Holistic music tuition in Southeast London
Want to learn to play? Your beginner string FAQ’s, answered. Interested in learning to play the violin, viola, cello or bass, but not sure where to begin? Perhaps you are interested in buying an instrument. Did you know that you can rent instruments as well, and that this may be a better economic choice for … Continue reading Starting a Stringed Instrument from Zero: Supplies, Investment and Recommendations
Sight-reading is often one of the most worrying parts of an exam or performance; this fear of the unknown is hard to surpass even for the most experienced musicians. Luckily, there are a few things that we can do to prepare ourselves and use the adrenaline rush in a more positive sense. When boiled down, … Continue reading Feeling comfortable with sight-reading
“Moto Perpetuo” Just an initial glance at this Caprice will tell you all you need to know: this one is for dexterity and endurance. Pieces of this style, a never-ending stream of notes, are called “moto perpetuo” which translates to “perpetual motion.” Both your hands and your brain are truly in perpetual motion here, and … Continue reading Campagnoli, Caprice no. 3
Reflections on practicing the second of Campagnoli’s Caprices There’s no time like Summer to make headway on my Campagnoli project. Summer for classical musicians is often a mix of relaxation and opera playing at one of the many Summer opera festivals across the UK. When performing the same repertoire every evening it’s easy to fall … Continue reading Campagnoli, Caprice no. 2
Reflections on practicing the first of Campagnoli’s Caprices At long last I am ready to share my initial thoughts after delving into my self-imposed boot camp of Campagnoli Caprices. The first thing we see when we open the book is a part-preface, part-manifesto by William Primrose, who edited this transcription. An apt warning for challenges … Continue reading Campagnoli, Caprice no. 1
The life of a London orchestral player is fast-paced and stressful, stretching one’s sight reading and quick-processing skills to the limit in order to handle more concerts, on fewer rehearsals, than any other orchestral scene on Earth. While a career of sprints develops a unique skill set in musicians here, a hectic schedule of short-term … Continue reading The Etude Challenge: Re-Discovering my Technical and Creative Confidence
Both children and adults in our modern age are experiencing increasing competition in all aspects of life. Overwork can destroy our love for our hobbies; music can easily become one of the chores we are doing and the frustration is bound to build inside us. Reflecting on these simple questions may help you find a … Continue reading Quality, quantity and frequency of practice
Taking you through a successful practice session, one step at a time You’ve finally set aside the time to practice—no easy feat amidst all the commitments we have to our work, our peers and ourselves. Congratulations on choosing a rewarding and creative commitment to add to your schedule; you won’t regret it! Now, let’s make … Continue reading Practice Series for Strings: Warmups
Coming to terms with the slow process of learning and seeing the result of your work. Choosing to take private music lessons is an investment not only of finances but also of time. Aside from the hour each week spent with the tutor, you are then responsible for reviewing the lesson concepts each day on … Continue reading Chipping away: Practice Takes Patience
