Simon Bates - Saxophone

Workshops

Many schools and Education Services regularly ask Simon to visit and motivate their students. After seeing him in action the Royal Marines were so impressed they asked him to become their Professor of Saxophone. Simon has also worked with Yamaha arranging music and leading bands on tours to inspire school children to take up musical instruments, including the 'Yamaha-Classic FM VISION Tour', the video for which can be viewed below.

"Simon’s masterclasses and workshops are truly inspirational!”

Paul Christmas - Head of Music, Dagenham

Improvisation Workshops

(Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced)

These are inspirational workshops designed to help players to lose their inhibitions, feel more comfortable on their instrument and re-ignite their enthusiasm for music. Each workshop lasts an hour, or can run for longer if preferred.

Group Workshops

From duets to big bands, these workshops take apart a rehearsed piece to study the different elements. Often these run during the day followed by a concert in the evening in which Simon will guest solo and play within the band. Simon can also organise other professional musicians to attend and give advice to sections of the band, for example in a big band he may work with the saxes and provide other musicians to work with the trumpet, trombone and rhythm sections. During the concert the professionals will sit in, perform solos and can also perform together as a band. These workshops have proved to be extremely motivational to all ages.

Yamaha-Classic FM VISION Tour

Running for three years this project was a huge success. The objective was to encourage and enthuse children to take up a musical instrument by showing them that making music is within everyone’s reach, its fun and playing the flute can be ‘cool’!

Simon was asked to be the musical Director for the band and selecting 3 trendy music students to compliment himself and another Yamaha endorsee, recommend suitable music and arrange the songs. Yamaha wouldn't allow him a bass player so he learnt himself - watch out for his bass playing on the clip!

The children saw the show and then had the opportunity to ask the band questions, try a huge range of instruments, sign up for a free music lesson and were given a magazine and poster to take away from the event.

The tour ran in 10 different locations over 2.5 weeks, reaching 50 schools and over 8,000 children, with over 6,000 signing up for a free music lesson. With three shows during each day, 300 children per show and over 70 instruments available for the children to have a go on after the show, the timetable was rigorous. The team loaded in at 5am to ensure everything was set up for the first show at 9am. Then left the schools at around 6pm travelling on an overnight tour bus to the next location ready to start again the next day.

Yamaha worked with Classic FM and Arts & Kids to increase the profile of the tour, convincing the radio station to broadcast news from the tour on a daily basis. Arts & Kids were so impressed with the tour the VISION band were invited to play for Prince Charles at their annual event, showcasing work being carried out during the year.