ChristopherBest.net

educator - composer - writer


Updated August 09


"...I would like to express my gratitude to Chris Best, my composition tutor, for his encouragement and support... His inspirational tutorials and enlightened seminars have been of a great value for my personal development as a young aspiring composer..."
(Kateryna Padlyevs’Ka June 2009)


Christopher Best taking a composition
seminar at Dartington College of Arts

Mentoring and Tutoring

I can deliver a wide range of workshops and lectures in composition related activity covering all age groups from Year 12 upwards, either as one-off events or as a sequential package. I am also available for private composition coaching, mentoring or consultation work, including help with score/part-writing, questions of notation etc. For availability and rates, or to discuss your ideas and needs, please contact me by email or by phoning 01803 861642. REQUEST CV

Background

I have over twenty years' experience of education work. In 1998 I became senior lecturer, and subsequently Reader in Music Composition at Dartington College of Arts. Before moving to Devon, I designed and ran the country's first BA Degree course in composition at Coventry University. I have twice been Artistic Director (music) of the Composers/Choreographers Exchange at the South Bank in London and have conducted similar workshops in Spain, Holland and Sweden. I currently co-direct the Music and Dance Exchange (m&de) at Dartington College.

I believe that at its heart, education is about sharing experience and empowering others to find their artistic strengths, not about imparting pearls of knowledge to a passive audience.


With Dartington student Catherine Hornig

Lecturing

As senior lecturer and ‘Reader in Music Composition’ at Dartington College of Arts, I give tutorials and seminars in contemporary composition practice, lectures in many aspects of new music and some performance coaching. I also have a number of MA and Research students under my supervision.

I see close connections between my teaching and creative work. Over the years many of my compositions have been either written for students and colleagues, or performed by them. The college is well appointed with unusual instruments (always a gold-mine for the composer!) including a range of Ghanaian drums and percussion, a Balinese Gamelan orchestra in which I play, Japanese flutes, samba drums, Baroque instruments etc. I have also encouraged students to design and build their own instruments, often exploring non-standard tunings or playing methods.


With Emilyn Claid (far left) and
participating artists at the Music
and Dance Exchange (m&de) 2006


Participants at the 2005 Exchange

Workshops

Having participated in the ‘Composers and Choreographers Exchange’ at the South Bank Centre in 1996, I went on to become its artistic director (music) for two years and from there continued similar work in Madrid. I now work alongside the choreographer Emilyn Claid, running the annual Music and Dance Exchange at Dartington College.