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Students Pages

Music Tuition Overview

Introduction

With over 25 years experience I have found that keyboard, piano and singing lessons are more than just learning to move one's fingers across the keyboard or singing along to your favourite songs. It's also a lesson in self-discipline, thinking, organisation and planning. What ever your age learning can be fun and very rewarding and what's more each music lesson is conducted in your own home on your own instrument, so long as your live within a 20 mile radius of Harlow, Essex.

Bring this page to life by clicking here and contacting me to book your personalised singing tuition.

 

Summertime, a beautiful place for summer music!

As we move into Summer most musicians turn their attention to creating and listening to summer music which so often fills the air at Garden Fetes, Music Festivals and on the worlds most famous beaches!.

Enjoying and bring music to life throughout the Summer months is what every musician dreams of and if you are going on holiday don’t forget to take one of your favourite pieces of music with you (it won’t take up a lot of room in your suitcase!) for you’ll never know when you might get the opportunity to play.

Remember: A good musician is always well organised, so now is the time to arrange your music lessons around your holiday dates by making sure that I have a note of when you will be away. Fitting in an extra music lesson before you go and when you get back maybe a good idea so why not enquire today!

(N.B. Fitting in an extra music depends upon availability at time of request)

Lifestyle

Learning to play or sing is very therapeutic and relaxing, which can work hand in hand with enhancing ones personal lifestyle. Before embarking upon learning I would strongly suggest that you take the time to sit down and look at your scheduled activities and lifestyle to decide how you are going to accommodate the time to indeed learn and make the lessons work for you.

Introductory Music Lesson

An introductory music lesson is a one off lesson conducted in your own home on your own instrument, so long as your live within a 20 miles radius of Harlow, Essex, with no commitment on your part to book any further lessons unless you are fully satisfied with the course of learning outlined. During the introductory lesson you will get an opportunity to explain what you are looking to acquire from music lessons, get an assessment of your potential and learn some valuable skills that will enable you to start playing/singing. You will also get an opportunity to ask any important questions you may have. All the necessary paperwork will be supplied and explained during the introductory lesson.

Advantages

Tuition is offered in the comfort of your own home so long as your live within a 20 miles radius of Harlow, Essex.

Other Advantages:

• Three levels of learning for Keyboard, Piano and Singing tuition

• Certificate and detailed write-up of your achievements to date upon completion of each level

• One to one individual lessons tailored to suit your individual requirements

• The ability to learn at your own pace and set your own personalised achievement targets

• Communication and support in between lessons

• You can use your own music, which will be carefully graded

• Comfort of learning on your own instrument in your own home

• Web site full of useful information to enhance your learning experience

• You don’t have the stress of travelling to lessons

• The opportunity to perform in a concert or showcase

Music helps develop better pathways in the brain that assists with thinking, creativity, organisation and maths!

Duration Of Levels

The duration time of each level and students progression through such will clearly be dependent upon students individual ability/talent for each subject/music studied in relationship to frequency of lessons undertaken and the amount of study time allocated by student in between lesson times.

Preparing for a Music Lesson

• It is essential to get yourself fully prepared for your music lessons by finding a quite moment to relax, thus freeing your mind so as to enable you to focus clearly on the subject of music

• To maximise your full potential it is essential to have a diverse range of printed music that focuses on quality rather than quantity

• At the end of each music lesson it is advisable to find a quiet moment to reflect upon what has been studied and achieved, making sure that you are organised to move forward during the time in between lessons. This will in turn assist you to be prepared for future lessons

Studying in between music lessons

At the completion of each lesson a reflection sheet is completed, allowing you an ideal opportunity to ask any important questions about the lesson itself and the work/pieces played and studied during such. A reflection sheet is a mere record of the music lesson with some guidance notes for the week ahead, and it is down to the you to decide what you would like to study and how best you can accommodate this into your lifestyle bearing in mind that no two weeks are alike.

The key features to successful studying:

• Never practice when you do not feel like it. However in saying that if you really love music you will want to play more often than not

• Besides playing/studying your current music, always try and find some time to revise your past achievements

• Even if the day ahead of you is very busy you can always find time to play a scale or two

• Always study little and often

• When studying and the going gets tough take time out to relax by make yourself a drink and finding some quiet time. You can then return to your music studies later with a refreshed mind, seeing the problem from a totally new perspective

• Remember it's quality that counts not quantity

• Always share your successes or problems with your family and friends

Remember: Have fun and enjoy your music studies, and if you find that you come across something you do not understand, or that you have a general question to do with music, then please do not hesitate to click here for assistance.

It is essential that all equipment required is purchased from a suitable retailer prior to commencement of the level, with guidance notes detailed on résumé for each level studied. Purchase of all equipment is the sole responsibility of the student and may restrict ones commencement of level if not acquired.

Concerts/Showcases

All concerts and showcases are presented in a professional environment.

Full details and performance criteria can be obtain by clicking here.

This Day In Music History - A site containing musical facts relating specifically to each date you click on.

Non -Teaching Days

As a result of teaching seven days a week I find that I occasionally require some leisure time and therefore  will unfortunately not be teaching on the following dates:

Friday 27th June 2008  Saturday 28th June 2008  Sunday 29th June 2008  Monday 7th July 2008  Wednesday 16th July 2008  Thursday 24th July 2008  Sunday 3rd August 2008  Saturday 9th August 2008  Friday 15th August 2008  Wednesday 20th August 2008  Monday 25th August 2008  Thursday 28th August 2008  Friday 5th September 2008  Tuesday 9th September 2008  Friday 19th September 2008  Wednesday 24th September 2008  Sunday 5th October 2008  Monday 13th October 2008 and  Friday 7th November 2008. 

Saturday 20th September 2008 (Attending Trinity Guildhall Singing Workshop)

Sunday 16th November 2008 (Attending Royal Academy of Music Seminar)

Annual Holiday Dates: Tuesday 21st October 2008 to 30th October 2008 inclusive, Monday 8th December 2008 to 11th December 2008 inclusive & Tuesday 14th April 2009 to Monday 20th April 2009 inclusive.

If you are a current student and have booked your annual holidays then by kindly letting me the dates you will not only be assisting me but fellow students alike - Thanks.

(Should any other non-teaching days arise I will of course include them above, giving you adequate notice in advance of them taking place)

Existing Students: Please note that if your music lessons are affected by the above cancellations then you can always reschedule them to another day subject to availability, and I apologise in advance if you are inconvenienced in anyway because of the above cancellations.

Dispelling Some of the Myths Surrounding Tuition

• You need to follow a learning book in order to learn music - This is not so, in fact many learning books often stifle ones progress and openly encourage you to buy books in a series you do not require, and once you can play what I call ‘real’ music, these books are then discarded. The solution is to commence ones learning from day one with ‘real’ music written in PVG format (Piano/Vocal with Guitar Chords) or as I also call it three line music!

• Classical music is far better than popular so called chart music of today - Wrong! Yes it is true there are some terrible songs around today, but not all music is poorly written, in fact some are of such a high standard that I could enthuse about them all day. Even Chopin, Mozart and Beethoven, to name but a few of the great composers, wrote some lesser known pieces that are today considered not to be their finest work, in fact they are very substandard.

In conclusion: There are good and bad in all genres of music, you just have to open your eyes and carefully look for the good!

Music Charts

Billboard - Billboard provides breaking news in the music industry whilst giving you the up to date U.S. singles and album charts

Dee Jay Link - A comprehensive list of music charts from around the world

Launch - Direct access to the UK singles and album charts

Los 40 - Direct link to the Spanish Top 40 singles chart

Music Factory 2 - Various music charts from the UK and America

Music Mania - Chart central with all the UK charts

Radio 1 - The home of the UK's official music charts

Take 40 - Australian Singles Chart

Top 40 Charts - A comprehensive list of music charts from around the world

Eternal Music Exams

Whilst studying for your level you might decide you would like to explore the possibility of taking a ABRSM or Trinity Guildhall external music exam or indeed if at school taking your GCSE or A levels in music. If this is the case then it is imperative that you discuss with me as to whether they would be suitable for you and how best they can be incorporated into your existing music lessons/lifestyle taking into account the extra demands that will ultimately be placed upon you.

Remember: To succeed at music you do not have to take any external exams and I recommend that you carefully look into all aspects of such exams before embarking on them.

ABRSM & Trinity Guildhall External Music Exams

Both ABRSM and Trinity Guildhall external music exams are highly respected throughout the country and in schools/colleges. These external music exams can comfortably be studied in conjunction with the level of learning you are currently on and it is advisable to check out their official web sites before deciding which external music exams you would like to study.

Official Web Sites:

Associated Board Of The Royal Schools Of Music - The world's leading music examining board

Trinity Guildhall College - Music exams that are recognised for education and employment in many countries

Guidance - When deciding which external music exams you would like to study please don't forget that if required I am available to offer advice and guidance by clicking here to contact me.

ABRSM & Trinity Guildhall Music & Publications

GCSE or A Levels In Music

GCSE exams are taken as an option at school in year 10 or 11 or both can be taken through a college or sixth form in your local area once you have reached the age of 16+

A guide to both GCSE or A Levels can be obtained through Rhinegold and  CGP but you do need to know which examining board you will be studying with.

N.B. Any assistance offered in connection with your GCSE & A Level exams will be done in conjunction with your course teacher/tutor at your school/college

Internet Radio Stations

1Live Startseite - An excellent hit music station from Germany

Los 40 - An excellent hit music station from Spain

Radio Dimensione Suono (RDS) - Listen live to one of Italy's top hit music stations

Radio-Locator - One of the most comprehensive radio station search engine on the internet that locates radio stations from around the world

Windows Media - Your guide to a whole host of radio stations

Television Advert Music

. To view adverts past and present simply visit: visit4info.

Commercial Breaks and Beats - A definitive directory of UK TV advert soundtracks

Sounds Familiar - UK TV advert music database featuring over 1000 UK TV adverts new and old

visit4info - A definitive directory where you can view adverts past and present

Music News

Keep up to date with the latest news in the world of music with the following web sites:

Daily Newspaper - read your favourite Newspaper from the UK and the rest of the world

Digital Spy - UK's leading media and entertainment website

News Now - News Now monitors breaking news to ensure you are kept up to date with all that's happing within the music industry

Teen Music - Stay informed with all the latest news from within the music industry

Remember:

Coming together is a beginning.

Keeping Together is progress.

Working together is success.

(Quote accredited to Henry Ford)

This page was last updated on the 20th June 2008

Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to check the reliability of the information or content contained on this web page, any transactions or problems encountered whilst using such shall be at yours, the users sole risk.

Copyright © 2006 by Kevin Barr

      ‘All rights reserved’