Who we are

Musicademy began in 2003 as a music college specialising in practical worship courses for church musicians and rock and pop instrument lessons for local teenagers and adults in North London and Herts.

It soon became apparent that many worship teams wanted to access the worship focused courses but were simply too far away to come to weekly lessons. So in 2004 we began the process of putting the content onto DVD and turning ourselves almost by accident into a media production house, which was a steep learning curve by itself.  Rather than just filming live courses candid style, we chose to create a custom made instructional programme which was the best possible resource we could make educationally and as close as possible to having a one to one teacher on video.  Thus in 2005 the Beginners and Intermediate Worship Guitar DVD courses were born.

Since then we have added worship instructional DVDs in vocals, keyboard, bass and drums. Receiving international acclaim, the DVDs now sell all over the world and Musicademy tutors are frequently to be found running seminars at worship conferences and for individual churches.

Our online lessons, website resources and blog are a natural development of our desire to facilitate the quality of musicianship in churches across the world.

Andy Chamberlain is a Director of Musicademy and the presenter of the Musicademy Worship Guitar DVDs – students enjoy observing his varying hairstyles as the DVDs progress. Andy was trained at the Academy of Contemporary Music, has played at festivals such as Soul Survivor, New Wine, Spring Harvest and Spirit West Coast (US) and has worked with many worship leaders including Matt Redman, Tim Hughes, Martyn Layzell, Vicky Beeching, Viola and Lloyd Wade.

Andy oversees production of the other Musicademy’s worship DVDs and frequently presents worship training seminars in both the UK and US. He writes the Musical Chops column for Worship Leader Magazine and contributes regularly to worship related websites.

Andy is a big fan of classic cars, Eric Clapton, old British movies and has a bad case of gas (guitar acquisition syndrome). 

Marie Page is a Director of Musicademy and works as the Business Manager and E-Commerce specialist. Prior to setting up Musicademy with Andy, Marie worked as a marketing consultant. She is also a qualified teacher and continues to lecture in Business and Marketing for various professional organisations and colleges. Marie also runs seminars at Christian conferences and festivals on aspects of using creativity in worship as well as administration.

Marie is part of the leadership team of her local church and is married with two teenage children. She takes great delight in answering Musicademy emails at all times of the day and night – some people would suggest that she needs to get a life.

Matt Weeks presents the
Musicademy Worship Bass DVDs.
As well as being the session bass player of choice for many international worship leaders including Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Tim Hughes, Brenton Brown, Graham Kendrick and many others Matt also plays guitar, keyboard, trumpet and flugel horne and is a talented singer songwriter.

Matt is most comfortable in the studio or on stage but can occasionally be tempted out to teach a seminar on worship bass playing.

Tim Martin presents the Musicademy Worship Keyboards DVDs and is currently working on both the new Band Skills and Single Melody Instrument DVDs for Musicademy.

A multi-instrumentalist Tim frequently heads up worship training seminars for both Musicademy and the Music and Worship Foundation. Tim is a music and worship graduate of the London School of Theology, a former Baptist assistant minister/worship director and is currently working as a high school music teacher.

Tim is the ultimate night bird musician and even when faced with a weeks’ intensive filming for Musicademy has still been known to be at full steam well past midnight.

Kate Silbur presents the Musicademy Worship Vocals DVDs as well as the Essential Vocals Warm-Up CD. Filmed while pregnant with Chloe, students will be glad to know that Kate did eventually have a baby – the trailers alone have provoked lots of YouTube discussion on the topic of pregnancy singing.

Kate was previously head of vocals at Nexus, Europe’s largest worship training college and has incorporated elements of the Nexus vocals course content into the Musciademy DVDs.

Gayle Bamberger is one of the guest tutors on the Musicademy Worship Vocals DVDs and has taught extensively for Musicademy in live courses and seminars including some of our online video lessons. Gayle completed a Bachelor of Music Education at the University of Western Australia in 2002 and is also a graduate of the London School of Theology, Gayle is a native Australian but now lives in London where she works as Creative Arts Director for a church in Balham.

A talented worship leader, teacher and music director, Gayle also plays piano, flute and oboe.

Deborah Clarke was Musicademy’s first vocals tutor and features on the Musicademy Worship Vocals DVDs as a singing “student”. She is a multi-talented singer, songwriter who as well as gaining a distinction at the Academy of Contemporary Music, has written tracks and sung on a number of professional albums including her debut EP Arise. Deborah is a Vineyard worship leader, and even sings in the Musicademy function band.

Catherine White teaches singing for Musicademy both in local rock & pop courses and worship seminars. From choral beginnings she gained a vocal scholarship with the Berkshire Young Musicians Trust at 15. She has worked as a soloist performing most extensively in classical, musical theatre, and contemporary music. She has worked with choirs, jazz and swing bands, chamber groups and contemporary bands. Cat also works as a youth worker, and having recently graduated from London School of Theology is now embarking on an MA.

Nicki Rogers teaches on many of Musicademy’s live vocals seminars. She is an accomplished singer songwriter, who by the tender age of 26 already had two critically acclaimed solo albums out. Colour Scheme created a significant impact in the Gospel music industry and was followed up by her second album Feeder Lane.

As a singer in US pop act SHINE, Nicki has sung all over the world. She has worked alongside noted vocal trainers, such as Natasha Andrews (Chicane, Will Young, Madonna, Diana Ross) and teaches vocal practices inspired by TV’s Carrie and David Grant. She’s also provided backing vocals for a number of artists both on stage and on screen. As a qualified life coach Nicki is just as passionate that her clients realise their whole creative potential alongside their singing abilities.

Lloyd Wade is a guest tutor on the Musicademy Worship Vocals DVDs focussing particularly on R&B singing styles and vocal development for male voices.

Lloyd Wade is a Gospel and R&B singer. He achieved some fame in the UK Christian music scene performing with his brothers Derek and David in the group The Wades the 1990s. He works as a vocals coach and appeared as a contestant in the 2004 season of the TV series X-Factor and made the final five of the "over 25" category.

Recently he has been a featured vocalist with Take That on their Beautiful World 2007 tour. He has also recently sung with the great Stevie Wonder.

Jenny Moore teaches on a number of Musicademy’s seminars as features as a guest tutor on the Musicademy Worship Vocals DVDs. Trained by vocal coaches such as Stevie 'Van' Lange and Felicity Cook, Jenny is an accomplished session singer, performer and recording artist. She is a member at St Mary’s Marylebone where she also runs the Gospel choir.

Colin Brookes presents the Musicademy Worship Drums DVDs. The “original” Soul Survivor drummer, Colin is much remembered for his blond dreadlocks which are now sadly gone. Colin works as an Anglican vicar in a church in West London and is married to Natalie (Deborah Clarke’s sister) and has two daughters. Colin’s brother Phil is the founder of the Academy of Contemporary Music, Europe’ leading contemporary music school, where many of Musicademy’s tutors have trained.

Paul Evans replaced Stew Smith as the Delirious? Drummer in 2008 having worked as the UK’s leading worship drum session musician for many years. As well as playing drums for worship leaders such as Tim Hughes, Ben Cantelon and Cathy Burton, Paul has taught for Musicademy and presents a number of guest lessons on the Musicademy Worship Drum DVDs.

Paul is the consummate professional drummer but in the pre Delirious days we would take great delight in calling him about lunchtime to have the phone answered with a groggy hello.

Bill Pamplin is a drummer and bass player of formidable experience having played on world tours and recorded in many genresfrom pop to jazz. He has played for Everything But The Girl, The Pasadenas, JohnnyDankworth, Mark Nightingale (M People), Ben Castle, Gerard Presencer, Pat Metheny and many more. Bill presents a guest lesson on percussion on the Musciademy Worship Drums DVDs, teaches at our seminars and also regularly plays for the Musciademy function band.

Local Course tutors

Steve Bradfield is an exceptionally well trained musician having completed both guitar and studio engineering diplomas at the Academy of Contemporary Music. Steve has taught hundreds of students over the last 10 years using both in rock & pop and worship material. He is the lead singer and guitarist for the UK rock band Radiate (www.radiateonline.com). Having toured extensively with the band he also performs regularly as an acoustic solo artist. A musician with a keen ear for fresh sounds and energetic playing nothing is kept within the box.

Jon Mann Smith teaches guitar and bass. As a singer songwriter, Jon has recorded a number of EPs and has toured extensively with various bands in genres all the way from acid jazz to heavy rock. With his own trio and as a solo performer Jon is also a well known artiste on the London and Watford live band scenes.

Jon regularly plays for worship leader Tim Hughes and at numerous Christian events and festivals.

Paul Baker has a wealth of drumming experience as a teacher and player and has been the drummer for rock band Onehundredhours for the last 8 years (www.onehundredhours.com) - support band to Daniel Bedingfield on his recent UK and European tour. Onehundredhours are in the process of making their fifth album and are signed to Survivor Records. With the band Paul has toured all over the world including the USA, South Africa, India and Europe. Paul has endorsements with Gretsch drums, Sabian cymbals and Vic Firth sticks.

Ed Carlile trained at the Academy of Contemporary Music where he was awarded 'Outstanding Drummer of the Year’. He has extensive studio and live drumming experience including a duet with percussionist Evelyn Glennie. Currently Ed is part of the band The Sham (with Fame Academy’s David Sneddon). As well as work for live radio and TV, Ed has performed in venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, The Royal Festival Hall and The Barbican in both orchestral and rock settings.

Ben Smith teaches for Musicademy in the Guildford area. As a student of the Academy of Contemporary Music he gained Distinctions each term. He have worked as a session player and has considerable live and studio experience. Ben spent the summer of 2004 touring Europe and playing in front of thousands. He has worked with many producers including Matt Wanstall, brother of Tim Wanstall (of Athlete). He has also played at many worship events including work with worship leaders such as Matt Redman

Matty Earles teaches music production having trained in music technology and sound engineering. As A&R Coordinator for Good Looking Records, Matty worked with artists such as LTJ Bukem, He has worked for Turnkey, one of Europe’s largest music technology suppliers, and also within education at the University of Hertfordshire and Rickmansworth School.