Innes Cardno
Guildford,Surrey
Summary
Throughout my career I have been driven by a passion to use my knowledge and experience to help
encourage people to further pursue and develop a career within the music industry. I am a firm believer that access to
the creative arts should be available to all and not be subject to socio-economic factors or disabilities. This is something I have put at the forefront of my career and is what motivates me to continue to seek new ways to improve methods and practice that further increase accessibility to music education. I always push myself to produce work which is both professional and innovative, never shying away from new challenges and experiences. I am responsible, have a strong work
ethic, confident communication skills and liaise well with different disciplines.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
5
5
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work history
National Course Adviser
The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance
London
2023.06 - Current
- Contributed to a 10% increase in company growth through student recruitment and lead conversion in 2024
- Supported and exceeded recruitment targets during the launch of new campuses in Liverpool and Leeds in 2025
- Successfully managing high volumes of inbound and outbound calls, emails and messages to engage prospective students, converting enquiries into applications and offers into acceptances
- Utilised CRM systems including Salesforce and HubSpot to manage applicant pipelines, track leads, and maintain accurate customer data
- Developed a high a level of professional knowledge and experience in the music higher education industry
- Coordinated with tutors to schedule auditions and support applicants in selecting courses aligned with their skills and goals
Guitar Teacher
Innes Cardno Guitar Tuition
Aberdeen/Paris/London
2011.06 - Current
- Delivered private one-to-one guitar lessons to 50+ students weekly, tailoring lessons to individual skill levels and goals
- Prepared students for graded performance exams, achieving consistently strong pass rates
- Managed all aspects of a self-employed teaching business, including marketing, client acquisition, scheduling, and invoicing
- Provided guitar tuition in corporate environments, delivering both group workshops and individual lessons for sports and social clubs within multinational organisations
- Transitioned teaching practice to an online format while based in Paris in 2015, maintaining client retention and lesson quality
- Continued delivering remote and in-person lessons upon return to the UK, demonstrating adaptability and strong client management skills
Music Teacher/Class Tutor
TCES North West London
London
2018.09 - 2023.02
- Designed and delivered a full Music curriculum (EYFS–Post-16) within a specialist higher education pathway for neurodiverse learners, supporting engagement and progression into further study
- Acted as Class Tutor, overseeing student wellbeing, safeguarding, and academic journey management in an alternative educational environment
- Transitioned students through structured learning pathways allowing them to progress into Further and Higher education
- Left the role to pursue a career in Higher Education with a focus on student recruitment
SEN Teaching Assistant
Smart Teachers
London
2018.06 - 2018.09
- Supported classroom teaching across a range of subjects including Maths and English within a specialist SEN education environment
- Developed strong communication and relationship-building skills through daily interaction with students, teachers, and support staff
- Demonstrated adaptability and patience when supporting learners with a wide range of Special Educational Needs
- Left the role upon successful progression to a Music Teacher position at TCES
Project Coordinator
Station House Media Unit
Aberdeen
2017.07 - 2018.01
- Coordinated the Young Artist’s Music Project, a Creative Scotland–funded initiative supporting young people aged 15–25 from underrepresented backgrounds in the music industry
- Designed, promoted, and delivered a structured music development programme including group workshops, one-to-one mentoring, and recording sessions
- Recruited and managed specialist tutors, ensuring high-quality delivery across creative and educational sessions
- Provided direct tutoring and mentoring to participants, supporting artistic development, confidence building, and progression pathways into music
- Delivered employability-focused education through the shmuTrain programme, teaching secondary school students (aged 16–17) key skills for progression into further education and work
- Role ended upon relocation to London
Mentor
Musicplus
Aberdeen
2017.08 - 2017.12
- Delivered one-to-one mentoring as part of a Creative Scotland Youth Music Initiative programme supporting 14–19-year-olds interested in entering the music industry
- Provided personalised six-session development plans for each participant, focusing on musicianship, music theory, and performance skills
- Supported young people in identifying progression pathways into further education and careers within the music industry
- Role ended upon relocation to London for career progression
Community Music Tutor
Musicrange
Aberdeen
2015.04 - 2015.09
- Delivered one-to-one music education sessions as part of the Scottish Government’s Opportunities for All initiative, supporting 16–19-year-olds at risk of not progressing into employment or further education
- Provided personalised weekly tuition covering guitar, songwriting, performance skills, and music theory to support engagement and progression
- Supported learners in developing confidence, creativity, and transferable skills relevant to further education and careers in the music industry
- Worked closely with young people presenting with SEMH and ASD, adapting delivery to meet individual learning, behavioural, and emotional needs
- Left the position following relocation to Paris
Guitar Teacher
Bruce Millers
Aberdeen
2010.02 - 2011.06
- Delivered one-to-one guitar tuition as a self-employed tutor at a well-established music institution in Aberdeen
- Designed and implemented structured lesson plans and bespoke teaching materials tailored to individual student needs and goals
- Prepared students for school music assessments and graded performance examinations, supporting consistent progression and achievement
- Developed strong instructional and mentoring skills through personalised, student-centred teaching delivery
- Concluded role once the company ceased trading in 2011
Education
MMus - Popular Music Performance
Institute of Contemporary Music Performance
London 2018.01 - 2019.01
BA (Hons) - Popular Music Performance
University of Highlands and Islands
Perth 2006.01 - 2010.01
Certification
- Providing Support for SEN Pupils, Tes Develop CPD, January 2023 - January 2023, CPD Credits: 10
- School Admissions, Tes Develop CPD, January 2023 - January 2023, CPD Credits: 2
- Autism Awareness, Tes Develop CPD, January 2023 - January 2023, CPD Credits: 1
- ADHD Awareness, Tes Develop CPD, January 2023 - January 2023, CPD Credits: 1
- A Guide to UK Data Protection, Tes Develop CPD, September 2022 - September 2022, CPD Credits: 2
- Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), Tes Develop CPD, June 2022 - June 2022, CPD Credits: 2
- Safeguarding Young People, Tes Develop CPD, April 2022 - April 2022, Level 2
Languages
French
Upper intermediate
Timeline
National Course Adviser
The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance
2023.06 - Current
Music Teacher/Class Tutor
TCES North West London
2018.09 - 2023.02
SEN Teaching Assistant
Smart Teachers
2018.06 - 2018.09
MMus - Popular Music Performance
Institute of Contemporary Music Performance
2018.01 - 2019.01
Mentor
Musicplus
2017.08 - 2017.12
Project Coordinator
Station House Media Unit
2017.07 - 2018.01
Community Music Tutor
Musicrange
2015.04 - 2015.09
Guitar Teacher
Innes Cardno Guitar Tuition
2011.06 - Current
Guitar Teacher
Bruce Millers
2010.02 - 2011.06
BA (Hons) - Popular Music Performance
University of Highlands and Islands
2006.01 - 2010.01