Keeping you up to date with our teaching practice, and items of interest in the world of music and education.

September 2021 – musical life returning towards normal
It’s good to be back teaching in person for those students choose to have lessons in schools. In person and online lessons each have their advantages, and its great that we now have a choice! Music making in groups is making a very welcome return, for us and for many of our students. All over the country, musicians are getting back together in bands, orchestras and choirs. Get in touch with us if music making is one of your post-covid ambitions!

April 2021 – Exam Results and Lockdown Easing
We’re excited that we will soon be teaching face-to-face lessons both at home and at the schools we visit. Some covid precautions still apply – do contact us if you have any questions or concerns about these.

A number of Denise’s Piano and Cello pupils have taken practical exams during Spring Term, all using the MTB board, which specialises in on-line exams. Pupils did very well, 57% achieving a Merit pass, and 43% achieving a Distinction.
Some of Jonathan’s Drum Kit students took exams this term – in this case the Trinity “Digital” online exams. They passed with Merit.
Well done to all of these music students – you have demonstrated your skills to internationally recognised standards!

January 2021 – New Year Greetings
We trust that you’ve had a safe and healthy, if unusual, Christmas and New Year break. As we write this, there is very mixed news on Covid-19; rapidly rising case numbers, and the launch of a second vaccine. Music lessons will continue via whatever mode is most appropriate, be that in-person or online.

Very encouraging Exam Results have been coming through for the instrumental exams that some of our students took in December. Congratulations to all our students who have put in the extra focused effort required for exam preparation. You have coped brilliantly with new ways of learning and doing exams. We’re proud of you.
We have been using a mixture of Trinity College London (Jonathan’s students) and Music Teachers’ Board (MTB, Denise’s Students). Denise has been trying out MTB, which is a relatively new exam board. All their exams are online and there is helpful combination of quality and breadth of exam syllabus. A big bonus is that the examiner’s comments are typed rather than hand-written, so always legible! So far – 8 exams in – Denise’s candidates have passed convincingly (62% with Merit, 38% with Distinction).

We look forward to a new term of teaching in schools and online. We hope that by the end of this term there will be more certainty about a path to “normal” music making.

November 2020 – Welcome to our new website!

We have been meaning to get a website together for a long time, and finally it’s here. We will be developing it further in coming weeks and months, including more resources for our students and information in general. Come back soon to have a look!