My teaching experience began in 2006 when I was employed in a half-year long maternity cover at Sandefjord School of Music and Performing Arts, Norway. I taught 10 pupils aged 8-18 weekly and arranged a concert for them by the end of the year with solos, duos and cello ensemble music, some of which were self-arranged. The positive feedbacks from pupils, parents and other music teachers at the school, and the pupils’ sudden advancements, resulted in regular invitations to come back and teach until I moved to Oslo to begin my full-time study in 2011. During my studies in Stavanger, I was employed as a cello teacher at the Kolibri Music Academy where I taught adult beginners. I was also substituting at the Stavanger School of Music and Performing Arts where I taught children from 7-18 in cello and orchestra sectionals. I arranged a piece for cello orchestra for the students and professors at this school which I rehearsed and conducted in a concert in October 2016. I have had many courses in conducting and ensemble coaching and have led rehearsals of my own compositions and arrangements over many years. I have been principal in various orchestras in Norway and the UK where I have led sectional rehearsals. I have since 2018 been teaching privately in London with approximately 10 students weekly aged 8 to 70, from beginners to more advanced students, both in person and online.
Since 2017 I have been Jakob Kullberg’s unofficial teaching assistant at the Royal College of Music, giving me unique experience in teaching students of the RCM up to Artist Diploma level. I have also been assisting Kullberg in the development of a new book of exercises and detailed descriptions on how to accomplish various musical and technical aspects of playing the cello. With this background, I have a high focus in my teaching on mastering a good cello-technique as a tool of reaching a higher level of musicality and performance. Energy saving and efficiency in your playing are key elements. As well as working on isolated technical exercises, I find it important to place the outcome of this into music at an early stage. It is important for the student to understand why this particular technique is important to learn, but also for them to get a direct feeling that it actually improves their playing. By the end, we all take up the cello because we want to play music.
I tailor my teaching to each individual’s needs, abilities and goals, so I have various approaches in my teaching depending on what to achieve. I believe everyone need to know something about music theory and history to be able to play an instrument. This is to understand the sheet music we play from, ways to shape the music, stylistic variety, deciphering the composer’s ideas behind the music, but also to better understand how the instrument works. I have made short theory tests and writing tasks on different levels to use for my students. Working with the material and actually write musical notes increases the musical understanding in my experience. I explain simple and well, and I build up a technical and musical knowledge in my students gradually, introducing one element at the time.
Since I was 11 and throughout my studies, I have actively learned music theory, analysis, composition and arranging, and these skills have followed me closely as a performing cellist. I gained distinction in the composition and performance module at the Royal Northern College of Music (2014) and in the orchestration module at the Royal College of Music (2018). My compositions and arrangements have been performed in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, UK and Brazil. As a composition and music theory teacher I typically teach music notation, engraving, how to build up a good melody, harmony and harmonic progressions, how to put harmony to a melody, instrumental knowledge and how to write for various instruments, how to create various effects and characters in your own music and how to arrange already written music for other instruments.
I teach modern cello, early 20th century cello, baroque cello, orchestral repertoire and chamber music, piano, conducting, composition, aural skills, music theory and orchestration. Besides technique, music making and performance, I can help you towards any exams and auditions, orchestral auditions, 17th and 18th century performance practice, particularly on the J.S. Bach Cello Suites, 19th and early 20th century performance practice, and on contemporary music. I am perceived as a pedagogical, motivating, creative teacher who give simple explanations and accurate descriptions which will help you advance at speed.
I take on students of all levels and give private lessons in London and Winchester or through Zoom or Skype. I am also a RCM verified teacher at Forte Lessons which provides better quality audio.
Get in touch for booking and for more information. A teaching CV is available upon request.
