Your music lessons with me (as an adult)

My pupils have varied in age from 4 years to 80+ and (pre-Covid) about half of those adults of a wide age range. 

As I specialise in teaching beginners, most of my pupils are in the early stages of learning their instrument (or of developing their singing voice), but you may be looking to rekindle a former skill and/or love of playing your instrument or singing. 

I have a reputation as a patient, encouraging teacher but I also aim to provide an all-around musical education, which may include preparation for external exams in practical and/or music theory, as and when appropriate.

I am keen to discuss what you hope to achieve from music tuition and what your progress goals and aims might be, both short-term and longer-term. 

Apart from meeting these targets, reaching a significant point in a tutor book could be an indication of progress, or performance in a student concert (which have historically been twice a year, in the local village hall).

My ultimate aim is to enable my students to become musically independent and a good way to achieve this is to integrate the teaching of a range of musical skills into lessons. 

These include:

• music-reading
• aural perception
• manual dexterity and hand-eye co-ordination
• improvisation
• as well as understanding the music itself (including how music is written down), the composer and/or genre, period and style, the instrument etc. 

Some of these skills you will need directly if you want to enter for an exam (music reading or aural perception, for example) but they all help you to play pieces more musically.

In order to consolidate learning in the lesson, you will need to practise between lessons on a suitable instrument at home and complete any theory or other work set, such as composing, before the next lesson.

During lessons, I would encourage you to write brief notes of what to focus on before the next lesson.  

In my experience, the main cause of frustration for my adult students is not having sufficient time to practice between lessons. 

If you want to make progress in playing your instrument you will need to make a special effort to set aside a regular time to practice.

Please note that I teach throughout the year so lessons are usually available in school holiday periods and may not always be available in term time, for example when ABRSM exams are taking place (I am the local rep for this music exam board).