Other credentials:
• ABRSM Music Theory
• LCM Electronic Keyboard
• LCM Musical Theatre
• DBS Update Service

Music lessons are a great way to spend time with friends or siblings, and can even be a fun parent-child activity. A lot of my younger pupils have enjoyed group sessions more than solo - some of them even find friendly competition in it!

As an autistic person myself, I understand how frustrating it can be to learn at a different pace to those around you, when all you need is someone to see that you just learn best in a different way. I was made to feel like a failure when I didn't pass more 'academic' subjects in school, simply because the lessons were book- and research-oriented rather than interactive and stimulating.

It's important for me to make sure that all my pupils feel safe and comfortable in their lessons, knowing that there will always be a way of learning new concepts or topics that works for them. For example, if I know that reading or writing isn't their strong suit, we'll use games and apps instead. There is something for everyone.

Pupils' emotional wellbeing is also prioritised in lessons; feel free to bring along any fidgets or comfort toys that ease your stimming.

Exams are and always will be optional. It's completely understandable that you may not want to do exams as they require a lot of preparation and they can be very stressful for those not used to performing. However, I always turn to exam repertoire lists for inspiration for a student's first study material, as they're always appropriately graded and thus serve as a great starting point for learning.

If you are interested in entering exams, fantastic! Depending on your particular strengths and what you're comfortable doing, I will recommend an exam with either London College of Music, ABRSM, Rockschool, or Trinity College London, as they each have their own requirements, and one may be more suited to your style than another. There is freedom in what you do for an exam, but to some extent, they all involve completing a set of tests demonstrating your musicianship skills, performing songs/pieces from a provided list, and answering a series of technical questions about those pieces.

Higher grades can also earn you UCAS points, which come in handy if you need that little extra push to get into your dream university. The higher the grade of the exam, and the higher your mark, the more points you earn.

The biggest difference between me (a tutor) and a classroom teacher is that the size of my classes are so much smaller. I'm not trying to develop 30 different brains at the same time. Your lessons with me are exactly that - your lessons. They go however fast or slow you need them to. If you need more time to understand a particular topic or skill, then I'll make sure we give it more time.

There are also lots of different ways to learn things, so lessons with me will include a variety of activities aside from playing/singing, such as worksheets, using a computer or tablet, hands-on physical games, and of course, listening to music.

Keyboardists and singers will learn according to the Common Approach developed by Music Mark, a holistic framework designed to meet the needs of musicians of all ages and abilities, regardless of which exam board they may have learned with in the past. Broadly speaking, it divides music education into six principles:
• Listening and internalising
• Making and controlling musical sounds
• Creating and developing musical ideas
• Playing music
• Playing music with others
• Performing and communicating

The Common Approach also ensures students are exposed to a wide range of musical genres and cultures to promote positive inclusion, diversity and equity.