George Sullivan

I’ve spent the last eight years teaching with Newham Music Service, where I currently lead their Music Technology programme, as well as teach a mixture of 1-to-1’s and large groups of all ages and settings. Alongside a decade of my own career as a signed touring musician. My approach to teaching and making music has become part of the same practice — one where technical skill and genuine connection with the person in front of you both matter.

Most of my teaching happens in community and school settings across a wide range of ages and backgrounds, including students who don’t always find it easy to engage with formal education. I run weekly music technology groups where students write, record and produce their own tracks from scratch, and I’ve found that real progress — musical and personal — tends to come from building trust first: getting to know how someone works, what motivates them, and where they need more space or more structure. Some of my proudest moments as a teacher have been watching a student who initially felt music education “wasn’t for them” go on to perform live at a showcase.

For students working toward exams, I follow the relevant syllabus closely and build lessons around steady, confidence-building progression toward Grade 8. For students without exam goals — which is most of the young people I teach — I focus on developing their own creative voice, whether that means writing lyrics, producing a beat, or getting comfortable performing in front of others for the first time.

My own musical background led me to release music through labels including Polydor, touring the UK and Europe including performances at Reading & Leeds and Pitchfork Paris festivals, plus performing sessions for BBC Radio 1. I’ve worked alongside world-leading musicians and producers, and I now produce music for independent artists from my own studio. I bring that experience directly into my teaching, making music & production accessible at whatever level a student is starting from.

I hold a PGCert in Performance Teaching from Guildhall School of Music & Drama, and I’m about to begin an MComp there. Across both my teaching and my own practice, I’ve become especially interested in relational, trauma-informed approaches that support young people who don’t always feel safe or welcome in arts education — without that support coming at the expense of high-quality musical teaching.

I’m currently taking on a small number of new private students in the SE15 area. I’m DBS checked and happy to discuss lesson format — at a home studio, at the student’s home, or online. If you’re looking for a teacher combining solid classical training, broad experience with a wide range of learners, and real industry background in performance and production, I’d love to hear from you.