EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

The Mollusc Dimension studied for and was awarded an English Degree from York University and then a Masters Degree in Illustration and Animation from Kingston University. He studied for an LTCL Diploma in Piano Performance (with Hilary Coates), achieving Distinction. Previous to this, he had studied for a Foundation Course in Art and Design at St. Martins College (now called UAL). He studied for his ATCL Diploma in Piano Teaching with The Curious Piano Teachers (Dr. Sally Cathcart and Sharon Mark-Teggart).

The Mollusc Dimension’s first music teacher was his mother, Shirley Marr, who was taught by Mrs. Betty Drown, an ex-pat Hong Kong piano teacher who had played piano as a POW, was one of the little-known founders of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and taught notable pianists such as Nancy Loo.

Before “Aunty Betty” as she was called, his mother learnt piano with her father (The Mollusc Dimension’s grandpa), who rebelled against his father’s career wishes resulting in estrangement. A gentle eccentric, Paul Cheung was a self-taught musician, keen composer of hymns and once winning a contest for the composition of a soya milk jingle. Shirley began teaching at the age of 15 at her family apartment, to support her family.

As an adolescent, The Mollusc Dimension was accepted at the Junior Guildhall School of Music where he studied with John York, later continuing with private lessons with John and for a time with Jonathan Shin'ar. Under the tutelage of these pianists, the young mollusc prepared virtuoso piano pieces for concerts, competitions, enjoying the journeys into imaginative musical stories and the buzz of performance.

As a child, he won first prizes (19+ medals and an assortment of trophies) from various local music festivals for piano solo, duet, trio, piano composition and flute composition. It was with John York that he prepared to play the soloist part for Rachmaninoff’s 2nd piano concerto with York University (the entire work). When he auditioned for this, he just played the first chord or so of a Beethoven sonata and the professor who was auditioning him said he had the job. It was a joke, but it was a fun and memorable moment.

Eventually, it felt like something was missing - his own music and his own voice.

As an adult learner, before, during and after his study for Piano Performance LTCL, he sought out one-off training opportunities which proved to be catalytic in a positive sense. He took Jazz piano and ABRSM Jazz piano teacher classes with Tim Richards. Voice coach John Tucker and singing teacher Jenny Ewington helped him develop some basic technique as he had avoided much singing during his life. He also had inspiring and useful one-off sessions with Faye Patton and CN Lester. 

Attending the Search and Reflect Teacher Improvisation course with Community Music was eye-opening as it was distinctly different to other workshops he had been to. He wonders what might have happened if he had been to such a course in his early twenties.

Studying with The Curious Piano Teachers was also a refreshing experience as it involved reflective learning and his first taste of distance study - which was a positive experience, and helped him feel more connected to the world of music education. It was after all at the Music Educator Expo that he had encountered Sharon who was handing out freebies at The Curious Piano stall. Compared to the ABRSM Conferences which were useful in their own way, attending the Music Educator Expo filled him with the feeling of music teacher pride - at seeing so many music teachers, and feeling part of the music industry. Being a member of the ISM (Incorporated Society of Musicians) strengthens this feeling.

In 2012, The Mollusc Dimension (then known as Squid) started his band, Squid & The Krakens and the experiences performing greatly helped him to develop his vision as an artist, as did working on projects together with frequent collaborators Wild (musician and fellow educator) and Shaven Raven Designs (visual and voice artist) and also the many other artists and organisations which you can find on his CV.

He currently studies singing with Beatrice Murray (they/them) whose embodied approaches have been greatly transformative.