FunkyPunk Music Coaches
Our coaches working in-school are all talented musicians, experienced
at working with young people and of course CRB / DBS checked!
Dan Budd
guitar & ukulele coach
Dan Budd started FunkyPunk Music in 2005 at the end of two decades working full time with young people in the volunteer charity sector. As an accomplished musician, he has performed to large crowds across the UK and Europe and has recorded a number of CD's with popular band 65dBA.
Nowadays, his time is divided between running FunkyPunk Music, leading local group 'Ukulele Jam', teaching guitar & ukulele and spending time with his wife Ally and their three boys, Asher, Jacob & Benjamin.
Richard Hunt
guitar, keyboard &
ukulele coach
Richard is a Bristol-based musician, and a graduate of the prestigious Academy of Contemporary Music in Surrey. Since graduating Richard has gained experience coaching children and adults in a variety of settings, including delivering full-class Music lessons to one-to-one Guitar tuition, and coaching groups of children in a rock-band environment. Outside of teaching Richard practices in a full-band and as an accompanist to vocalists, playing more contemporary music styles such as Rock, Pop and Blues.
Matthew Walker
keyboard & piano coach
Helen Altoft
drum coach
Helen Altoft has been playing music since she was very young. Learning to playing the flute, piano and guitar through school, and later drawn towards the drum kit aged 17. Initial studying led to her previous career in Health and Wellbeing Physiology which she left behind to focus on her passion and love for the creative arts and music. Helen believes creativity and expression is an essential part of all of us and playing and learning music is a place in which we can not only build on musical ability but have fun, stay healthy and happy and build on many positive personality traits such as self-discipline and personal confidence.
Helen teaches drums to an advanced level and plays in a number of bands from varying genres including rock and pop, rockabilly and country to big band jazz. Educating others in the art of drumming is important to Helen who spends her time teaching, performing, rehearsals and recording sessions, session work and of course her own continued learning."
JD
guitar, keyboard, vocals & ukulele coach
Jonathan 'JD' Darley is another multi-instrumentalist who devotes his life to music. When he's not teaching in schools, JD can be found performing with either of his two bands, The Longest Johns (Accapella Sea Shanties) or Hot Pursuit (Function Band) and yet still finds time to spend with his wife Abbie! He also makes a mean espresso!
Matthew's work as a music designer, sound designer, and professional vocalist has been recognised worldwide within game audio, film, and podcasting - with shipped titles across PS4, PSVita, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC platforms.
He was lead audio producer on Games Workshop's 'Dark Future: Blood Red States' and Steve Jackson's 'Ogre', both with dedicated communities in their millions. Matthew engineered all vocal recording sessions for the hit indie-smash, Bertram Fiddle (episode 1 & 2) whilst providing award winning work on the multi-honoured short film 'Vicious' from director Oliver Park.
Original music and sound for film has earned further nominations and awards from 'Tabloid Witch', 'Wildsound Film Festival', 'Hollywood Investigator', and Southern Shorts - picking up wins for original score and sound design in 'Vicious', and sound design again for the multi-award winning 'Living in Crime Alley' from acclaimed writer / director Rob Ayling.
Matthew also very much enjoys coaching students keyboard, passing on his wealth of experience, and tips for making playing easier, and memorable.