Andrew Bassey, Music Director of Worleston Music School, studied at the Royal Northern College of Music and has had extensive experience in music as a professional bassoonist, conductor of wind bands and orchestras, and a teacher of many different orchestral instruments.
Andrew started learning brass instruments at the age of six with the Salvation Army. He took up the bassoon aged sixteen and made such rapid progress that he was accepted at the Royal Northern College of Music two years later. After leaving the RNCM with a Professional Performer's diploma (PP RNCM), Andrew worked for several years in the North West as a professional bassoonist and music teacher. He also enjoyed conducting the Lymm Concert Band at this time.
From 1994-1997 Andrew worked in South Africa as a bassoon player and teacher. He returned to the UK and took up a post as woodwind teacher with the Northamptonshire Music and Performing Arts Service. During eight years with NMPAS Andrew trained school bands to gain awards at the annual Northamptonshire music festival, as well as coaching over 800 of his students to success in Associated Board Exams. (One 16 year old student achieved a dipABRSM, the next level beyond grade 8, on the flute.)
When Matthew, Andrew's eldest son, was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 3, Andrew resigned his full-time teaching post in order to have more time during the day to help care for his son. Soon after this he started Northamptonshire Orchestral Winds, with a handful of players. The wind band grew and in 2008 they were showcased in the World Projects New York International Wind Band and Orchestra Festival concert in Carnegie Hall, New York.
Andrew stared teaching whole classes of complete beginners of all ages in the community using an American band method, and so Northamptonshire Orchestral Winds (NOW) developed into a community wind band college with different bands and classes for players of different abilities. Some players, learning only through the band classes, were able to advance to a high level at low cost with NOW.
Andrew Bassey has now relocated to the North West, in order to be closer to family, and would love to give many more people the opportunity to the discover the joy of playing an instrument and sharing a love of music.
Please contact Worleston Music School today to arrange a free lesson on your chosen instrument, or for a chance to try instruments and find out which one suits you best!
Andrew has been appointed conductor and Music Director of the Shires Symphonic Wind Orchestra Please get in touch with the band secretary (details on their website) if you are interested in joining - young people welcome! Conducting testimonials
Andrew at his teaching studio at Worleston Music School
Andrew playing in his advanced wind ensemble in Northampton.
Instruments taught - click on the links to hear them and be inspired
Percussion 1 (within ensembles only)
Percussion 2 (within ensembles only)
Percussion 3 (within ensembles only)
Drums (within ensembles only)
Andrew demonstrating most instruments - contact for a free school demo
So what’s different about us?
Where else do you have the opportunity to:
try a wide range of orchestral instruments?
take up one of the more unusual 'endangered' instruments?
have the option to receive both one-to-one tuition and group lessons or band training?
Worleston Music School aims to guide your development on all Orchestral instruments from beginner to advanced level in a fun non-pressurised environment. We specialise in Orchestral instruments as they are much in decline in this country and have been so in the last 20 years. Worleston Music School also aims to re-kindle interest in classical music too.
Orchestral sounds are all around us; T.V., movies, advertisements, symphony orchestra, chamber orchestra,and military bands. They give us the broadest of all musical expression from early music through classical and romantic to our modern day film music, including blockbusters like, Star Wars and Harry Potter!
Orchestral instruments are challenging and take many hours practice and concentration to master; which has many benefits as this level of spatial awareness can help your concentration in general and tests have shown can make you smarter!
Watch this video to find out about 'In Harmony', a project based in New York, giving children time and space to grow in the joy of music-making.