Teaching Practice & Educational Work
Pedagogical Formation - The DaCapo Music Foundation
Earlier in my teaching career, I joined The DaCapo Music Foundation, where I trained for five years in the Kodály and Dalcroze approaches; complementary pedagogical methods that prioritise musicianship, inner hearing and embodied rhythm.
This training profoundly shaped my approach to early violin education and continues to inform the approach of Muswell Hill Violin Studio, of which I am co-founder.
In the initial stages of learning, emphasis is placed on listening, pulse, singing and internal music awareness before technical complexity is introduced.
Establishing these foundations enables students to develop secure intonation, rhythmic confidence and musical independence from an early age.
For more advanced students, this musicianship-based grounding is integrated with traditional repertoire and technical development, creating a balanced and progressive path of study.
During this period, I served as Musician in Residence at the DaCapo Music Foundation, developing and delivering educational concerts and workshops for schools. This role required both musical preparation and the ability to communicate repertoire clearly and engage young audiences with confidence and sensitivity.
I also completed specialist Early Years training, enabling me to teach children from the age of three and to establish strong technical and musical foundations from the very beginning of their learning journey.
Teaching Through Muswell Hill Violin Studio
My teaching work is based in North London through Muswell Hill Violin Studio, which I co-founded alongside violinist Pablo Castro.
The Studio offers both individual violin lessons and ensemble-based classes for children and young people. While each student works closely with either Pablo or myself, all tuition sits within a shared ethos and structured curriculum developed collaboratively.
For full details about enrolment, timetable and class structure, please visit the Muswell Hill Violin Studio website.
Our Approach at Muswell Hill Violin Studio
At the Studio, we believe that curiosity and consistency matter more than initial ability.
Learning the violin is a long-term journey. For young beginners, including children starting from age three or four, progress depends on structure, patience and gentle routine. Practice is introduced gradually and becomes part of everyday life.
Through sustained violin practice, students develop resilience, focus, listening skills and musical independence; qualities that extend far beyond the music room.
Ensemble Violin Classes
A defining feature of Muswell Hill Violin Studio is our ensemble-based learning model.
Rather than grouping students strictly by ability, we group children primarily by age and work across mixed levels within the same ensemble setting.
Each student plays a carefully arranged musical part that matches their stage of development, allowing everyone to contribute to the same piece at different levels of complexity.
As students grow, their parts evolve. This model encourages inclusion, peer learning and musical responsibility. It requires continual arranging and adaptation, but it enables children to experience violin playing as collaborative music-making from the earliest stages.
Haringey Music Service
Since 2013, I have been part of the teaching team at Haringey Music Service in North London, where I teach violin within a primary school setting as part of a structured instrumental programme.
Working within a diverse educational environment, I guide young students in developing foundational technique, musical literacy and performance confidence.
Haringey Music Service is committed to accessible, high-quality music education; values that align closely with my own approach to structured and inclusive teaching.
Exam Preparation & Long-Term Development
Across both Studio and school-based teaching, I follow a structured and progressive curriculum.
Students are carefully prepared for ABRSM and Trinity College London violin examinations, whether or not they choose to formally sit the exams.
Emphasis is placed on technical security, musical understanding and confident performance.
Regardless of whether students progress to higher violin education, equally important is the development of independent musicians who maintain a lasting and meaningful relationship with their instrument.