The Music Room

I'm so proud of my two pupils Niamh and Avanna (and of my friend Christine!), who gave fantastic performances at the Rochester and North Kent Music and Drama Festival Celebration Concert last night. The concert took place at St Stephen's Church and was very beautiful and enjoyable. This is such a worthwhile event - please consider participating in the festival next year - last weekend in March. You can sing, perform at any level on your instrument, or act, or make a speech. The best people in each category get to be in the concert. If you want these events in your area, support them!

Congratulations to the 18 pupils who performed in the Rochester and North Kent Music Music Festival today. They were brilliant and I'm super proud of all of them! We had entrants in the beginner classes and in the grade classes up to grade 8. We were too busy to take many photos, but we managed to get a photo each of the three people who won trophies. The judge was very kind and helped us to understand what examiners look for in a performance.

It's spring time and Sarah has brought in her grade 3 certificate. I'm allowed to be on the photo since I accompanied the exam on the piano!

I have a couple of unfilled weekly piano or violin lesson slots at the moment:
Tuesday 4pm
Wednesday 5.30pm

If your child is attending New Horizons Primary School or Holcombe Grammar, then Monday or Thursday at 3.20pm is also available. Do get in touch if you would like more information.

Congratulations are in order! ❤️❤️❤️👏👏👏🎶🎶🎶

Nathaniel: grade 3 piano (merit)
Maya: grade 5 piano (merit)
Matthew: grade 1 piano
Rayna: grade 6 piano (merit)
Sarah: grade 3 violin (merit)
Avanna: grade 8 violin

Some of these were face to face exams, some were recorded at The Music Room. Both of these options are entirely worthwhile and have their different advantages and drawbacks. I also accompany and/or record the exams of candidates who are taught by other teachers, both Trinity and ABRSM examination boards. This week, however, we're having a well earned rest and the squirrels are scampering about undisturbed by human traffic.

One way to get ready for a new piece is to listen! I've been enjoying these pieces so much. I listened to the Schubert Unfinished so much as a child, and the Brahms 4th was my favourite Brahms Symphony at uni. The Weber on the other hand is new to me. That way, I'm getting both the excitingly unfamiliar and the nostalgia of music from the past.

Happy 270th birthday, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart! We're attending a concert that just includes your compositions in your honour. All thanks to Matthew Sadler . Looking forward to one of our favourite places, the Wigmore Hall in London!

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/jan/02/rookie-era-learning-violin?utm_term=Autofeed&CMP=soc_567&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwdGRjcAPEqndjbGNrA8SprmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHvsdaSfiGmNt7l_QtNBOHAzq5M6jPu2RgZhO7C-4dcen6jfwRP9Q_II_jQWP_aem_LmtUVf6vs1FLQdV5LbZGLA

My rookie era: nobody sounds good when they first play a violin The instrument’s biggest difficulty is simultaneously its greatest joy – to make a sweet sound you must relax

Happy New Year from The Music Room! Looking forward to seeing all the pupils again next week, and to sign us all up for the Rochester and North Kent Music and Drama Festival at the end of March. Two pupils have already registered for the Kent International Piano Course during February half term. This course is always a highlight of our year.

"I don't know why, but I felt good after that concert". (Quote from a student)
Congratulations to everyone who performed: you played beautifully! Lessons are still carrying on until 20 December and we're now starting to prepare for the Rochester and North Kent Music and Drama Festival.