Teaching experience

Teaching experience

My first teaching experiences were many years ago, teaching privately. Then in 1985 I was appointed singing teacher at Hill House International School, working with boys aged 9 to 12, giving them individual singing lessons. I was able to combine this teaching with a busy singing career. I continued at Hill House until 2004.

In 1996 I was offered some teaching work for Bromley Youth Music. I worked with girls and boys aged 11 to 18. I enjoyed the new challenge of teaching this age group. I also started to investigate the music theatre repertoire and teach this different style of music. I also experienced working with boys with broken voices. I always found that I could relate very well to young people and make the process of gaining a vocal technique fun.

As well as working for Bromley Youth Music I was offered some work for Bexley Music Centre. This involved teaching adults as well as young people. I enjoyed my time there and the opportunity to work with older students.

In 2004 I started working in north London at Channing School. It was there that I was given the opportunity of working on A-level performance programmes for the first time. I was also putting students in for some higher grade Associated Board exams, with great success.

In 2005 I started teaching at Junior Trinity. It did feel a little as if I had come full circle, as I had been a student at Trinity College of Music! This year two of my students gained places at The Royal Northern College and The Birmingham Conservatoire. I also worked with a student towards an A.T.C.L. Diploma — she gained a distinction.

All the time I have taught at schools and colleges I have continued my private teaching, mainly working with adults.

All through my teaching career I have endeavoured to increase and improve my knowledge of teaching. In 2005 I joined AOTOS, an organisation for singing teachers. I have attended their training courses, and many of their lectures and masterclasses. I find these have helped to clarify and improve my teaching.

I feel very happy now working on most repertoire, anything from Monteverdi through to Verdi and on to Richard Rodgers, Stephen Sondheim, Kurt Weil, and even Andrew Lloyd Webber.

In the next few years I want to expand my teaching, doing more at my home in Morden. I am going to have a studio built in my garden. This will enable me to do more teaching, hopefully with more adult pupils, and not annoy the neighbours!