Dr Simon Jones

Dr Simon Jones has enjoyed a successful international career as a violinist spanning over thirty years. His teaching practice stems naturally from his performance work, and focuses on facilitating exposure to the broadest possible learning experience for his students, developing the wide range of skills necessary for success in todays music industry. Simon believes that students rarely realise just how much they are capable of achieving, and his teaching encourages them to become proactive learners, provoking them to question, to stretch their expectations and to maximise their creative potential. Impact of work "Simon has had a massive impact on the string department, totally changing the atmosphere to one of opportunity and ambition for students and staff: a department where anything can happen." [David Adams, Leader of the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera] Influenced by his PhD research into historical performance practice, Simon's teaching and syllabus design place emphasis on contextual understanding. Since 2004 he has implemented a range of teaching and assessment initiatives that combine his own professional knowledge with the involvement of top professional artists and which have won him a record number of learning and teaching awards within his institution. A hallmark of the training is the inclusion of regular, professionally-mentored, performance projects which develop hands-on student experience of the skills and standards to which they need to aspire. "The distance we travelled in just a few days was amazing; when you meet such excellent conditions for learning and creating as RWCMD has it does not happen by accident. There seems to be a clear thought enabling this to be possible." [Henning Kraggerud, International Violin soloist and Composer] Plans for the future Simon's external influence resonates in areas such as his trusteeship of the European String Teachers Association, examining and advising for the Associated Board of the Royals Schools of Music, and also through his work as an external examiner, as well as presenting masterclasses and performance projects at other institutions nationally and internationally. He has written and reviewed for Early Music Magazine and contributed to the forthcoming Cambridge Encyclopedia of Historical Performance in Music. Current plans include the publication of both musical scores and biographical information relating to his PhD dissertation, as well as the preparation of a new series of lecture recitals. Simon's transformative impact on the student learning environment is measurable both through significantly increased student numbers studying in his string department - up over 60% in four years - and notable career success amongst recent graduates. "Studying at the RWCMD has been the best thing I could have ever done and the majority of it has been down to you. You have created an amazing attitude in the string department that is truly unique. It has made me very proud and grateful to be graduating from here." [Student]