A balanced academic journey is of paramount importance to educational development. Paul began as an educator, aged 19 when he started his own business as a freelance instrumental tutor whilst studying at College and working in a recording studio. He designed curricula for private students to ensure that any skill taught was one that was grounded in real world practice and aligned this to the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), the recognised professional body for instrumental music education, so that when he closed that line of work, Paul had supported 117 students in their practical and theoretical grades with a 100 percent success rate (some of these students are now music teachers themselves).
During his PhD years, Paul was employed as a music-theory lecturer by several North East Higher Education Institutions and in 2008 he gained a 0.6 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) position at Newcastle University in this discipline. The year after this, his post was incremented by a role as programme co-ordinator with a partner college, for which, Foundation Degrees in Music were accredited for 30 students each year. Some of whom then progressed onto degree programmes at Newcastle, and Paul has supported one such student all the way through their PhD to their recent appointment as a Lecturer in Music Technology.
Paul is now an FTE Senior Lecturer in Music with research speciality in Music Theory in Practice. He has undertaken roles including a Module Leader, Pastoral and Senior Tutor, Degree Programme Director, Academic Head of Lecture-Capture for the University, Director of Excellence in Learning and Teaching, Deputy Head of School of Arts and Cultures, Acting Deputy Director of the Business School; and he is currently the Academic Head of Newcastle University London, Quality Assurance Agency Subject Expert and Reviewer, Advance HE qualified External Examiner and Senior Fellow; whilst remaining a music theory lecturer and a published author in this discipline.
