassell & Andy Scott
Remix by Stan Scott
Voice over Sam Marsden
Mixed & Produced by Paul Dormer

Welcome to the Music Learning Conversation podcast! Our second series of opens with a conversation with David Barnard.

David has had a wide-ranging career in music education. He started life as a bass trombonist in the Royal Corp of Signals, before moving into education, eventually becoming Director of the Swindon Music Service. From this, David became the Head of Education at Roland UK. More recently, David has been working at the Musicians’ Union as a case officer within the Education, Health & Well-Being Department.

In our chat, David reflects on his extensive experience in music education, the teachers he has valued, the importance of the work of music education hubs, and his work in helping shaping the policy and practice of music education in England.

Music Learning Conversation is hosted by Jonathan Savage and Andy Scott, and is a UCAN Play podcast.

Produced by Josh Savage

Title Music - JellyBaby
Written and Performed by Dave Hassell & Andy Scott
Remix by Stan Scott
Voice over Sam Marsden
Mixed & Produced by Paul Dormer

Welcome to the Music Learning Conversation podcast! Today's special guest is John Helliwell - saxophonist, clarinettist, keyboard player & backing vocalist with the wonderful band Supertramp. No doubt you'll remember hits such as ‘The Logical Song’, ‘Dreamer’ & ‘It’s Raining Again’. John's sound and style are so distinctive and are part of the soundtrack to many of our lives.

In his early fifties, after many years of touring the world, John decided to study for a degree in music at the Royal Northern College of Music. We will be finding out about his journey and the reasons for pursuing a more formal musical education at the time that he did. We'll also be finding out what advice John has for younger musicians today who are starting out on their careers in the music industry.

Music Learning Conversation is hosted by Jonathan Savage and Andy Scott, and is a UCAN Play podcast.

Produced by Josh Savage

Title Music - JellyBaby
Written and Performed by Dave Hassell & Andy Scott
Remix by Stan Scott
Voice over Sam Marsden
Mixed & Produced by Paul Dormer