Information About Sam - Barnet teacher

Personal Description:

I am a dynamic young professional cellist and dedicated teacher of Cello and Music Theory, with more than 5 years of teaching experience. Alongside my teaching work, I am increasingly in demand as a performer - I work regularly with the country's leading orchestras, including the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Philharmonia Orchestra. I received my MMus in Cello performance with Distinction from the Royal College of Music in Summer 2023, and I also hold a first-class degree in Music from the University of Cambridge. My main cello teachers have been Melissa Phelps, Josephine Knight and Bozidar Vukotic. I have also worked as a research assistant for the AHRC-funded project on Music, Migration and Mobility, based at the Royal College of Music, researching and giving talks on the legacy of musicians who migrated to the UK from Nazi-ruled Europe.

Tutoring Experience:

I have been teaching cello privately since January 2020 and I remain extremely passionate about it - in fact I am still teaching my first ever student after more than 5 years! As well as my small group of private students, I have taught on the faculty at the Oxford Cello School and for various agencies, and delivered numerous outreach projects for the London Philharmonic Orchestra. I regularly coach amateur orchestras including The Chamber Orchestra in Clerkenwell. I have also covered for teachers at Junior Royal Academy of Music, teaching Advanced Musicianship and Aural skills.

Tutoring Approach:

I am currently able to take on a small number of new students based in North, West or Central London, or for online lessons.

I teach cello students of all ages and at all levels, from beginner to grade 8+ and beyond, and also have particular experience teaching adults. While my teaching is very flexible and guided by the individual needs of the student, my first aim will always be to pass on the enthusiasm I have for making and thinking about music. My lessons are always challenging, and I never compromise on the high standards I set for my students' technical and musical progress, but I believe that the only way to achieve this is through a positive, calm and thoughtful approach to the cello. I am friendly and approachable, and I take great care to build a supportive relationship with each individual to create an environment where students can ask questions, experiment, make mistakes, and grow in confidence to think for themselves.

For music theory, I am happy to teach towards ABRSM grade exams, up to and including grade 8, but would also be happy teaching other aspects of music that are beyond the scope of the exams. I'm available to teach aural skills, as well as GCSE and A-level music, and I can help with preparation for university entrance exams or interviews, especially Oxbridge. My approach is once again flexible and led by the needs of the student, but in general I teach for understanding, as I think it is a far more effective way of learning about music than simply rote-learning mark schemes, which tends to be just frustrating and confusing.

I have an up-to-date enhanced DBS check.