Coaching and Accompanying

Rachel writes:

I have been accompanying since the age of 14 when I used to accompany my friends in concerts and exams. As well as playing professionally as an accompanist / chamber musician in recitals, I love accompanying any instrument (including voice) and any standard. I’ve been accompanying students at the East Sussex Academy of Music for nearly twenty years where I’ve helped students get really good marks in their A level and Btec performance as well as other exams, playing a very wide variety of music for many different instruments.

If you need help with getting your part together with the piano I am very experienced at this and always try a variety of different teaching styles. If you would like help with polishing a performance I can give tips and ideas on how to interpret a performance and get the right mood for the piece. I can also record the accompaniment into a phone at the speed you like and sing your part over the top for you to practice along to (if you want me to!).

As well as knowing the core repertoire for most instruments and voice, I’m a very good sight-reader. So if you want just a short rehearsal before an exam or performance due to limited time or budget I’m happy to help with this too.

I have played most instrumental duo works in the repertoire including Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, Debussy, Franck, Janacek, Poulenc, Prokofiev, Rachmaninov and Ravel, lots of brass and wind accompaniments and many songs, both classical, pop and songs from shows.

Worried about the sight-reading and aural tests?

I am experienced at and happy to help with coaching sight-reading and aural skills grades 1-8 for Trinity, ABRSM and jazz ABRSM. I can help with anything ranging from basic singing coaching to advanced musicianship and everything in between.