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CV
 
 
 

Melvyn J. Willin   B.Mus(Hons),
M. Mus, LRAM, PhD, PhD.

 
Personal
Positions within psychical research have included council membership of the Ghost Club and the Society for Psychical Research. Membership of the Parapsychology Association, the Association for the Scientific Study of Anomalous Phenomena and the Folklore Society. Various investigations have been held in allegedly haunted properties throughout the country. My research in parapsychology is continuing.

Directing the Essex Guitar Orchestra has involved the management of a group numbering up to sixty people. Concerts have been given throughout Britain, Europe, the Far East, Australia and the USA. Other musical activities have included the directing of a medieval music group; conducting choirs and orchestras; playing double bass in major concert venues; composing and arranging music and the publishing of two guitar tutor books. Several recordings have been made and a number of pupils have become respected professional guitarists.

I currently live in a 15th Century thatched cottage in Essex with two Triceratopses and a dragon. I am a member of the Savage Club in London.

 
Publications
A Ganzfeld Experiment Using Musical Targets Journal of the Society for Psychical Research, 1996, 61 (842), 1-17.

A Ganzfeld Experiment Using Musical Targets With Previous High Scorers From The General Population. Journal of the Society for Psychical Research, 1996, 61 (843), 103-108.

Music From Beyond The Veil - Or Within Ourselves? The Skeptic, 1996, 10, (5-6), 37-40.

Music And Spiritualism Journal of the Society for Psychical Research, 1997, 62 (848), 46-57.

Music And The Paranormal Classical Music, 14 February 1998, (600), 36-37.

Paranormal Manifestations of Music Journal of the Society for Psychical Research, 2000, 64.2 (859), 93-108.

Paramusicology
Ph. D. thesis. February, 1999. University of Sheffield Library.

Investigation of an alleged poltergeist case. The Paranormal Review, April 2001,18, 3-5.

Music and the Paranormal. Music & Psyche, 1, November 2001, 74-84.

Ph. D. thesis. October 2004. University of Bristol Library.

Paranormal Phenomena in British Witchcraft and Wiccan Culture with Special Reference to Spellcraft. Journal of the Society for Psychical Research 2007, 71.2, (887), 65-79

Articles on music for The Encyclopedia of Witchcraft in Western Tradition.

Chapter on music in The Quest for the Wicker Man (Luath Press 2006)

BOOKS
Music, Witchcraft And The Paranormal

Ghosts Caught on Film

In Progress
Anomalous Acoustic Phenomena (Triple CD) due Autumn 2007

 
Employment
1972-1974 Acting Head of School Music Department. Also part time teaching classical studies, drama and guitar.
1974-1984 Part time school teaching and extensive guitar teaching in schools, colleges, adult education and prison. Guitar music reviewer to "Music Teacher" magazine. Founded the Essex Guitar Orchestra and directed specialist music courses.
1984-1992 Full time peripatetic guitar teacher (Essex) and part time teacher (Kent Music School). Concert work accompanying Alexia Zangli (soprano).
1992-2005 Continued guitar teaching and playing. Demonstrations of ethnic instruments in schools. Part time evening classes and lectures given in psychical research. Archivist for the Society for Psychical Research.
2006-2007 An increase in work related to psychical research including the Perrott-Warrick scholarship and archive work for the Society for Psychical Research. Links maintained to educational establishments via guitar tuition.
 
Degrees and diplomas
1972 B. Mus. Hons. (London)
1988 M. Mus.
1988 Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music
1999 Ph. D.
2004 Ph. D.
 
Education
1962-1969 Francis Bacon Grammar School
1969-1972 N. E. Essex Technical College.
1986-1988 University of Surrey.
1993-1999 University of Sheffield.
2000 - 2004 University of Bristol
 
Date and place of birth
St Albans, Herts, England
4 February, 1951