Here are some of the finer details about having recorder lessons with me.
Location
Lessons are held in my home teaching room in central Bristol (BS1). I am a short walk from Bristol Temple Meads railway station, and five minutes’ walk from all major bus routes. There is on-street (metered) parking and a number of public car parks a short walk away, and I have a bicycle rack outside my building.
If you’re having online lessons, you’ll become very familiar with the bookcase in the picture above, as it’s the backdrop for my laptop camera! I do a lot of teaching online and am very experienced – in fact, most of my students are not based in Bristol.
Who do I teach?
I am happy to teach children from the age of 6. Adult students are not just welcome but positively encouraged! I am also happy to work with any standard of player from beginner to experienced.
Exams
Some students like to take music exams. For some it helps them to focus and gives a goal to work towards; others may find they require grades in order to pursue future studies. They are a great way to learn about performance preparation, and the feedback from the examiners is very helpful. But exams aren’t compulsory, and they don’t suit everybody.
I am happy to prepare pupils for the ABRSM, LCM or Trinity syllabuses. I will also discuss with you which exam board is more likely to suit you.
Availability
I currently have best availability for recorder lessons on Thursday and Friday afternoons, and Saturday mornings 9.30am – 1pm. There may be other times available on other days – email me to check if you would like a time on a different day.
Practice
Yes, you need to do some! As part of your lessons you’ll learn how to practice, so that you are able to make progress quickly and enjoyably. I strongly recommend that you bring to your lessons a notebook so that I can write down what we worked on, and your goals for the coming week. I don’t specify how much you should practise, but I would recommend regularity over quantity. It’s really tempting to forget about your practice until just before your lesson and then do a really long session, but it isn’t an effective way to go about things. A little most days is going to be more beneficial in the long run.