Information About Nicolas - Wakefield teacher -

(5 reviews)

Personal Description:

My main interests are music theory, piano and keyboards with regard to teaching. In my spare time I enjoy the outdoor life: walking, cycling, fishing and swimming. At home I enjoy relaxing with a film or music of all types.

Tutoring Experience:

Experienced home tutor with over 15 years experience.

I can travel up to 15 miles to tutor clients in their own home. I usually arrange one or two hour sessions to happen weekly or fortnightly but can be more flexible with regular ongoing client-base.

Tutoring Approach:

I prefer a flexible approach to tutoring tailored specifically to individual needs.

All students learn for their own reasons and different approaches may suit each candidate. Some aim for qualifications while others prefer a less formal approach which I particularly enjoy fostering. It is my preference for clients to choose the music that they enjoy or prefer and help them to obtain appropriate copies of sheet music or other appropriate reference to suit their own development of an interpretation of a particular piece.

In the past this has included: use of ABRSM materials; purchase or loan of sheet music for the student; development of suitable arrangements of preferred music that I have made and printed for individual students. However, this could also include different media types, for example, students showing special ability to learn by ear have found downloaded or CD audio most helpful in making progress with particular tunes and accompaniments.

In terms of developing the student's understanding of music theory, where appropriate I help the student to understand the basics (up to about Grade 5 standard) by using music with which they are familiar and/or can relate to using whatever resources may be available. This could include any sheet music the student has or downloadable resources such as simplified arrangements with chord progressions. I also have some resources of my own which regular students may be able to borrow during their progress through tuition

As for ear training, it is helpful for the student to recognise specific intervals that exist between notes of different pitch and the different chord voicings with which they should become familiar. This can be done at the keyboard quite effectively and helps the student to progress by methods using both sight-reading and ear-training.

I do not formally teach or coach singing, but I do encourage most students to sing along whilst they are playing as I feel that this is both enjoyable and helps in the development of confidence at the keyboard and with music in general.