Information About Jessica - Brighton teacher

Personal Description:

Hi there! My name’s Jess, and I’m a classically trained violist (viola player) and violinist who’s taken a slightly different path with my musical career. I’ve been teaching violin and viola for the past 12 years and started teaching around the same time I began my studies at the West Australian Conservatorium of Music, where I completed a Bachelor’s in Performance on both Viola and Violin.

From there, things took an unexpected turn—I made the spontaneous decision to leave classical music behind and focus on experimental performance at Goldsmiths, University of London. (This also meant leaving my family in Perth, Western Australia, and moving to the other side of the world!)

Since moving to the UK, I’ve continued to teach at various schools in London and pursued a career as a session musician and all-round rock star. I’ve performed in jazz bands, experimental groups, string quartets, and countless other projects, taking the stage at many of London’s best gig venues. I also spend time recording and composing for other artists whenever they need strings in their music.

My musical journey has been an interesting one. I started learning violin at age three and added viola to the mix when I was thirteen. Over the years, I’ve had many teachers and learned a lot about what does (and doesn’t) work when it comes to music education. I see music as an art form—a way for people to express themselves—and I love being able to teach people an instrument that they can use as a tool to help them do just that. Because of this, I always tailor my approach to each individual student, their needs, and their goals.

Tutoring Experience:

I’ve been teaching for the past 15 years. I started out as a Maths and English tutor for primary school students, and then moved on to teaching violin and viola, which I’ve been doing for the last 12 years. During my busiest periods, I taught over 60 students a week across some of the top schools in Perth, Western Australia.

I’ve worked with students of all ages—from four to fifty—and have always found teaching incredibly rewarding. I tailor my approach to each individual student and their goals, drawing on a range of methods including ABRSM, Suzuki, Music Theory/Solfeggio and my own system developed through years of experience, my two degrees, and the insights I’ve gained from the many wonderful teachers I’ve studied with.

Tutoring Approach:

As I mentioned, music is an art form, and an instrument is simply a tool to help you express yourself within it. Like any art, what you choose to create is entirely up to you—so I work closely with my students to meet their personal goals and help them get what they want out of their instrument. Whether a student is interested in writing their own music, dreams of playing violin in movie soundtracks, or anything in between, I tailor lessons to help them feel like they’re working towards those dreams.

I’ve completed both the ABRSM and Suzuki methods myself and am happy to teach those to students who are interested in taking grades or exams. However, I also believe that, first and foremost, playing music should be enjoyable. My priority is always to make sure students are having fun while learning and playing. For students who feel nervous about formal exams, I often hold my own “mock exams” at the end of each semester. These give students a chance to be tested on what we’ve covered and receive feedback—just like in an ABRSM exam, but with the comfort of having their own teacher instead of an external examiner.

Since classical music isn’t for everyone, I often arrange versions of pop songs or movie themes so students can play pieces they know and love. I wouldn’t call myself a strict teacher, but I do expect students to practice—because even 30 minutes a day can make an incredible difference. (Trust me, I used to hate practicing too, but I’ve seen the results firsthand!)