About Becky
I have a background in secondary school teaching and have both a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education and State Qualified Teacher status.
In 1999, I retrained as a teacher of music to pre-school children, ran many such classes for a national group and piloted a scheme for children under one.
During that time I did some research into the amazing value of music education for the under 7s and also found that, although ‘musical talent’ cannot be taught, musicality can.
So, I always try to give an all-round musical education to my students.
My professional career has been as a teacher and my approach to music teaching is very much from the teacher’s rather than the performer’s viewpoint.
Although I have played all three of my instruments (cello, piano and guitar) in public on many occasions, as part of orchestras or ensembles or solo.
I have also sung in several choirs over the years and feel I have received sufficient training to teach beginners singing, including preparation for the early grades of ABRSM (traditional and classical singing and Singing for Musical Theatre), Rockschool (female vocals) or Trinity Rock and Pop (vocals).
I have been teaching instrumental music on a one-to-one basis since 2004, just after I and my family moved to Devon.
I love being able to start individuals off on their musical journey and see them progress to whatever point they feel they can enjoy making music independently.
I have been preparing and entering students of all ages for nationally accredited music exams up to and including Grade 5, since 2005.
Over this period, 150 of my students have passed the practical or music theory exams, 66% at Merit level or above. In fact 34 of these students have passed with Distinction (i.e. with a mark of over about 86%).
In 2012, I was appointed the ABRSM Honorary Local Representative for Sidmouth.
We are extremely grateful to Becky for her excellent teaching over the last 4 years with (our son). Her professional approach and structured teaching have been amazing and he has made enormous progress under your expert tuition. A has had a brilliant music education with Becky and we feel lucky to have had her as his teacher.
From parents of a pupil moving on, having passed his Grade 5 Acoustic Guitar exam.
Who I teach
I have experience of teaching children of 4 years to adults up to 85+ either just as a leisure activity or also to prepare for graded exams or to support those taking GCSE music.
I provide personalised, one-to-one tuition so I can teach at the speed of my student’s learning, neither holding them back nor speeding ahead and causing frustration.
The instruments I can teach you how to play (or improve your playing of) are
Piano Guitar Bass guitar Voice (Singing)
I can also prepare you (regardless of your instrument) for the aural tests that form part of Graded exams (up to Grade 5) and for the Theory of Music or Practical Musicianship exams of the ABRSM (up to Grade 5).