My thoughts on teaching

I absolutely love teaching singing (I teach my own children; you have to love it!) and I passionately believe that the benefits of learning a musical instrument are so much more than the ability to play a series of notes. Children learn perseverance and the ultimate reward when something they have worked so hard at falls into place, they learn to process multiple things at once, they strengthen reading and memory skills and they gain the confidence to stand up in front of both strangers and their peers and perform, an invaluable skill wherever their lives take them. For singers this is a particular achievement, because there are no music stands to hide behind and no instruments in hands, just themselves. Above all, music makes people happy. As a teacher, I aim for a balance between achievement and fun. I ensure the challenges are there in the form of ABRSM exams and school performances, should they wish for them and I am a strong advocate for the gentle introduction of basic vocal technique even in young singers. The voice is a delicate instrument that we have been left to build ourselves and needs careful handling. I also incorporate aural and sight singing training within lessons to encourage a greater understanding of the rudiments of the songs they are learning. Enjoyment is key and the children are very much involved in the choosing of repertoire which is traditionally based when working towards exams, but with a good sprinkling of musical theatre and contemporary music in addition. I work the children hard in lessons and I’m a perfectionist, but we also do a lot of laughing!

Musical experiences

Gaining a choral scholarship to King’s College London and a Bachelor of Music degree, I then gained a Postgraduate Diploma in Vocal Performance from the Royal Academy of Music, leaving with Distinction, a DipRAM for an outstanding final recital and the Henry Cummings prize for singing. Specialising in oratorio and performing in many of Britain’s major concert venues and churches such as Queen Elizabeth Hall, Cadogan Hall and St John’s Smith Square as a soloist in works from Charpentier to Mozart to Bernstein and under the baton of respected conductors such as Hilary Davan Wetton and Sir Trevor Pinnock, musical life was wonderful and busy and then I had my children! Performance began to take a backseat and a love of teaching emerged. 15 years later and I have taught singing and given vocal workshops in numerous schools from primary age to 18, taught on the Junior Eton Choral Courses, been Director of music at St Mary with St Alban, Teddington and run many other choirs with repertoire ranging from Faure Requiem to Britney Spears.

Qualifications

BMus, King’s College London

PGDipRAM

Contact details

luck.laura@yahoo.co.uk