MA at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels

Subjects

Interview

Which subject(s) do you teach?
I teach piano but this can take many forms, depending on a student's interests (please see my list of current students further down). I teach classical, jazz, pop-rock and my own personal passion, free improvisation. We could cover areas such as chords and scales theory, harmony, ear training, sight reading, composition, rhythm...

Tell me about your qualifications.
I attended the conservatoire of Brussels for 5 years, achieving a Masters Degree with emphasis on Jazz Piano.
I am also trained in the Alexander Technique, which aids bodily alignment and awareness.

What kind of experience do you have?
I am a professional musician specialising in free improvisation, including prepared piano (working with the inside of the instrument to create new sounds). I collaborate with many renowned musicians and dancers and perform in festivals all over Europe. Previous to this I was active in the jazz scene in Brussels as a band leader and I have also played in several pop-rock and folk bands. I have been trained in Alexander Technique for many years and this has given me me a deep understanding of body-mind interactions, which is very helpful for developing aspects of playing including one's technical skills, efficiency while practising, focus or presence on stage.

How much do you charge?
£30/hr at my studio, and £30/hr elsewhere with an additional charge for travel extra for travel.
I can also accommodate group sessions and this cost is variable depending on the situation.

Where do you teach?
I teach in my studio, in Hackney, East London, which is furnished with a baby grand piano (an early C20th Steinway).
I can also teach anywhere across London.

When are you available?
I am available anytime during the week, daytime or evening.

Which ages and levels do you teach?
My youngest pupil so far was four (and she was amazing!), and my oldest is 60. I have quite a lot of experience with teenagers. I can teach general subjects from beginners to advanced students, and to a high standard on jazz and improvisation subjects.

Which qualifications do you prepare your students for?
I can prepare students for all of the ABRSM, and for entrance exams for universities.

Do you have an up-to-date CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) disclosure certificate?
no

Where and with whom did you train?
I trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Brussels, with Nathalie Loriers and Kris Defoort, and in the international BANNF Centre (CA)
with Dave Douglas, the Bad Plus and others.
I have also participated in many workshops, with musicians such as Evan Parker, Joelle Léandre and Barre Philips.

Tell me about some of your current students.
Leo is 6. He was a total beginner last year, and we started with intuitive explorations of the instrument and games such as rhythm exercises. I gradually introduced writing and reading, and at the end of the first year he performed a simple piece and one of his own compositions!

Karine is 14, and I help her to find the chords and melodies of the music she brings on her iPod, teaching her how to play them with ease and with an enjoyable sound.

Robert is a guitar player with his own band. I coach him in practice, composition and in bringing his ideas to rehearsal. I also teach him proper piano technique as well as theory on chords and scales.

Virginie learnt piano when she was younger, and wants to refresh her skills and to get back into her practice.
She is working on Prokovief's "Visions Fugitives" and on a Bach's "invention".
She is also interested in improvisation, so we started simple exercises on intervals to develop her ear-keyboard relationship.

Mathilde is 60, she has a good background in classical repertoire and she wants to know more about composition and improvisation in order to find her "voice", to develop her creativity and play for others.

Do you have a personal message for students?
Playing and practising music is one of the most complete activity a human being can do. it involves the body, the intellect, the emotions and the unconscious, and is very good for overall well-being! It teaches you a lot about yourself, makes you exist in the present and feel balanced. For children it is excellent for concentration and abstract thinking. I have a genuine passion for teaching and look forward to developing an approach that brings out the best in you and makes you want to play!

Articles

Listening
Subject: Piano
Tags: improvisation, intervals, listening, sound
Created: 23/09/2011