There’s more to our courses than their titles might suggest. Embedded within each course are sessions working on Maths and English (Functional Skill or GCSE dependent on their prior level), showing how these essential skills are relevant to everything within education and the outside world. The key to this is having tutors just as passionate about these subjects as the ones leading our vocational courses. With that in mind let us introduce Steve – English tutor, ukulele wizard and folk aficionado…
Steve grew up in Devon and moved to Brighton to study music. Through working as Regional Coordinator for Oxjam Music Festival in 2007, Steve gained great promotional experience and raised thousands of pounds for Oxfam. This project developed his passion for using the arts to help people. After Oxjam he worked for Melting Vinyl, an independent promotions company in Brighton. At Melting Vinyl he got to meet lots of famous musicians and further developed his confidence in events and promotions.
Following these adventures into fame and fortune, Steve went on to work at a children and family centre, coordinating activities for local families with little babies and toddlers. He loved dancing his fingers on the piano at a weekly baby rhyme time group! Through supporting with literacy classes, our budding tutor also enjoyed helping people to improve their opportunities in education, life and work.
In 2011, Steve decided to train as a teacher because he wanted to share his passions for English and music! He started running English classes for adults, helping people from all over the world to develop their language skills. Teaching music, Steve has built a ukulele teaching empire and teaches in schools, adult education colleges, and at team building events for businesses. Since 2012, ukulele-Steve (as he is now known) has taught over 200 people to play! – [He rules. We know…]
Alongside teaching, Steve has extensive live experience as a solo performer. Our talented string player has performed at hundreds of gigs and festivals, and writes and releases his own music as Steve Elston: Man and Dog. He even got invited to perform at Cecil Sharp House for the English Folk Dance and Song Society. He is also the bassist of a functions band called Django Spears, and plays guitar with an originals band called Das Fenster.
Steve loves using his extensive music experience to make his English and employability sessions super-relevant and useful to the students of Dv8.
“Being an English teacher at Dv8 is brilliant. I take great pride in making my lessons fun and inspiring. I’m a literacy specialist, and I love helping students to improve their skills and achieve the qualifications to prove it!” 0
We’re so full of creative passion here, even our English and Maths tutors have a wealth of knowledge and prolific experience in creative industries, just like our Steve!
