The Cello Teacher

Music Lessons School in Cradley Heath, West Midlands, B64 6EY

Claimed

About the Business

I studied with Christopher Bunting and at the BCU Birmingham Conservatoire with Ulrich Heinen, where I graduated with a B.A. (Hons.) Degree and the ABSM Performance and ABSM Recital Diplomas.

As well as continuing my studies with William Conway, I was a founding member of the Astaria and Almira String Quartets and in that capacity have given recitals at many of the UK's major Concert Halls, including the Purcell Room, St Johns' Smith Square and Symphony Hall Birmingham.

Residencies and Special Projects with the Almira Quartet have included the Ryedale Festival, Birmingham and Midland Institute and the UK premiere of C. H. Parry's Third String Quartet, which was broadcast ‘as live’ from the Three Choirs Festival by Classic FM.

Business Services

Teaching

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.