MA (Cantab)
PGdip (RCM)
CRB certificate held
ISM member
References are available upon request

Subjects

Interview

Which subject(s) do you teach?
I teach Violin from beginner standard to advanced level (post Grade 8), Viola up to Grade 5 standard, Chamber Music, Music Theory and Musicianship.

Tell me about your qualifications.
I read Music at Selwyn College, Cambridge and then studied for a Postgraduate Diploma in Performance from the Royal College of Music. Recently, I was awarded a distinction for a certificate in intermediate level Kodaly Musicianship from the British Kodaly Academy.

What kind of experience do you have?
I have been teaching since 2000. Throughout this time and alongside a career as an orchestral violinist I have taught Violin, Viola, beginner Piano, Music Theory and Musicianship privately. I have taught one on one and small group lessons as a peripatetic member of staff in schools and for Tower Hamlets Arts and Music Education Service (THAMES) and have also delivered Wider Opportunities for Westminster Music Service and THAMES. After leaving music college I also worked as a part time Music Specialist for a Wandsworth primary school with responsibility for classroom music, singing and music for the school production.

How much do you charge?
I charge £25/hour or £15/30 mins. I charge £35/hour for lessons within 20 minutes drive of my home. For students interested in embarking on a course of lessons I offer a free consultation lesson.

Where do you teach?
I teach at home, near Leighton Buzzard, and will consider teaching at students' homes within a radius of 20 minutes' drive from my home. Students may come from Dunstable, Luton, Milton Keynes, Aylesbury and surrounding villages, Cheddington and Tring.

When are you available?
I am available most Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings. These times are subject to change depending on my performance work but I aim to keep changes to a minimum.

Which ages and levels do you teach?
I teach age four upwards and am comfortable teaching beginner Violin. I relish teaching intermediate and advanced students too! I have taught adults, the oldest so far being mid-70s, and recently contributed to a violin refresher course for adults published by Music Sales.

Which qualifications do you prepare your students for?
I mainly prepare my students for ABRSM exams and find that they provide a very good, comprehensive basis for education but am very happy to teach with other goals in mind or simply for fun.

Do you have an up-to-date CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) disclosure certificate?
I have two up-to-date CRB disclosure certificates: one through the school I teach at and one through the ISM's register of Approved Teachers.

Do you belong to any professional organisations?
I belong to the Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM).

Where and with whom did you train?
After reading Music at Cambridge I trained as a violinist with Yossi Zivoni at the Royal College of Music where I was supported by an award from the Countess of Munster Musical Trust.

Articles

Review of a DVD by Simon Fischer
Subject: Violin
Tags: general advice for string players, tone production
Created: 15/08/2011