I have been teaching flute and recorders to children, teenagers, and adults for 30 years, from complete beginners through to grade 8. I hold Grade 8 Distinctions in both Flute and Recorder. I also have the ALCM Performers Diploma which I took on flute. I play locally in the Dartmouth Orchestra, the Wayward Winds ensemble, and for the Red Earth Orchestra, plus my local village Candlelit Carol Service Chamber Orchestra in Staverton once a year, and occasionally for the Dartmouth Choral Society Christmas Concert Orchestra. My primary training is in classical music, but I also enjoy playing whistle, flute and recorders in folk music settings.
Imogen Hovil
| I have played the cello since I was at school, and have a PGCE teaching qualification in languages. I lived in France for most of my adult life where I was a member of the Conservatoire de Musique and played in the orchestra and various ensembles. Since returning to the UK, I have taught mostly beginners individual lessons, privately and in school. I currently work at St Mary’s primary in Axminster and The Woodroffe School in Lyme Regis. |
Ruth Molins
I have taught flute for 20 years, my first job was the director of East Devon music centre flute choir, aged 17! Since then, I have taught in schools such as Walter Daw Primary school, Broadclyst primary school, St Peter’s High School and Okehampton Community college. I have run many school flute choirs. I founded and directed the community flute choir Exeter Flutes for 5 years. I currently teach flute and musicianship skills at Exeter School. I have done some coaching for the Devon wind and symphony orchestras. I am currently a performing artist for Live Music Now and am learning new skills in running projects and workshops with children with complex and additional needs, and more training ahead! I also play the piano, and use it to accompany in lessons. I enjoy teaching adults at all levels. I am an active freelance performer and still auditioning for things myself, so I have a vibrant and up-to-date pool of knowledge to draw from to help a student do whatever they want to achieve.
West Country School Music
West Country School Music is a small collective of peripatetic instrumental teachers located in East Devon since 2012. We currently mainly visit primary schools where we supply one talented and well-qualified teacher to reach a wide range of instruments.
We are also available to deliver lessons on the same instruments to either adults or children in their homes.
We are happy to prepare pupils for exams with any of the recognised examination boards (or not), as required.
We have close links with Honiton Youth Orchestra and will recommend a suitable progression route for each pupil as they develop to help them flourish in their musical journey.
Our teachers all hold an enhanced DBS check, have public liability insurance and have been reference checked.
Rebecca Balzani Barrow
Rebecca is a fun & flexible professional Violin & Piano teacher based in North Devon. She has been playing for over 30 years, currently has a studio with students ranging from age 6-80, and has over 20 years experience as an instrumental teacher, with 100% pass rate in exams ranging from 1-8.
Rebecca will tailor lessons to your requirements, is happy to stick to classical repertoire or more diverse genres such as pop, film and folk music.
In her spare time, Rebecca enjoys playing in a folk band, at weddings and events as a soloist/duo, is violin 1 in a local symphony orchestra, makes soap, and runs around after her 2 children & 4 cats!
Please get in touch if you’d like to discuss lessons for you or your child!
Leonie Anderson
Join first study piano/viola RCM Junior Department
BA Hons in Music (University of Bristol)
Postgraduate viola scholar Guildhall School of Music & Drama
Orchestral Conducting studies at Canford Summer School
Former viola/chamber music teacher Junior Guildhall
Former conductor SE Surrey Area Orchestra
Former Viola tutor Surrey County Youth Orchestra
Founder tutor Youth Orchestra of the Middle East
Chamber music coach for numerous national and international summer schools
Violin/viola teaching includes ages 4-80+ privately, in state schools & independent schools, individual students and class projects including Menuhin School ‘A Chance to Play’
Classroom teaching ages 4-18 including GCSE and A Level music and former examiner for EDEXCEL and AQA
Accompanist for singers and instrumentalists of all stages from beginner to professional for exams, recitals, audition preparation, auditions etc.
Freelance playing has included London Concert Orchestra, London Mozart Players, Endymion Emsemble, Royal Ballet Sinfonia, etc
Currently based on Exmoor, teaching at Bideford College and University of Exeter. Directing regular musical events at Barkham and continuing to freelance nationally and internationally as viola player and piano accompanist.
Gabi Mills
Building upon 12 years experience teaching young children from 0-8 years as a Montessori class teacher, I am now in my third year of teaching piano to beginners and intermediate students. I offer 1:1 lessons to pianists aged 5-65 years! I currently teach 20 children at Landscove C of E primary school and a further 12 students have private lessons at my home in South Brent. I have played piano since the age of five and music is a huge part of my life. I am an active musician playing violin and viola in two local orchestras and I enjoy organising music events aimed at families and children such as relaxed concerts and “have-a-go” workshops. I founded the Sunflowers quartet, and I often play the piano with other chamber music groups. I am also a composer and I am enthusiastic about encouraging all my students to write music as they explore their piano learning journey. We study music theory as well as technique and students have the opportunity to work for ABRSM music exams. A highlight of each term is our shared student recital which I arrange with two other visiting music teachers, an informal chance to perform and hear other students, held at Ashburton Arts Centre.
My qualifications BSc Hons. Biology; Mont. Dip.; PG Dip.; EYTS
Emma Collingham
Emma has been teaching full time for over 15 years, and part time before that, privately as well as in both state and private schools.
Emma learned the piano and ‘cello from childhood as well as playing guitar in bands, and took up the double bass as a young adult. She now teaches both ‘cello and double bass to diploma standard to both children and adults having studied in various teaching methods, gaining level 1 Suzuki teacher training, and a Post Graduate Certificate in Strings Teaching.
Amongst her teaching, Emma also performs regularly, mainly with her sisters in Sorrelli Strings at weddings and functions, sometimes touring the U.K. and Europe, or even as far as South Korea playing backing strings for groups such as G4 and the 12 Irish Tenors, and alongside performers such as Leslie Garrett, Merrill Osmond, Blake, and All Angels.
Emma plays regularly in the North Devon Theatre orchestra pits on cello, bass, or keys, and is lead cellist of the North Devon Sinfonia, who won the BBC’s Great Orchestra Challenge and performed in The Royal Albert Hall and Proms in the Park.
Emma enjoys teaching pupils aged 3 – 85+ (it’s never too late!) and adapts to each pupil’s needs using a mix of Suzuki, Kodaly, and various other methods to create the “Emma” method!
Cellos and double basses are available for hire (or to buy if preferred) at very reasonable prices in all sizes from 1/16 (cello) and 1/10 (bass).
Emma Nottage
I have been a qualified primary school teacher in Devon for over twenty years and alongside this a private music tutor. I now offer one-to-one online/offline music lessons in a variety of instruments and voice to all ages. Both in schools and privately.
In the past I was the brass specialist working on a hub a BBC Ten Pieces project for gifted and talented primary school pupils in the Barnstaple area. I have also taken school choirs to take part in the Barnstaple area schools’ concerts at the Queens Theatre. I am a member of Teachers Rock choir and Academy choir.
Lisa Wall
I am a fully qualified teacher and have been teaching for 30 years, 15 as a primary school class teacher and the rest as a music teacher. I offer schools curriculum music teaching, WCET teaching in all brass instruments and the clarinet/Dood as well as small group teaching and individual lessons on brass, clarinet and piano/keyboard instruments. I am the brass tutor with the Bushall Children’s Orchestra, Newton Abbot. I have worked with Kip Pratt and Elvyn Jones on composition pieces with children, alongside Plymouth university.
For 12 years, I have been a member of Teachers Rock, an educational choir for educators and children, taking a school choir to sing with TR at Exeter Cathedral, leading the children’s Torbay Teacher’s Rock group in Exeter University Great Hall and also singing at Abbey Road Studios in London in a recording session.