Former student James Agg has returned to King's to teach the current crop of budding musicians. We sat down with him to learn all about his time at King's and beyond...

When were you at King's?

I started King’s in the first form in September 2001. This was under the headship of Peter Lacey. I joined into the form of Lee Robson (1R) who is of course still with us at King’s.

Which House were you in?

Laud House.

What are your favourite memories from your time at King's?

Being a musician, I am somewhat biased in my answer here. I had very fond memories of the school chapel choir and the opportunities we had to perform in the Cathedral and beyond. I also very much enjoyed my time in Jon Trim’s senior string ensemble. Another highlight was when I started having a few organ lessons and getting the opportunity to have them on Gloucester Cathedral’s magnificent organ. One of my favourite organ lessons I had was when Robert Houssart (then assistant Cathedral organist) gave me a tour of the inside of the organ’s swell box; I’d never seen anything like it! Aside from music, my second real passion was Design and Technology.

Whilst my career hasn’t followed the path that Design and Technology sets, I use many of the skills I acquired in these classes with John Collins in my hobbies and my DIY work. I would of course be remiss if I didn’t mention my 3 second moment in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. This took a week to film, but I think it’s fair to say that it was one of the most extraordinary experiences of my life. I take great pride in giving visitors to the area special guided tours of the Cathedral and Cloisters with a blow by blow account of where everything was filmed, where we waited before filming and other top secret behind the scenes information concerning this scene in the movie.

What did you do after leaving school?

After leaving school, I decided initially to combine my interests in technology with music by doing a National Diploma in music technology. Whilst I was doing this, I started teaching my first few one on one instrumental students on a Saturday morning. It was through doing my National Diploma that I discovered a big interest in both studio recording and live music performance. I also discovered jazz and worked locally in a little jazz trio.

With all of this coming together, I exploited the local jazz jam scenes, and bit by bit my name and my reputation as not only a jazz musician but also as a bit of a Swiss Army knife on the music front grew. It became National, and then international. My stable day job remained in teaching and off the back of my portfolio of private students, I had enough experience to get my first instrumental teaching post at a prep school near Swindon. My teaching expanded and became more local as people got to learn about me and here I am all these years later doing what I’ve always done, but perhaps on a grander scale than in the beginning. I should add that my career path was made possible due to the fact that the basic level of my education was so good when I was at King’s that I did in fact feel well equipped enough to tackle the world upon leaving school, and that’s pretty much exactly what I did.

How does it feel working back at your old school?

It’s an interesting position to be in as I have experienced both sides of the equation and feel that I can relate to my pupils well as I have first hand experience of the daily life that they might be experiencing and can therefore tailor my approach to their needs. The school has developed a lot since I attended and the music school is of course completely different now. Not many people get the opportunity to return to a place where they spent their most formative years, and to do so with the hindsight of an adult is quite special in so many respects.

What is your favourite aspect of teaching piano to students?

For me, in teaching piano or in fact any instrument, my favourite aspect is when you reach a “lightbulb moment” with pupils. It is a great moment when the penny drops. It helps you to feel that you are making a difference to their lives when those moments occur. Another favourite aspect for me has been when I’ve seen pupils transform from being struggling beginners to advanced musicians with broad thinking skills that extend even beyond the reaches of music. The perseverance can pay off and when it does, that is the part of the job that I really do enjoy.

What does the future hold?

The future will be what it will be. With work, I don’t know the answer to that, and not knowing is part of the fun. One goes through different times in one’s life where one’s needs change and you make your decisions according to your needs and where you are with things. What matters is living in the present whilst remaining open to much possibility for the future. Outside of work, I will continue to travel where possible, clear my mortgage and engage in lots of interesting activities. I am happily married; my wife and I own a house that we are delighted with, we have two lovely rescue dogs and we have the means to pursue hobbies and adventures. The future will likely bring more of the same for us.

And finally, if you could give one piece of advice to the current crop of sixth formers about to join the real world, what would it be?

Make decisions for yourself, not because others want you to make them. Once those decisions are made, don’t regret any of them; you are where you are and who you are today because of your decisions, and if you feel that your decisions have led you down a path you’re not content with, it is never too late to change that path. Your education is important for the knowledge and experience first and foremost. If from it you don’t get the qualification you hope for, think about whether you need that qualification and in fact whether the path that the qualification would otherwise take you along is best suited to you. If you feel that it is and you still wish to follow it but need the qualification, try again whilst staying kind to yourself in pursuit of the success that you wish for and ultimately deserve.