Lessons will take place in the comfort of your own home via Zoom. The service is personal and very convenient. Instrumental lessons can be tailored to your specific needs and requirements, whether you are a complete new beginner or getting ready to take an examination.

Instruments covered are Piano, Clarinet, and Saxophone as well as Music Theory and Composition. Matthew possesses in-depth, first-hand, knowledge of the new and updated online ABRSM music theory exams and can guide you through all of the online questions.

With a PhD in Composition, Matthew can help you produce a high-quality composition for your Music GCSE or A Level. With the added ability of sharing screens online, compositional ideas can be worked through, seen and heard in real time via the professional software (Sibelius, Logic) and recording studio setup Matthew has in place to utilise during lessons.

Please contact Matthew if you would like any further help or information regarding online teaching.

Nightingale Dances was commissioned by the Tredegar Town Band for their 2011 performance at Brass in Concert at The Sage, Gateshead. The piece won the Cyril Beere award for Best New Composition or Arrangement, the second successive Cyril Beere award for Matthew Hall as his piece Legends of Cyfarthfa also won the same prize in 2010.

Nightingale Dances opens with a mellophonium-esque ensemble sound of 5 flugel horns, 3 tenor horns and trombones inspired by the Manhattan Transfer version of A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square, leading into a fast quickstep section for full band.

Solo flugel horn takes the lead into the paso-doblé middle section of the piece before the original opening to A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square becomes the main focus in the euphonium and baritone.

A big build up into the final kit-led Hollywood-style show dance section with a half tempo feel ends the work with a real thumping ending to any contest or concert performance.

You can purchase the score and parts for this fantastic piece here.

This recording is taken from the Tredegar in Concert Volume 1 which can be purchased from iTunes here.

Nightingale Dances

The piece was composed for and premiered by the Cardiff University Contemporary Music Group conducted by the composer in 2006 for the composer showcase.

The short piece explores the pleasure that some find from anger.

Matthew was commissioned to write a new piece for Solo Cornet and Brass Band by Jim Hayes and the Co-Operative Funeralcare Band from Scotland.

Dial M for Midnight is the title track on the CD, highly influenced by Latin American rhythms and styles to give the soloist a chance to show off their technique over the wide range of the instrument.

This contemporary marimba solo explores the full range of the instrument (Marimba 4.3 octave) and the various techniques.

To purchase this item from Alto Publications, please click here.

Elm Thaw was composed in 2004 for a workshop at Cardiff University as part of Matthew’s Masters degree.

Written for cello solo with piano accompaniment, this sound byte is performed by Gabriella Swallow (cello) and Huw Watkins (piano).

After writing the successful title track for Jim Hayes’ first album Dial M for Midnight, Matthew was commissioned to compose the opening title track for Hayes’ second recording A Second from Midnight.

Situation Flammable is a Latin-themed firecracker full of flair, style and just a hint of laid-back sophistication to get the soloist’s new album off to a tee.

Tredegar Town Band commissioned Matthew to write their finishing piece for the 2012 Brass in Concert Championships.

Calon y Ddraig (The Heart of The Dragon) is based on welsh folk tunes and melodies and utilises some of the bands principle players. After winning the Cyril Beere award for Best New Composition or Arrangement at the Brass in Concert Championships in 2010 and 2011, Matthew was going for his third win in a row, but was just pipped to the trophy on this occasion.

Calon y Ddraig was used as part of the Listen to The Band programme on BBC Radio 2, of which you can hear the piece performed at the contest below: –