Diploma congratulations!

Congratulations to Liz Seward who has passed her Dip ABRSM in Piano Teaching. This diploma involved a piece of written work on an area of piano teaching, playing and explaining how to teach grade 6 pieces, a Quick Study at sight of grade 6 standard and a Viva Voce on just about every aspect of the written work and teaching! Liz did really well and is going from strength to strength as a teacher.

Congratulations also to Josephine Southon who has passed her DipLCM in piano performing. Josie managed this at the same time as taking her A levels and passing her grade 8 flute! She intends to go to university to study music.
Performing diplomas are professional qualifications and although they are a possible next step after grade 8, they are a significant step up and include a 15-20 mins programme of performing, a written programme, a viva vice and a quick study or sight reading. Teaching, conducting and accompanying diplomas are also available. Any diploma entails a serious commitment in time, practising and preparation. Josie has done seriously well!

End of year round-up and exam congratulations!

Congratulations to Daisy, Leo, Elinor and Ben who took their Prep Tests and ABRSM Grade exams. Daisy and Leo had lovely Prep test reports and got them presented in The Cathedral School Achievers' Assembly last week. Elinor achieved a high merit for her grade 4  and Ben got a distinction for his. Hooray all round. If you want to know more about ABRSM exams click on this link: http://gb.abrsm.org/en/our-exams/#

Well done to all of you who have played, progressed, performed and enjoyed your piano playing this year. Do look at the previous post on Holiday Piano Ideas and have a think about what you would like to achieve next year.

Many thanks for all the lovely comments, cards and presents you have given me but especially thanks for making my job such fun! Have a great summer.

Holiday Piano Ideas!

Holiday Piano Ideas! for when you are bored or just want to explore music and the piano a little bit more.

·        Play a concert; choose an easy piece, a well-known piece and a fun piece. You can invite family and friends and design and print a programme for it.

·        Find out about one of your favourite composers. Write a potted biography of them and include: their dates of birth and death, where they lived, 3 interesting facts (did they like a certain food, have red hair etc), what kind of music they wrote, what instruments they wrote for or why you like their music.

·        Try some of the ideas here: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B3DHQxvhiWDfVGFoWHNQVnFuWkE/edit

·        Look ahead and try the next pieces in your book, listen to them on Spotify or YouTube and Do It Yourself!

·        Try getting ahead with music theory- look on my Pinterest Boards for games to help with this: http://pinterest.com/fionalau/boards/

 

·        Find a piano playing friend and play some easy peasy duets with them

·        Teach your parents or your younger brothers and sisters an easy tune from your first books.

·        Go to a concert- there are some Proms for children and some free ones!

·        Try a new instrument- recorder is cheap and easy.

·        Compose a tune for piano based on one of your favourite pieces.

·        Find some new cool piano apps, try them out and come back and tell me all about them.

·        Teach yourself to play a favourite TV or film theme tune by ear, or crack Happy Birthday!

·        Video yourself playing a piece and upload it to YouTube or send it to me and I will put it on my blog!

·        Visit somewhere musical in the holidays- Handel House in London or a famous concert hall, write a newspaper style report or blog about it.(send it to me and I will put it on my blog)

·        Enjoy your Summer!