the only musical training he had as a child were his piano lessons. when he had finished his school years he decided he wanted to be a composer, but neither he nor his parents knew the best way to become a composer. he started having more piano lessons. then someone said he should go to the royal college of music. he went there at the beginning of the summer term, 1923 and spent five years there studying music. he then moved to oxted in surrey and for six years he taught french at a school. he composed in his free time.