STEVE SMITH
Guitar
Founding member of Progress

Steve is currently teaching professionally across every level of guitar, and has done so for many years. Steve has taught Guitar at Access to Music in Birmingham, The Academy of Music and Sound, Bournville Specialist Music School along with an extensive private tuition programme.  Steve is also a member of the Official Registry of Guitar tutors.

Steve has a thorough knowledge of teacher training, exam systems and available certification bodies along with a very high level of musicianship across all styles of music.

On a personal level, Steve has a successful solo project and is currently working on his second album in between touring the UK as a guitar clinician and demonstrator, which he has done for the past few years for Laney, Ibanez and DiMarzio.

GARY WALMSLEY
Drums
Founding member of Progress

Gary now has over 25 years of experience playing and teaching drums and has toured the UK, recorded sessions at the legendary Abbey Road Studios and has shared the stage with the likes of the Feeling, Editors, Ricky Warwick (Almighty), Richie Kotzen (Poison, Mr Big), Andrew WK, Jeff Scott-Soto (Journey), Pete Way (UFO), Stone Gods ex-The Darkness), Stuart Cable (Stereophonics), Gary Stringer (Reef), Tugg (Basement Jaxx, Lady Sovereign), Jarvis Cocker and many more.

Gary also plays drums on ‘The Life We Learned to Live’ which is the debut album from London based singer/songwriter Gary Nock. Two songs from this album have been used on major TV advertising campaigns for Mars and Microsoft.

Currently playing for Birmingham band 'The First Seven', their debut album is due out in 2012.

HOLLY THOMAS
Vocals

Having studied at Leeds College of Music and Birmingham Conservatoire, Holly has years of training in both popular and jazz music. She has a vast amount of performance experience, having performed across the UK and Europe in major music festivals. Holly has also done session work for various producers including Grammy/Ivor nominated producer John Beck. In 2010 she sang with the BBC Big band on a winning arrangement for the Mike Gibbs prize and was featured on a cover-mounted CD attached to JazzWise magazine. Holly has played with various ensembles on JazzFM, BBC6 and has sung live on BBC radio Leeds. With a previous band Holly also performed on an episode of the popular soap opera ‘Hollyoaks’.

Lee Sabin
Piano, Keyboard

Lee has been playing the piano since the age of 5 and has and has a passion for music. When leaving school Lee went on to study music at college and then onto university where he gained a 2:1 BMUS Hons Degree in Music Performance from the London College of music. Whilst studying Lee performed various concerts and performed at the Shepherds Bush Empire along with other musicians from the Tech schools in West London. In 2009 Lee was entered into a John Ireland piano competition and won first prize. Lee has always had a passion for teaching music and his aim is to teach piano using the skills and knowledge he has gained over the past 22, however, balancing an equal level of fun, theory, technique and performance.

Alex Phillips
Bass Guitar

With extensive musical experience, Alex is a proficient and versatile musician, performer and tutor of Electric and Double Bass.

As well as performing live across the UK and Europe in venues such as the O2 Academy and HMV Institute, Alex has played live sessions on BBC radio and made TV appearances - most recently on BBC1’s The Graham Norton Show.

Supporting a wide range of artists, Alex is active in a number of musical genres, including Pop, Funk, Rock, Soul, Jazz and Folk.

A proficient Electric and Double Bass player, Alex studied at Birmingham Conservatoire, mentored by renowned musicians such as Dave Holland, Joe Lovano and John Taylor.

A keen educator, he teaches one-to-one and small groups, from beginner through to advanced level. He teaches both privately and in specialist music academies.

WINSTON HARRIS
Recording Studio, Hi Tech, Piano, Keyboards

With over 30 years studio and live experience, Winston is a classicly trained pianist, holds a BSc degree in Music Technology and a PGCE in Secondary Music.

After spending several years in the USA (Florida/Georgia) working as a professional musician, Winston has also performed in most major cities throughout UK and Europe. He has also performed at various arena's to audiences of 10,000 or more, at the special Olympics in Glasgow, and has vast experience in arranging and producing music across many different platforms such as TV, Radio, Classical performances, live bands, choirs and studio based work.

Some of the artists he's worked with are: Patti Austin (Quincy Jones' God daughter), John Peel, Sounds of Blackness, The Winans and BeBe and CeCe Winans, The Reverend Desmond Tutu and Foreigner.

DAVE HAZEL
Guitar

Dave's involvement at Progress is true testament to our level of teaching and our dedication to student development. Dave has made his way from student to teacher through our own teacher training programme. Dave has over 10 years experience and was fortunate to begin lessons with Steve Smith (co-founder of Progress) some years ago.This relationship ultimately lead to Dave becoming an approved Progress teacher in 2010.

Adapting to the individual students' needs and learning style, Dave's aim is to develop the students as efficiently as possible whilst balancing a healthy level of fun, theory, performance and technique.