Information About Gavin - Hastings teacher

Personal Description:

Hello! I'm Gavin, a professional cellist living in Central St Leonards-on-Sea. Most of my work is as a freelance performer - I play with groups including the Academy of Ancient Music, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and English Touring Opera - but I also love teaching anybody who wants to learn about the cello or about music theory / history. Because of my performing commitments, I have to ask that my students are happy to be a little bit flexible around lesson times - it can be difficult for me to teach at the exact same time every week - but please do get in touch and we'll see if we can work something out!

Tutoring Experience:

I've been teaching the cello for more than ten years, and at every possible level from total beginners to postgraduate students. Currently, I'm looking to expand my private teaching practice, which is based both in my living room (complete with piano and harpsichord for demonstration / accompaniment) and online. I don't do any school teaching anymore, but for several years I was the visiting cello teacher at Hall Grove preparatory school in Ascot. For the last few years I have been on the staff of the Oxford Cello School, which runs residential courses every summer for both children and adults.

Tutoring Approach:

I try to make my approach to teaching as flexible as it can possibly be. My absolute priority is to make sure that my students are having fun and remain curious and excited about what they can achieve with the instrument. With more ambitious students I try to create an atmosphere of self-guided learning, channeling their enthusiasm into a regular and disciplined practice routine with clear goals and milestones, whereas with adults who might be taking up the instrument again after a few years or even starting from scratch, the emphasis is mostly on building the confidence to enjoy playing simply for pleasure. Above all, I believe that you should feel better after picking up an instrument than before you started, and that learning about music should be a lifelong source of relaxation and self-discovery.