The Cello Teacher - Lessons For All

As a freelance 'cello teacher I have many years of teaching experience from teaching in both the state and private sector. I have also work for Music Services, involving individual and group tuition, at junior and senior levels. 

I try and use many of the pedagogical ideas of the ‘Kodaly System’, especially when teaching beginners, with its emphasis on singing,  musical games, rhythm and with the introduction of music-reading, fluency in the musical alphabet.

Other areas of my work in education have always included close involvement in the production of lecture-recitals and demonstration workshops, mostly with the Astaria String Quartet, the Foundation for Music in Hospitals or in the past, Live Music Now!

I have presented workshops and lecture-recitals for Arts Alive, Birmingham University, the City of Edinburgh Music School and the Education Department at Symphony Hall Birmingham, often to National Curriculum and National Lottery specifications. During the summer months, I have been a regular tutor on the 'Fantasia Music School' music course for many years.

I have also researched authentic performance-practice and contemporary (classical) music, through both commissions and subsequent performances. This has led to intensive collaboration with eminent composers as well as time spent coaching student composers, giving me valuable insight into the creative process of compositions and the interpretive and technical difficulties for the performer.

My own personal interest and inspiration has always been teaching, performing and coaching chamber music, specifically the genre of string quartets.

As an experienced chamber musician, I have performed and coached the main works for string quartet, the chamber music for 'cello with flute, clarinet and piano as well as the solo repertoire for violoncello. I am also familiar with the orchestral repertoire, opera and theatre music, through extensive work as a freelance player.

Please request my CV for my professional referees.