Information About Theo - Blackheath teacher -

(6 reviews)

Personal Description:

Hello! My name is Theo, and I'm a music teacher in Hither Green. I've recently moved down from Liverpool and I'm looking forward to starting up teaching again. I've been studying music my entire life (I started violin at 4 and piano at 6), and it is a massive part of my life.
Other than that, I love anything creative and I spend a lot of time drawing or crocheting. I also adore plants and the flat is full of leafy friends!
Please note, my flat is not accessible by wheelchair I'm afraid as it's up a single flight of stairs.

Tutoring Experience:

My first real experience of teaching was in year 12 when I became the leader of the Junior Strings Ensemble as part of my Gold Arts Award. My first session facing six expectant-looking 11–13 year olds was equal parts terrifying and exciting; who was I to tell them what to do and how to do it? However, in those first few sessions I discovered that I could be exactly who they needed – someone to guide and support them in their musical development, and someone who would watch with pride as they grew and improved. By the end of the first half term I was writing arrangements, recruiting, organising concerts, and soon enough my little group had nearly twenty beginners, all of whom were making incredible progress, not just in music reading and playing, but also in social skills, time management, organisation, and reliability. When the end-of-year concert arrived, I could hardly believe how much they had come on, and my reward was to see almost all of them make the transition to Intermediate Strings for the following year. The ‘Greatest Teacher’ card one student made me as I left sixth form still features in pride of place at home.

As I made the transition to the University of Manchester to study music, I still found a way to explore my passion for teaching, by taking classes focussing on community engagement and volunteering with the Hallé Orchestra Education Department, which, after three years of experience and hands-on learning in both classrooms and concert halls, led to a job offer within the department. Over the next year and a half I helped design, organise, and deliver their award-winning music education programme which reaches over 60,000 participants each year in the Greater Manchester area and beyond. My particular point of pride is that I was able to expand one of my key projects, the Adopt-a-Player programme, which pairs schools with a musician from the orchestra for three creative workshops and a concert, into a cross-curricular experience with resources and activities covering a range of subjects including art, history, geography, English, and science, all focused on and inspired by the same central piece of classical music. Whilst my boss was rather confused the first time he found me reading through the national curriculum, the learning resources I created turned out to be such a success that I was asked to produce similar lesson plans and booklets for other Hallé projects as well.

Eventually I decided that I wanted to work in a position that enabled me to have a more direct focus on teaching as well as the planning aspects, so I began teaching private music lessons to everyone from young children working towards grade exams to adult beginners deciding to pick up an instrument in their retirement. I have loved every minute of it, especially the times I’ve had to think on my feet and come up with alternative teaching methods when my first explanation didn’t work. Creative teaching is something I’m proud to say I’m very good at; even the youngest child can learn Italian terms for dynamics when it’s turned into a game of ‘Dinosaur or Mouse’, and music reading is much easier to understand if you learn it while jumping and running around the room!

This alternative and creative style of teaching and learning is something I’m very familiar with, not only through my own experiences at school, but also working as a TA in a specialist school. I'm a firm believer that music should be accessible to all, and I've worked hard to make sure my teaching style reflects that. My experience in working with people with additional needs has since expanded to include those who have physical disabilities, autism, and a basic knowledge of BSL helps me to support those with speech or hearing difficulties.

Tutoring Approach:

My approach to music tuition is very much person centred. My only overall aim is that learning music should be enjoyable, regardless of age, standard or goals. Do you want to work towards an exam or other qualification? Do you want to have some fun? Have you always wanted to play but never got round to it? Regardless of your aim, I am very happy to help guide your musical journey.
Before I begin lessons, I will always take the time to discuss what you are hoping to get out of lessons and how best we can get you there. I pride myself in being able to share my passion for music with you in whatever fashion will work best.