Information About Frances - Cheltenham teacher - (20 reviews)
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This is how 2 referees rated Frances:
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Instruments Taught
Frances offers a FREE first / introductory lesson!
Piano |
Hourly Fee |
| Beginner | £36.50 |
| Intermediate | £36.50 |
| Advanced | £36.50 |
| Expert | £36.50 |
| Casual | £36.50 |
Music Theory |
Hourly Fee |
| Beginner | £36.50 |
| Intermediate | £36.50 |
| Advanced | £36.50 |
| Expert | £36.50 |
| Casual | £36.50 |
Composition |
Hourly Fee |
| Beginner | £36.50 |
| Intermediate | £36.50 |
| Advanced | £36.50 |
| Expert | £36.50 |
| Casual | £36.50 |
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Personal Description:
I am a freelance piano teacher, events pianist and composer, offering piano, music theory and composition tuition to adults and children.
With fourteen years' experience as Teacher and Head of Department in London schools and music colleges, alongside peripatetic teaching, you can be assured of inspiring and enjoyable lessons tailored to your aspirations. Exams are not compulsory.
I teach on a beautiful top of the range Yamaha Clavinova, with height-adjustable bench. Lesson times range from 30 to 60 minutes.
Aside from teaching piano, I compose bespoke music for weddings and funerals, sometimes hand in hand with live piano performance, both of which I find very enjoyable and rewarding. I now offer tuition in popular and classical composition. Having recently collaborated with a musician in Belgium to create a full-length musical, I am now working on a steady stream of smaller commissioned works across a range of genres, from classical to Latin American, for piano to orchestra and band ensembles.
With more than twenty years' piano teaching behind me, plus a lifetime's enjoyment of playing the piano, I look forward to teaching new repertoire, improving playing technique and sharing the joy of learning.
Tutoring Experience:
20+ years peripatetic
14 years in schools
Tutoring Approach:
I am friendly, approachable and listen to your aspirations. Every lesson is tailored to you.
I have experience of teaching adults and children with additional needs, including (but not limited to) Autism, Asperger's, Dyspraxia, Dyslexia and physical health challenges.
Your first 30 minutes of tuition is complimentary.
Tutor Resources: (free to download)
Please login or register to download tutor resources.
Native Language: English (British)
Availability: Weekends / Weekdays (all times)
References Available: Yes (✔ On File)
Availability: Weekends / Weekdays (all times)
References Available: Yes (✔ On File)
Qualifications:
- Goldsmith's College (2004) - Pass (PGCE) (✘ Not On File)
- London College of Music and Media (2003) - BMus (Hons) Piano and Composition - joint first study (Bachelors) (✘ Not On File)
- London College of Music and Media (2003) - LLCM Teaching Diploma (Other) (✘ Not On File)
- London College of Music and Media (2000) - ALCM Piano (Other) (✘ Not On File)
Frances's Feedback
| Total Amount Of Feedback: | 20 |
| Total Positive Feedback: | |
| Total Other Feedback: (not shown) | 1 |
Reply from: Frances: Hello Steve,
Thank you! I really appreciate your thoughtful feedback.
I have very much enjoyed your first few weeks of composition and piano and look forward to hearing even more excellent songs of yours!
Thank you! I really appreciate your thoughtful feedback.
I have very much enjoyed your first few weeks of composition and piano and look forward to hearing even more excellent songs of yours!
From Linda (/5): Brilliant in every way.
From Rachel (/5): What a find! Frances is so positive, encouraging and knowledgeable. She has immediately understood why I want to resume piano lessons after several decades! Has lots of ideas to help me progress whilst helping me improve pieces I can already play.
Would 100% recommend.
Would 100% recommend.
From Emily (/5): Amazing! Clear and encouraging. Frances is helping me learn to love piano playing for the first time in my life. I started lessons when I was 11 years old, gave up when I was 15, and I’m 66 now!
Reply from: Frances: Hello Emily,
Thank you for such lovely feedback. I really enjoy teaching you so am very happy you are learning to love all piano playing has to offer.
Best wishes
Frances
Thank you for such lovely feedback. I really enjoy teaching you so am very happy you are learning to love all piano playing has to offer.
Best wishes
Frances
From Neil (/5): I'm an older person who has been studying grade music 6-8 theory, and wanted some support in developing small complete compositions to embed the theory, move beyond the fragments of composition in the grades, and enjoy developing my own pieces and style. Frances is professional, highly knowledgeable and competent, very encouraging, and has created a programme that adapts to my abilities and wishes. I like the idea of learning within the traditions of different historical periods, and she has embraced that with me, and I gather other people have very different aims, and so have a different programme. We have online lessons which work very well (I live the other side of the country), after which she offers me a mix of short and open-ended exercises, that I can adapt to my interests and time available. She's introduced me to ideas and genres that were completely new to me and a lot of fun. My sense is that she is keeping an eye on what I find easy and hard, and adapting to that. I like that she pushes me to tidy up and finish pieces. It's all immensely enjoyable, and I've produced things that I wouldn't have imagined when I started.
From Stephen (/5): Frances enthusiam for the piano is infectious and inspirational. She is an exceptional tutor who manages who corrects my mistakes without criticism and leads to me to useful resources which her other students have found useful. I always feel good after my lessons, even if I've been tackling something tricky. Frances finds music for me to play other than just the set pieces for grades. My trial lesson was fantastic (and free!) and Frances spent a lot of time finding out me, my musical tastes and my aspirations. This is a far cry from my music lessons when I was young. Had I had Frances as a tutor I might never have given up.
From James (/5): Frances is a phenomenal teacher. She is kind and patient, very accomodating and really brings out the best in people. She's brought out the musical talent within myself and made me feel very confident with my musical abilities. I can only thank her for her support over the past two years, which seem to have flown by. Frances is a highly talented musician with multiple abilities and I personally feel very lucky to have such an awesome teacher supporting me.
From Sharon (/5): An excellent teacher! Frances is an accomplished musician herself but also a patient teacher. She inspires while also making sure you are grounded in the basics. She is a warm and kind person who makes an effort to learn a bit about her students. It’s hard to imagine one could find a better combination of traits in a teacher.
Reply from: Frances: Dear Sharon,
Thank you very much for your thoughtful feedback. Such lovely comments. I am delighted to have you as a piano student and to be seeing you make such superb progress just three lessons in!
I look forward to furthering your technical skills and understanding alongside teaching you more repertoire, especially your favourites, Schubert and Schumann.
Best wishes
Frances
Thank you very much for your thoughtful feedback. Such lovely comments. I am delighted to have you as a piano student and to be seeing you make such superb progress just three lessons in!
I look forward to furthering your technical skills and understanding alongside teaching you more repertoire, especially your favourites, Schubert and Schumann.
Best wishes
Frances
From Sam (/5): I have had 3 lessons with frances so far and I am loving it.
Frances is very friendly and helpful in explaining and helping you understand what it is you are learning.
She is very passionate about the piano and music in general which is a bonus when it comes to teaching someone.
There are many more lessons in my future and I can see that Frances is going to help me achieve my goals
Frances is very friendly and helpful in explaining and helping you understand what it is you are learning.
She is very passionate about the piano and music in general which is a bonus when it comes to teaching someone.
There are many more lessons in my future and I can see that Frances is going to help me achieve my goals
From Mary Franz (/5): Frances is not only an amazing piano teacher, she is also one of the nicest people I have ever met. She is patient, kind and understanding. I always look forward to my lessons and her incredible talent inspires me to learn more. She’s a musician at heart and she will bring out the musician in you as well. I highly recommend Frances for anyone who wishes to learn the piano.
Reply from: Frances: Dear Mary,
Thank you for your wonderful feedback! I am delighted to have seen your natural musicality shine throughout your first month of learning and know you have started as you mean to go on!
I look forward to seeing you progress over coming years… and perhaps bring out the songwriter in you?
Best wishes
Frances
Thank you for your wonderful feedback! I am delighted to have seen your natural musicality shine throughout your first month of learning and know you have started as you mean to go on!
I look forward to seeing you progress over coming years… and perhaps bring out the songwriter in you?
Best wishes
Frances
From Katie (/5): I have had a couple of lessons with Francis, and will definitely continue. She is really supportive and so encouraging - as well as being a lovely person. I know I am going to learn a lot with her. I love her style of teaching. She keeps meticulous notes for you to take home to help with practice. Am really happy to have found her.
Reply from: Frances: Good morning Katie,
Thank you very much for your lovely feedback. I am delighted to welcome you as my new piano student. It is a joy to hear you play so beautifully and tackle new pieces with determination and grace.
I am looking forward to watching you progress throughout consequent weeks.
Best wishes
Frances
Thank you very much for your lovely feedback. I am delighted to welcome you as my new piano student. It is a joy to hear you play so beautifully and tackle new pieces with determination and grace.
I am looking forward to watching you progress throughout consequent weeks.
Best wishes
Frances
From Stephanie (/5): Frances is a highly experienced teacher and incredibly talented pianist and composer.
Having had a 20 year break from the piano, I can honestly say it’s one of the best decisions I’ve made to start again. I got to a Grade 3 when I was younger however felt like a beginner at first, but after only a short time with Frances I’m already able to play Grade 4 pieces.
Frances is amazingly supportive and has a genuine enthusiasm to teaching. The lessons are pitched perfectly and tailored to me and she manages to teach in a clear, simple and fun way. Frances makes you feel at ease and my confidence has grown, which is in no small part down to her teaching.
I would highly recommend Frances to anyone wanting to learn the piano from any starting point!
Having had a 20 year break from the piano, I can honestly say it’s one of the best decisions I’ve made to start again. I got to a Grade 3 when I was younger however felt like a beginner at first, but after only a short time with Frances I’m already able to play Grade 4 pieces.
Frances is amazingly supportive and has a genuine enthusiasm to teaching. The lessons are pitched perfectly and tailored to me and she manages to teach in a clear, simple and fun way. Frances makes you feel at ease and my confidence has grown, which is in no small part down to her teaching.
I would highly recommend Frances to anyone wanting to learn the piano from any starting point!
Reply from: Frances: Dear Steph,
Thank you so much for taking the time to write such lovely feedback. I greatly appreciate your comments. Most of all, I am happy to read that you realise exactly how much you have achieved in less than six months' worth of lessons.
You should be very proud of your ability to play a widely diverse range of genres, with technical skills to match. I enjoy teaching you and watching you soar!
Best wishes
Frances
Thank you so much for taking the time to write such lovely feedback. I greatly appreciate your comments. Most of all, I am happy to read that you realise exactly how much you have achieved in less than six months' worth of lessons.
You should be very proud of your ability to play a widely diverse range of genres, with technical skills to match. I enjoy teaching you and watching you soar!
Best wishes
Frances
From Matt (/5): A thoroughly professional, personable and dedicated teacher. Frances understands me, my ability and what I wish to get from learning the piano and I am very grateful to her for her approach. Understanding your pupil is key and Frances has this ability which makes her an excellent teacher. I have really landed on my feet.
From Dave (/5): I've only had 5 lessons so far, but I knew from the first lesson that Frances was the perfect teacher for me. Her teaching methods are exemplary and I can't recommend her highly enough. Not only is she an excellent teacher, she's an all round brilliant person and I look forward to continuing my lessons for the foreseeable future.
Dave
Dave
Reply from: Frances: Thank you very much, Dave, for your fantastic feedback! I am delighted by your comments and am especially delighted to have seen you progress as you have with playing technique and reading from a score throughout your first five lessons.
I look forward to helping you learn more, through classical and popular genres.
Best wishes
Frances
I look forward to helping you learn more, through classical and popular genres.
Best wishes
Frances
From Margaret (/5): I am so enjoying my return to playing the piano & could not want/wish for a nicer tutor. Frances is always so encouraging & complimentary and the lessons are fun. I am full of admiration for her ability to come up with alternative ways to manage tricky parts in some pieces.:) Thank you… :)
Reply from: Frances: Thank you Margaret for such lovely feedback. I am delighted you are enjoying your lessons. Likewise, I am very much enjoying teaching you graded repertoire and technical studies, especially 'the tricky bits'!
From Damian (/5): Frances has been incredibly welcoming and great at pitching to a level that suits. She’s helped reignite my passion for the piano and I am looking forward to working my way through the grades and further endeavours.
Reply from: Frances: Thank you Damian for your positive feedback. I am really happy to have introduced you to exciting new repertoire whilst approach technical aspects in preparation for your next graded exam! It is a joy to help enhance your great talent for playing.
Kind regards
Frances
Kind regards
Frances
From LESLEY (/5): Wonderful enthusiastic teacher
So encouraging!!! And fun xxx
Recommend wholeheartedly xx
So encouraging!!! And fun xxx
Recommend wholeheartedly xx
Reply from: Frances: Thank you for your feedback and recommendation Lesley! I am pleased you are enjoying lessons. I look forward to teaching you more new skills!
Kind regards
Frances
Kind regards
Frances
From David (/5): Utterly amazing ! So encouraging, supportive and patient. Has taught me so much in such a short time. Can't wait to learn more about sight reading and musical composition. Has also helped me purchase my new Yamaha P-45 digital piano, which is awesome.
Reply from: Frances: Thank you, David, for your fantastic feedback. I am delighted to have seen you make such great progress over just two lessons and look forward to seeing your musical world further come to life - music knows no bounds!
Best wishes
Frances
Best wishes
Frances
From Guy (/5): Very dedicated music teacher.
Reply from: Frances: Thank you for your feedback Guy. I look forward to continuing lessons in the new year!
Her thoughtful and thorough approach to teaching ensures that I thoroughly look forward to my next lesson, and always come away feeling that I'm making real progress.
I whole-heartedly recommend Frances to anyone wanting to learn the piano, or wanting to develop and build upon existing skills.