Rachel Thomson Piano Studio

What a fabulous weekend of chamber music! For the first time in years I had four pianists playing in groups, most for the first time (at least as pianists!) and it was just amazing to see the huge amount of progress they made in a relatively short period, as well as the growth they made as musicians, learning to listen and collaborate. I feel incredibly lucky to have so many amazing colleagues who were able to coach them and bring out their best… Bravo everyone! And a special mention to Frost and Fire (Claire, An and Lilja) who won an Adjudicator’s award, and a shout out to An’s Catalian Collective string trio who actually won the district final! 🙌🌟🎶

It’s great to be back in the MFC and preparing one of my favourite orchestra pieces for the NZSO concert on Friday. As I also have to play the fiendish Petrushka solos for the school concerts, I did look for a piano while away the last few weeks in the USA for my son’s graduation - but the one I found was not quite up to scratch! 🤣

Forgive the grainy old photo, but this popped up in my FB memories, and it reminded me how much I learnt from teaching my own boys! I learnt so much about patience, going with the flow, and having fun along the way… I’m so glad they embraced music as a part of their lives, and continue to get joy from it. 💕 (And they still make me laugh!)

I’m so excited to have four students playing in chamber groups this year! It is the first time for all of them playing piano trios, so they are learning a huge amount from the experience. And they are all lucky to have some fab coaches! It will be great to see how the music develops over the next month… 🎻🎹

Fantastic to hear that Haoyuan and his team have won their division at the VEX Robotics World Championship in the States - and have come 4th overall out of 400 teams! What an achievement! And now he can come home and get back to his piano practise… 😉🙌

Term one is done and dusted, and everyone has been obsessed with the Amazing Race progress each week! And all the teams have finished strongly - a few surprises in the last weeks with who has been in the lead, but don’t forget there are three more terms to go!! 😂😅 Have a great April holidays everyone, and I’ll see you all in a few weeks…

Congratulations to all my Marsden students who participated in this wonderful showcase of talent - and a special shout out to An for her 1st place in the Yr 7-8 category and being runner up in the Nell Clere Scholarship. Congratulations also to Claire for her winning of the Narian Campbell Cup on flute, and to Christina for her adjudicator’s award on violin in Yrs 9-10 👏 🎹

Haoyuan is a young man with many talents! This sounds like a fantastic adventure, and such an exciting opportunity to represent NZ and Wellington. 🙌

Pōneke to the Podium: Help us Represent NZ at VEX Robotics World Championship Help Wellington teenagers represent New Zealand at the world's largest robotics competition.