Well, this term things have finally returned to something resembling “normal” after an incredibly challenging two years. My students are all working with a renewed focus and energy, practising for both Practical and Theory exams. Several of my students excelled at the Taunton Festival of the Arts, with Distinctions and three 1st places. One of those students, a 10 year-old then went on to be awarded “Highly Commended” at the Taunton Junior Young Musician competition in March. This was her first time competing there, she was one of the youngest and the competition was stiff, so I was very pleased with this outcome. And I have just received news of a Distinction in a Grade 5 Theory exam for another of my pupils – the lessons were entirely online but it worked a treat! Zoom lessons have definitely been a wonderful thing throughout the pandemic and continue to be, for which I will be forever grateful.<\/p>\n
As for my own performing, I have played for three weddings in different parts of Somerset in the first quarter of the year and am currently preparing for another in June. The repertoire was extremely diverse – everything from serious Classical to Pop to Jazz and Blues. One of the most interesting pieces I was asked to play was Pink Floyd’s classic “The Great Gig in the Sky”, for which I took great delight in writing my own arrangement, blending the amazing vocal line with the sublime accompanying harmonies. I never know what I will be asked to play for weddings but this is a great joy for me – in my opinion music is simply good or not good, regardless of the genre! <\/p>\n
It has been a great Spring, roll on Summer and the rest of the year…..<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Well, this term things have finally returned to something resembling “normal” after an incredibly challenging two years. My students are all working with a renewed focus and energy, practising for both Practical and Theory exams. Several of my students excelled at the Taunton Festival of the Arts, with Distinctions and three 1st places. One of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":383,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[13,16,14,15,10,11,12],"class_list":["post-691","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-1st-places","tag-distinctions","tag-diverse-repertoire","tag-piano","tag-piano-exams","tag-theory-exams","tag-wedding-music"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t