This is a lively piece of music featuring lots of different challenges! It is featured in the ABRSM grade 4 cello exam book – which you can get here: The title means ‘Hungarian leap’ – so picture an energetic dance. It has a fast tempo and 2 contrasting sections, with an ABA … Read moreSaltus Hungaricus
Some Day is a lovely lyrical piece of music in List B for Grade 4. It comes from Kathy and David’s book – Cello Time Sprinters – a book with lots of really good music in, so definitely worth purchasing! You can get it here: Technique-wise, Some Day isn’t as challenging as … Read moreSome Day – Kathy and David Blackwell
Here is the list of pieces from the 2020-23 syllabus. Click on the links to watch videos and find out more information about each piece. (This is a work in progress, so please bear with me while I add each page! If a piece has a ** before it, this means I have included … Read moreABRSM Grade 4 Cello Pieces
Teaching vibrato on the cello can be a very daunting thing for teachers just starting out. We all want our students to be able to master it first time, and that means insisting on good technique from the very beginning. As someone who passed all the grades early on and entered university naively over-confident, having … Read moreTeaching vibrato on the cello – the beginnings of a good technique
It is becoming increasingly common for private music teachers to ask students to sign a contract with the terms of their lessons. I’ve noticed on a couple of social media posts recently that there is some debate as to whether contracts and various policies are necessary. I’m about to move all of my students to … Read morePrivate Music Teachers and Contracts
Buying a cello case can be a big decision – there are so many options out there, with a huge variety of prices and features. The Travelite TL-20, made by Saga Musical Instruments, was invented for cellists looking for a case that is light, strong and portable. First impressions I’ve owned a Travelite TL-20 for … Read moreTravelite TL-20 4/4 cello case review
The Cello Time series by Kathy and David Blackwell is widely used among cello students today. This is a brief review/summary of the different books in the series – which will hopefully give you an idea of what to expect from each book. Cello Time Starters This book is aimed at the youngest learners. … Read moreCello Time – the essential series for beginner cellists
“Am I good enough?” “Why would anyone want to hear me play?” “Wouldn’t my students learn more from a different/better teacher?” Imposter syndrome is very real, and I think it affects a lot of people to some extent. I have heard phrases like this from so many private teachers, and indeed have had these exact … Read moreImposter syndrome and the private music teacher
Having always taken ABRSM exams as a child, this is what I have continued to enter my students for. However, while ABRSM was always the one to use, there are other exam boards out there today that are catching up. One of these is Trinity – this article is a comparison between their exams and those … Read moreMusic exam boards – ABRSM or Trinity?
Teaching your first few students can be a bit of a daunting experience! This article is aimed at anyone who would like a little advice on how to start teaching piano – from advertising (ie getting your first student) to which books to use, and my personal experience from challenges that I have faced along … Read moreHow to start teaching piano (or any instrument!) – a guide for anyone interested in teaching privately
