I have started teaching younger pupils for nice short 15 minute lessons. I have found that concentration levels are strong for this level of time and am able to keep the lesson dynamic and varied in content.
These lessons are ideal for pupils who are new to all forms of music education or those who are coming from any of the excellent classes around in the local area such as Rhythm Time.
Here are some of the major dates for all pupils in the first half of 2011
March 3rd – Theory Exams ABRSM
April 1st – Practical Exams, Moseley Centre, ABRSM
Summer Term
Mid June – Theory Exams
July 2nd – Annual Concert, St Augustine’s Church Edgbaston
Week beginning July 11th – Practical Exams Summer Term
A calendar of dates will follow shortly for the New Year. This will include dates for the Summer Concert, Theory and Piano exams , Adult Evenings and a trip to a retirement home with some of the younger pupils.
An update on monies raised for charity last year includes 180 pounds from the Practise-a-thon held in June. All the money raised from sponsored practising goes to the CLIC Sargent charity. The 100 pounds raised in the Summer Concert went to the worldwide fund for the protection of animals WSPA.
I am introducing group lessons this term into my timetable. This will appeal to children and adults who wish to share lessons with others and have fun together whilst also learning the skills of piano playing. This is an exciting development for me and hopefully pupils, I look forward to starting these as soon as possible. More details to follow on these soon.
To those who are wondering about available lesson slots, they are up to date in the relevant blog entry, alternatively please do give me a ring to discuss your hopes for lessons.
Happy New Year to All
I am able to offer the following slots for Piano and Theory lessons starting in January 2010.
The slots currently available are
Monday 4 to 4.30pm
Wednesday 4.30 to 5pm
Thursday 4 to 4.30pm & 4.30 to 5pm & 5.30 to 6pm
Friday 5.30 to 6pm & 7pm to 7.30pm
I teach between 3.30 – 8pm every weekday, so if you find the above slots inconvenient, do phone and see if there are other possibilities. Those adults who are available during before 3.30pm during the week will have a much larger choice of times for lessons.
June is here already and we are all preparing for the Summer events of exams, the Practice-a-thon and the Summer Concert.
The Practice-a-thon starts week beginning June 15th and lasts for 2 weeks. All pupils taking part need to practise daily for 14 days and in return they receive sponsorship from family and friends. I am anticipating great progress on pieces, scales etc as a result of all this wonderful practising.
The Theory Exams take place on June 20th, good luck to all those involved, there are a number of Grade 4s and a Grade 5 this term. I personally enjoy Theory as a subject, it has that wonderful quality of being very precise and is therefore mostly right or wrong. Pupils can get remarkably hgh results in their theory which is always a great fillip.
Piano Exams take place just before and after the Summer Concert, pupils are playing fairly famous pieces this term including L’Autunno which is an arrangement of Vivaldi’s movement on Autumn form the Four Seasons. There is also a very atmospheric version of Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton.
The Summer concert is looming on the horizon much to the delight of all pupils. They all seem to enjoy the buzz of playing in front of an audience and especially adore the interval cakes. All the various solo, duet and trio parts are being practised assiduously – I hope!
The 6th Adults’ Evening was another success, with lots of beautiful pieces some for examinations and some played just for pleasure.This took place at my house on the 23rd June. It is great for pupils to talk to each other about successes in their learning and also the difficult techinical parts. There is always much empathy to be had talking to fellow learners.
I am currently playing some Liszt pieces, looking at his album – Annees de Pelerinage. They are gorgeous pieces, mostly unplayable by mere mortals like myself, but the few that are in reach create a magical atmosphere. I have a recording of Stephen Hough playing the whole album which I thoroughly recommend.
I am also today going to start learning one of the Gershwin Preludes for piano, having never played any Gershwin before and am really looking forward to all those jazzy rhythms and toe tapping sounds.
Welcome, I do hope that you find that listing all the
dates in one place on this blog will be helpful.
Some of the dates listed here need to be confirmed other
events will be added as we move through the weeks of 2009
Teaching begins again in 2009 on January 5th
Feb/March – 5th Adult Soiree – date pending
March 5th Easter Theory Exams at 5pm
March 10th – first trip to residential Homes – Holmpark, Hagley Road at 7pm
March 18th – Second trip to residential Homes – Edgbaston Beaumont at 6.30pm
March 29th Easter Practial examinations during this week
May/June 6th Adult Soiree – date pending
Practice-a-thon during early June
Summer Theory Examinations June 20th at 10am
Summer Practical Examination during week beginning July 6th
Summer Concert, St Augustine’s Church 11th July at 6pm
Welcome to Birmingham Piano Lessons …
My name is Emma Shakeshaft and my piano school is in Birmingham, England.
I’ve taught the piano and theory for 13 years, and have around 35 pupils of all ages, starting at 4 and up to people in their 80’s so far!
I run lessons of differing lengths, 15 minute for 4-5 year olds, 30 minute for the vast majority of pupils and hour lessons for the higher grade of 7 and 8. I also run theory lessons on an individual basis or for groups.
As a qualified teacher I can offer you enthusiastic lessons to any grade. Some pupils choose to follow exam courses, and some want to play beautiful music without an exam structure. Everyone is welcome!
I organise a number of annual events each year for pupils and parents.
The biggest is the Summer Concert in July in the local church, generally around 30+ pupils children and adults play solos, duets and trios. It is always a highly anticipated event made all the more enjoyable by the wonderful food provided by pupils for the interval.
A group of adult beginner pupils meet for a Piano Soiree 3 times a year. We meet to play our latest pieces and to enjoy a snack and chat about the latest piano pursuits and challenges.
There will be two Mini Concerts at local Residential Homes just before Easter. We did the same last year, over twenty children and adults played to the residents to great success. The residents thoroughly enjoyed the music and seeing the pupils and the players always enjoy preparing pieces for concerts and performing.
Pupils follow their own path in their piano journey, as said above some follow exam courses and others play beautiful music without the exam structure, some join in all the events listed above and others play for their own enjoyment. My aim is to help everyone enjoy the journey of learning the piano in whichever way they chose and to play the piano to the best of their ability.
Do check the blog entry on available slots during the week for piano or theory lessons or simply give me a ring if you wish to have a chat and find out more about lessons.
Emma Shakeshaft
A warm welcome back to all pupils who have had a nice long summer break.
This is always a pleasantly chaotic time of the year as pupils decide the direction they would like their piano journey to take. Many will start on exam courses and there are some really exciting new pieces out there.
I have looked at the Grade 7 syllabus in some detail as a couple of pupils are ready to go on this grade and there are some gorgeous and deeply challenging pieces. There is a fantastic C piece called ‘Lowside Blues’ which is full of piano fireworks including some Glissando. There is also a fair helping of delicious French Romantic music By Faure, Ravel and Grovlez.
The Grade 1 and 2 sets of pieces are also very interesting with the Associated Board throwing in more well-known pieces than ever before. These include at Grade 1 ‘Early one Morning’ and ‘Autumn’ from the Four Season and on Grade 2 ‘Wonderful Tonight’ by Eric Clapton. Some interesting developments indeed. I look forward to looking at all the other Grades.
Others of you may be interested to know that I have just ordered a copy of a collection of Abba songs arranged for Piano, which might inspire you after the wonderful success of ‘Mamma Mia’ in the cinema this Summer. There are many great arrangements of songs from musicals and films available to explore on the piano. Some of the most popular hits with pupils last year were from the ‘Sound of Music’ and ‘The Lion King’, as well as plenty of great classical pieces of course.
I will add the dates to the Main list for 2008, when I get them, for the Theory and Practical Examinations this term – and for the 4th Adults’ Evening to be held in early November.
More news to follow soon!
Happy New Year to All
Here are some of the dates for events in 2008, there will be others to add to the list such as piano exam dates and further adult soirees. The exact dates will be available nearer the events.
February 4th – First mini-concert at Senior Sunrise Living in Edgbaston at 7.30 pm
February 19th – the Second Adults’ Soiree at 8pm at Carole and Framz’ house in Selwyn Road
February 27th – Theory Exams at 5pm
February 28th – Second mini-concert at Westminster Beaumont in Edgbaston at 7.30pm
Easter Piano Exams are to be on March 19th
The 3rd Adults’ Evening will be held on April 29th at the Pat’s House
Theory Exams are on June 14th
Last two weeks of June “Pupil Practice-a-thon ” in aid of CLIC Sargent Charity – June 16th to 23rd
Entries for the ‘Design the Concert Programme Cover’ are due in on June 27th
Summer Piano Exams will be held on July 7th
The Summer Concert is on July 12th at St. Augustines Church, Lyttelton Road
Exam entries due in 26th September for Piano and Theory
Theory Exams to be held on 6th November at Joseph Chamberlain College
The 4th Adults’ Evening will be on November 11th at 8pm at my house
Piano Exams are on November 25th starting at 2.15pm at the St. Columba’s United reformed Church in Moseley.
A short welcome to Nelly, our new black labrador puppy, she is of course gorgeous and will occasionally be seen sitting under the piano stool during lessons.
Piano Lessons in Birmingham 