Information About Vikki - Stevenage teacher -

(1 review)

Personal Description:

I live in Stevenage but am also frequently in the areas of Ware & Welwyn - I am happy to travel to you for your music lessons.

I am passionate about clarinet and also a keen pianist. I have been a member of the Hertfordshire Concert Band since 2010, which holds regular concerts in locations such as Windsor Castle and Brighton band stand. I was part of the committee that founded the University of Hertfordshire's Chamber Orchestra and worked hard to give more students the opportunity to participate in musical activity. I played clarinet in the East Herts Concert Band for four years and have also been part of numerous woodwind ensembles and clarinet choirs.

Tutoring Experience:

I have offered one-to-one tutoring since 2014 & have provided additional support to school teaching for students working towards graded exams as well as casual lessons for those who enjoy learning new music & want to develop their skills. I realised my interest in tutoring during my time in sixth form as I lead small wind ensembles & helped younger students to develop their playing.

As Secretary of the Herts SU Chamber Orchestra at university I managed music and assigned musicians their parts to complement their ability. The Orchestra was open to players of all standards; I gained more experience in ensemble leadership and enjoyed helping players improve on their skills.

Tutoring Approach:

In my experience the most effective method of learning is to play as part of an ensemble or duet. This tests the player's ability to keep in time and listen to other players. I also think this is an enjoyable way of learning, which is the key to effective learning. I would encourage duet practice in lessons; clarinet duet music is available at many levels.

I like to deal with challenging passages through repetition, breaking down the passage into manageable chunks and using varying tempos. I also believe building up stamina is important in order to develop tone and master control of the instrument. However, what I believe is most important is the way in which the student wishes to learn as this will provide an enjoyable learning experience which then can be used in the student's own practice time.