In the latest edition of Classical Music Magazine published by Rhinegold, Keith Clarke shares his experiences of learning the accordion with a teacher over Skype in an article titled 'Your Place Or Mine!'. His eight month learning experience gave him chance to really evaluate lessons online and give some positive feedback:
'There was no one locally so I signed up with someone about 680 miles away!'
'A lifeline for those not within reach of a teacher.'
'Distance is no issue, pupils have signed up from Australia, the USA, Canada, Belgium, Germany, Oman and Iraq.'
'It's accessible, enjoyable and effective'
We thank Keith Clarke and Classical Music Magazine for giving us a whirl!
We are absolutely delighted to have Thomas Hardaker join the teaching team at Your Space Music lessons. Thom specialises in the accordion having spent 7 years at Rimsky-Korsakov State Conservatory, St Petersburg, Russia, under professor Oleg Sharov. He is very involved in teaching in schools in North Yorkshire and performs regularly around the UK. Thom's talent extends beyond the accordion as he can also speak and teach in Russian and French. Enquiries are already being taken for Thom's tuition.
Playing for Royalty at State Banquets may be at the pinnacle of any performer’s career, but for Neil Clark his passion for the bagpipes has taken a modern twist to inspire others to play and soak up Scottish culture. Having played for the Queen and Princess Diana during his time in the Scots Guards, Neil now takes enormous pleasure in teaching students in live video links, where the taste of the Scottish Highlands can be experienced in homes across the world.
Neil’s vivid memories in the Scots Guards include a time they were asked to Moscow’s Red Square on the 850th Anniversary of Moscow where thousands surrounded them as they stepped off their vehicle. Neil recalls the time ‘we marched against a mass of people in Red Square and as we played the crowds parted by the driving sound of the Scottish pipes.’
A sound like no other, and much loved by Queen Victoria, the bagpipes continue to be heard by the Queen herself each week day morning by the Piper to the Sovereign. This daily Royal performance illustrates the historic and cultural importance of the Bagpipes in the UK and Scotland today.
Having completed his role in the Scots Guards Neil now teaches students across three continents in North America, Australia and in native Scotland from his studio in Stirlingshire connecting with them online. His enthusiasm and attention to detail (and his role as assessor on the Piping and Drumming Qualification Board) has produced many prize-winning students. ‘Teaching online facilitates a first-hand learning experience of Scottish Pipe Music across global boundaries to those who have a burning desire to learn’ he says.
For Your Space Music Lessons, a specialist online music school, Neil’s bagpipe tuition adds to a range of instruments to learn online, ‘Your Space Music Lessons is where great musicians can pass on their inspiring tales and skills, in personal one-to-one lessons through a screen. The opportunity is there for everybody’ says Teaching Director Olwen Macleod.
Your Space Music Lessons, that began in the remote Scottish Western Isles, has the primary objective to match online teachers to those who cannot access tuition in their local area. It has now built a network of handpicked teachers who have the experience and training to communicate and deliver quality online music lessons.
Bagpipe tuition is available wherever you live from one the Worlds most talented tutors. Arrange a taster session with Neil Clark here
Enter our fantastic competition this August to win a selection of 4 beginner piano books from the Your Space Music Lessons shop plus 3 online piano lessons with one of our team of Skype teachers.
Choose from children's books like the classic John Thompson range or Pauline Hall's Piano Time books to help your child learn how to play. If you are a mature beginner you can also choose from more tailored books like Pam Wedgwood's It's Never Too Late and The Classic Piano Course.
The prize includes 4 beginner piano books of the winners choice to be chosen from the Your Space Music Lessons Shop here. The winner will be contacted to arrange a suitable time to receive 3 Skype piano lessons as part of the prize.
To enter all you need to do is like, share or comment on our Facebook page here
or
email [email protected] stating PIANO BOOKS in the subject. Enter by midnight Saturday 13th August 2016 to qualify.
Terms and conditions: The prize is 4 books from the Your Space Music Lessons Piano selection plus 3 Skype Piano Lessons provided by your Space Music Lessons Ltd. There is no alternative prize. The winner will be randomly picked on Monday 15th August and notified within 2 days. The judges decision is final. By entering you are agreeing to Your Space Music Lessons emailing tuition offers in the future. Your email address will not be shared with any third party.
Don't go anywhere this summer and give your child a home-based fun and engaging musical experience in starting to learn the piano. With Your Space Music Lessons you will have a personal tutor who teaches your child on Skype in your home in a series of special lessons designed for beginners during the summer holidays. The course to be taken over 5 days (we can be flexible which days) is available in 15 minute bursts or longer 30 minute sessions to give your child an exciting and fun packed activity to do during the break.
Our special illustrated character 'Spacey Mouse' featured in the music will give your child encouragement and motivation along the way.
Details
The course consists of one personal piano tutor over Skype teaching over 5 session PLUS music to download and print for the sessions.
5 x 15 minute sessions: £28
5 x 30 minute sessions £49
Running weeks commencing
25th July
1st August
8th August
15th August
22nd August
29th August
5th September
Times:
The first session will start at 9.30am each and the last session will be 2pm each day. Times will be offered on a first come first served basis.
To enquire or to book
Please email [email protected] to check availability or call 056 0366 4266
Once you have been given an available time slot you will be asked to register on the website and pay for your booking using our pay and book system.
Encourage your children to design their own musical instrument and send us a drawing for a chance to win the Axus AXP25 Touch Sensitive Keyboard from Normans Musical Instruments and 3 FREE online lessons from us here at Your Space Music Lessons. To go to the competition page and enter click here stating the name, email address, child's age and a short description of the instrument. Good luck! The competition closes on Friday, 27th of May at 12pm.
The UK’s original fully online school, NorthStarWorldwide has announced a partnership with vibrant online music school, Your Space Music Lessons, in a move to supplement core learning opportunities for remote pupils.
NorthstarWorldwide is a community of learners and tutors using the HAIKULearning online platform that provides a full curriculum and learning schedule for Key Stage 3 and IGCSEs. The asynchronous modules are designed to be accessed around a life choice of freedom and education by discovery, effectively returning control for learning to the student and their family.
In a shared vision of reaching out with high quality education programmes, Your Space Music tutors will begin one-to-one instrumental teaching with NSW pupils from September 2016.
‘We hope the opportunity to learn an instrument will inspire NorthStarWorldwide pupils and their families’says Abigail Steele, Director at Your Space Music Lessons,‘we’re aiming to teach those who would not ordinarily get the chance to learn, to achieve that would be incredibly worthwhile.’
The music school, established from North Uist, a remote Scottish island, selects and guides experienced music teachers in online delivery and links them together with pupils who would like to learn remotely. During the video call lessons pupils can work towards music qualifications e.g. ABRSM grades, and build the skills they will need to enjoy playing and experiencing the joy of music for a lifetime.
NSW’s Educational Director Steve Richards says
“All of us at NorthStarWorldwide are excited to be forming a partnership with Your Space Music Lessons. Both organisations are committed to using new technology to provide high quality learning opportunities to students wherever they are in the world.”
For more information about remote online learning with NorthStarWorldwide visit www.northstarworldwide.org or call Steve Richards on 01246 410122.
British composer Pam Wedgwood has created a number of highly acclaimed music books to guide instrumentalists young and old to develop their skills. Her series of 'It's Never Too Late' music books published by Faber for a wide range of instruments has been an important first step for some of our adult learners and it is highly valued part of the beginner programme.
**Special Easter Offer
To give adult learners an extra incentive to try home instrumental lessons, Your Space Music Lessons are giving a free 'It's Never Too Late' music book with every registration over the Easter weekend 2016
When you register you receive a free 20 minute Skype introduction with a music teacher to try out learning at home over the Internet. All you need is a pc, laptop or large tablet with good Internet connection to enable lessons to take place. If you register over the Easter weekend you will also receive a Pam Wedgwood book.
We are currently teaching piano, clarinet, flute, violin, oboe, accordion, saxophone and singing. If you want to learn one of those instruments at home with a friendly and helpful music teacher - why not give it a go?
Taking music lesson online is very easy. All you need is a laptop, tablet or PC with working webcams and microphones (usually in-built) connected to the Internet in order to take lessons. You also need to download Skype software that you will use on your computer to receive your teacher's call. When you take your lesson you simply accept the call and the lesson takes place.
These are a few simple environment pointers that could improve the quality of your lessons:
Quiet please! Try to find a suitably quiet place to take your lessons so that you or your teacher can't get distracted.
Lights! Try to make sure the lighting is good enough so that the teacher can see you clearly.
Positions! Position your web cam at eye level with your face AND upper body on view so that the teacher can assess your position and fingering when playing.
No Glare! Try not to position your computer opposite a window as this can create a glare effect for your teacher.
Attention! Prepare for your lessons and have everything you need to hand before the lesson starts.
