BA (Modern Languages)
MA (Music), M.Ed
I possess a CRB disclosure certificate
Musicians Union, Natural Voice Practitioners Network, International Piano Teachers Group

Subjects

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Personal Message

Don't be afraid of what you think you can't do - that way you just get in the way of your own learning. Think of your lesson (and your practice) not as a performance, but as an exploration of your own potential. There will always be something more difficult to tackle, something more to learn, no matter how accomplished you are. That's not something to be afraid of but to revel in. It means you'll never get stale.

Interview

Which subject(s) do you teach?
I teach principally jazz voice and jazz piano, jazz harmony/theory, improvising, composition and songwriting, specialising in working with beginners, or people who have been taught classical and want to move over to jazz, but don't know where to start. I also teach classical piano (having originally trained as a classical pianist), and even here I will include improvisation in order to develop the all-round, creative musician. I can also offer recorder tuition, help pupils wanting to take theory exams, and am happy to offer support for those who have opted to take music GCSEs or A levels.

Additionally, I teach modern languages, particularly for students working towards their GCSEs. Most students come for German or French GCSE, but I'm happy to teach for holiday purposes. Less commonplace are Italian or Japanese, but happy to teach towards these or to help beginners/anyone who wants to learn these languages for holidays.

Tell me about your qualifications.
I have a BA in modern languages (University of Wales, Cardiff), an MA in music, (University of Wales, Aberystwyth) and an MEd (University of Wales, Cardiff). In addition, I have undergone additional professional training at the Orff Institute, Mozarteum, Austria (Creative Music Making in the Classroom) and Trinity College of Music, London, Jazz Faculty (Jazz Piano, Voice & Composition).

What kind of experience do you have?
I have been teaching piano & theory, since 1985, and jazz piano/voice since 1998. I also regularly run voice workshops, both in the UK and in Greece. I've run music workshops for a great variety of groups - children (able bodied and also severely disabled), adults, people with self-confidence issues, mental health issues and plenty of sing-for-fun workshops. I am a composer and author, and have written plenty of educational music: songs for children around keystage 2, accessible choir songs for schools/voice workshops/community choirs, modern recorder repertoire, piano music, as well as material for people who think they can't, or shouldn't sing.
As a linguist, I worked as a translator and tutor in the 1980s. I was Project Manager for a Welsh Assembly (former Welsh Office) funded Japanese-in-Schools project in Wales from 1990-1994, where I developed courses and teaching materials, monitored teachers, moderated tests and recruited teachers from Japan. Following this I worked at the International Baccalaureate and then UCLES (now OCR), managing modern languages exams and examiners, and finally as a scrutiny officer at the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. Hence I have had extensive experience in languages from tutoring to managing examinations, through to scrutinising awarding bodies. I am half German and was brought up bilingually, and went to school in the UK and Germany. I have studied, lived and worked in Italy and Japan.

How much do you charge?
£20 per 30 mins (usually for children under the age of 12; additionally recorder lessons are generally only 30 minutes long)
£28 per 45 mins (£25 over 60s & unemployed concessions)
£35 per 1 hour (£32 concessions)
£48 per 90 mins (£45 concessions)

Where do you teach?
I normally teach from my home in Hemel Hempstead. On Tuesday afternoons only I currently travel to pupils' homes in Wendover/Tring/Aston Clinton area.

When are you available?
Normal teaching days & times are: Mon 10am - 6.30pm, Tues 10am - 3pm (Hemel Hempstead), Tues 4-7 (Tring/Aston Clinton/Wendover), Wed 4-8pm (Hemel Hempstead), Thur 4pm-8pm (Hemel Hempstead), Fri 4-8pm (Hemel Hempstead), Sat 9.30am-1.30pm (Hemel Hempstead).

Which ages and levels do you teach?
From age 6 or 7 upwards , no upper limit. Very happy to take on beginners at all ages, or more experienced musicians.
For languages, I'm happy to take on very young children, no upper age limit. Currently beginners to GCSE, or beginners who would like to learn a language for holidays or for fun.

Which qualifications do you prepare your students for?
ABRSM Jazz Piano Grades any grade
ABRSM Classical any grade
ABRSM Pre-Grade-1 recorder
ABRSM Theory exams
LCM Pop vocals any grade
LCM Musical theatre any grade
LCM Step 1 & 2 piano (for little ones/complete beginners
Rockschool Piano Exams any grade
Rockschool Vocal Exams currently grades 1 - 3, higher grades to follow
Trinity Guildhall Pre prep and Prep piano (for little ones/complete beginners)
Trinity Guildhall Descant Recorder currently grades 1 - 3, higher grades to follow

Do you have an up-to-date CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) disclosure certificate?
I possess an up-to-date CRB enhanced disclosure certificate.

Describe your arrangements for online tutoring.
Tutoring by Skype (video), using scriblink, using previously agreed textbooks and/or other materials. A time for an hour's or 45-minute session is agreed by email.
Payment in advance via Paypal.
Times offered for Skype lessons are currently 3-5pm on Saturdays.

Do you belong to any professional organisations?
National Association of Music Educators
Musician's Union (Teachers' & Composers' section)
Natural Voice Practitioners' Network
International Piano Teachers' Group
College of Sound Healing

Where and with whom did you train?
University of Wales, Cardiff & Aberystwyth (between 1978-1984, 1993-4)
Orff Institute (1982)
Trinity College of Music London (Nick Weldon, Trudy Kerr, Anton Browne, John Thomas) (2001-2)

Tell me about some of your current students.
You are most welcome to read information on pupils, their projects and successes in my free newsletter "S#arp Notes" which I produce about three times a year. If you would like to receive the latest and any back copies, please contact me by email. I usually send them in PDF format.

Do you have a personal message for students?
Music is a gift. Every note we play or sing with care, attention and enjoyment is a gift to our listeners. Next time you worry about a performance, or an exam, consider how you can lift a person's day through your music. Remember, examiners HAVE to sit through all these exam performances. With the right intention, you can use your performance to make the examiner's day, to make him or her glad to have come to the exam session. Likewise, before a performance, think about the stressful day that your audience might have had. How can you use your music and your performance to relax your audience, and make them glad they came out to hear you? When you practise your music, practise it as though you are creating a wonderful Christmas gift to someone you care about.