James studied under William Whitehouse at the Royal College of Music. After graduating he joined the English String Quartet, at a time when its viola player was Frank Bridge.[1][2]
In 1919 he became William Whitehouse's assistant at the Royal College of Music, and he subsequently taught at the college for 34 years. In his teaching, he was concerned that there should be a strong technical base; also that, in achieving a good interpretation, the line of the music should be considered. His pupils included Hugo Cole, Amaryllis Fleming, Martin Lovett, Thelma Reiss and James Whitehead.[2]
He married a former pupil, Helen Just, in 1928. She was a fellow professor at the college, and a member of the English String Quartet, the Menges Sextet and the Whinyates String Quartet.[2][3] In 1928 James was made a Fellow of the Royal College of Music (FRCM).
In 1929 he founded a summer school at Westminster College, Cambridge, sponsored by the British Federation of Music Festivals; it is regarded as the first of its kind.[2] In the 1930s he was a member of the Menges Quartet.[1]
James was appointed CBE in 1953.[1]
In an obituary in 1963 in the Royal College of Music Union Magazine was written: "He truly felt music to its very depth and centre. He communicated his musical intention to his pupils in some remarkable way which seems impossible to put into words."[2]
