I had some super news today – Kim B. and Emma C. who both took Grade 8 Piano last term got their results and both passed with a Merit. I’ve taught both of them since they were little titches and they are both hard working so the results were well deserved!

Congratulations to them both – I’m really delighted for them. 🙂

One of my adult students, Laurence, was also surprised to hear he had passed his Grade 7 Piano exam with Distinction. He may have been surprised, but I can’t say that I was. So congratulations to Laurence as well! Grade 8 here we come!

Anne

This is a new initiative launched by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music.

I applied to join today and have just found out I have been accepted to be part of the panel that will give opinions regarding the ABRSM exams in what they say will be regular surveys.  😀

In the mean time if any students or parents of students want to let me know of any opinions about the ABRSM and any issues relating to exams or the syllabus, please do email me as it helps to shape any input I may give. I have a lot of opinions of my own ( as many are aware!), but any other feedback is helpful and maybe as part of this I can have a voice on behalf of not just me but others too.

By completing the surveys I gain “points” towards entries into draws for amazon vouchers, but in the unlikely event I win something (I am usually very unlucky!) I will invest the winning voucher in something towards helping my students in some way, such as further educational resource material.

(P.S. I so hope I don’t actually have a “Teacher Voice”…… !)

Over the past five years or so I have been amazed at the volume of requests for tuition from adults. Don’t get me wrong, I have always taught “grown ups” since I began teaching in my early twenties (and I was the kid!) but there seems to be a recent surge in requests. About a third of my students are now aged over 18 and there appears to be no let-up in the demand for lessons.

So why? Why have things changed so dramatically? I don’t have the answers and maybe someone will, but is it the vogue for “mindfulness”? Is it that nowadays people are examining their work/life balance more? I truly have no idea….. but in the words of the main character in the movie Dead Poets’ Society:

“Medicine, law, business, engineering….. these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love*…. these are what we stay alive for”

* I am adding music and playing an instrument to that list…… so sue me!

Adult students have a huge variety of goals and varying wishes and I feel it is very important to ascertain as much as possible why they want to take lessons. My job is often very different when teaching these students to children. I think when one is a child, education seems to stretch indefinitely into the future with no particular “end point” and quite often the reasons for learning aren’t examined in great depth. It’s often pretty much accepted that children will follow a path that leads to exams, concerts or other achievements and that a syllabus “a bit like what everyone else is doing” will be at least loosely adhered to. In many cases that’s fine, and I am not decrying the value of a structured educational plan (although one size definitely does not fit all for anyone, whatever their age.)

So why do adults want to learn? The motivations are wide and varied. Apologies in advance to some of my adult students who may recognise themselves in my list here (although of course you may be being paranoid…. 😉 ). I also feel somewhat uncomfortable squishing people into neat and convenient boxes but we have to start somewhere…….

Here are some possible motivations of people who come to me for lessons:

There are the “BEGINNERS” who didn’t have the opportunity as a child, or else who tried to learn as a child and it didn’t quite work out for them for whatever reason. I have taught people who fall into this category who range from their twenties to their seventies and beyond. I have some empathy for this group as I have educational regrets. I intend to brush up on my conversational German one day…. having not had an educational “perfect fit” for my learning style as a child – and not for maths either ( I still don’t get algebra. Why would anyone want to “find x” unless there was a prize involved!?)  I would say that methods of learning an instrument are a lot different nowadays and I hope that many of us as music teachers are more aware of the differences in learning styles that may well relate to an adult, or indeed to anyone. There is also a LOT more material for older beginners which is published nowadays which is more inspirational and age suitable. Don’t think you will be learning to play nursery rhymes……although if you want to learn how to play these to your children or grandchildren this can be arranged! Some adult beginners want to take exams and get certificates and some don’t. It’s all good and it all works. Everything can be tailored to individual wishes.

Then there are “RETURNERS” and “DEVELOPERS”……… by which I mean those who enjoyed learning to play as a child and maybe got up to an intermediate level or even a more advanced one. Some of these students want to learn how to progress their playing further and again, some want to take exams and some don’t. Some of my returners learned another instrument and can read music but want to try the piano or violin. They often have a huge disparity between their innate levels of musicianship (often very adept) and reading ability and their technical ability to “get around the notes”. This is often fun; to try to bridge the gap between the inner, maybe experienced musician and the realisation of their expression of that. Often “returners” need help in exploring repertoire they may not know is open to them or in fulfilling their dreams of playing in a different style or performing pieces they always wished they could play but had struggled with alone. Sometimes “developers” are technically skilled but want to learn to read music and develop different facets of their playing as well. I currently teach several adults who are accomplished musicians but feel there is a hole in their all-round musicianship which they want to fill. I really enjoy helping these students and often we have very interesting discussions about playing in the lessons. I often learn a lot from them as well!

Then…… there are the “EXPLORERS” …….. these are students who want to enjoy making music with another musician. I love these people! I sometimes think they have the very purest of all the motivations (if I were being judgemental 😉 !) Often these students want to have a lot of fun with a big metaphorical box of toys and we play duets, discuss music and generally explore (which I am certainly all for!) Perhaps a violinist want to play through repertoire with an accompanist, or play duos, perhaps a pianist wants to walk through some chords to play their favourite songs. There is usually a lot of musical chat and laughter in these sessions and I look forward to them!

Of course a lot of my adult students don’t totally fit into any of these neat “categories” and some wander back and forth between them……. but I do feel very lucky indeed to work with them all, no matter what their motivation, and many have become good friends too.

So here’s to you all and those still to come! 😀

I love my job!

Anne x

The Barton Grange Trophy for Music has been awarded to Natalia Emsley for the year 2016. Natalia is 14 and has recently achieved a Distinction for Grade 6 Piano. The Trophy is awarded each year to a student who has made really good progress and Natalia has worked very hard and displayed sensitivity and budding artistry in her work. Congratulations!

Many congratulations to the following for your excellent ABRSM exam results:

Natalia Emsley – Grade 6 Piano, with distinction

David Youngs – Grade 6 Piano, with distinction

Rosalind Pate – Grade 2 Violin, with distinction

Keith Woodend – Grade 1 Piano, with distinction

Abi Brownrigg – Grade 7 Piano, with merit

Annabel Bullock – Grade 6 Piano, with merit

Ben Hurley – Grade 5 Piano, with merit.

All very well deserved results for hard working and motivated people.

Merry Christmas to all.

Anne xx  🙂

Well, it is coming to the end of another year, and I just wanted to wish all my students a very Happy Christmas. I always enjoy the last lessons before the end of this term as it is a chance to indulge in some light hearted (but hopefully educational) nonsense with my pupils. Not only do I always do the (challenging!) Christmas prize quiz for all, which I will be posting on here shortly as well, but in the final lessons of term my pupils aged 11 to 18 get to take part in the “Guess the Year” competition, a now legendary event (!). This comprises ten quick bursts of recordings of pieces composed between 1700 and 2000…. people guess (in an educated way hopefully) the year of composition and the person with the lowest margin of error wins! I also torture my personal friends with this one, so there’s a parallel competition in place. Sometimes my students beat them though, which is a “win” for me!

Then with the little ones there is the joy of “Musical Dominoes”, and composer snap cards. Plus a special invite to their parents to join us for an impromptu carol concert!

I never grow tired of all this as I am a big kid myself. (Although maybe to be honest I get a bit weary of Jingle Bells by the end of term…. 😉 )

Love and peace to all, and all the very best for 2016!

Anne 😀

The Barton Grange Trophy for Music has this year been awarded to Charlie Robinson. Charlie is 17, attends Newman College and is working towards Grade 8 Piano, as well as A Level Music. He was presented the trophy by Mr. Edward Topping M.B.E. , chairman of the Barton Grange Group. Well done Charlie for all your hard work and progress!

My pupil Kim Brownrigg has been awarded the Florence Purdey Memorial Prize for the year. This is awarded by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music for the highest score in the Preston area in Grades 6,7 and 8 violin. Congratulations Kim!

Well done to all my students who passed practical exams this time but especially to:

Freya – Grade 1 Piano – Distinction (140/150 – a fabulous mark!)

Connie – Grade 1 Piano – Merit

Olivia E. – Grade 2 Piano – Distinction

Matthew R. – Grade 4 Piano- Distinction

Joe R. – Grade 4 Piano – Merit

Ben H. – Grade 4 Piano – Distinction

David Y. – Grade 5 Piano – Distinction (another adult showing the kids how to do it. 😉 ….. but music is in his blood … )

I am so lucky to teach all these hard working and enthusiastic musicians! 😀

My adult student Laurence has broken my student all time record of the highest score for Grade 5 theory – scoring an amazing 99 percent!

He has just given me the most amazing home made card with a picture of a 99 ice cream on the front. Inside it says:

“Hi Anne, I’m growing fonder than ever of 99s! Sorry it took a while testing the ingredients, but the final dessert you served up was a beaut, simply cool, and much more than expected. It really has to be graded five star.

Many thanks, Laurence.

P.S. Hope this isn’t too cornety.

Oh Laurence, groan!!! And I think you had something to do with the result yourself…… 😉