Rebecca Willson Viola Violin
other tutors: Kirsty Hugill, Jackie Oates, Alison Savic
Rebecca teaches Violin, Viola, Theory and leads groups in Exeter Young Strings - she also teaches the Piano.
My thoughts about teaching music
I have been teaching with Exeter Young Strings for 4 years now. My teaching aims are to encourage independent enthusiasm, motivation and confidence. I believe that the skill to play with other musicians is a very important part of learning an instrument so I spend quite a lot of time in lessons playing the piano with the pupils. I like to promote ensemble playing outside of lessons as well as regular performances opportunities with Exeter Young Strings.
Pupils are offered opportunities to work for exams but only if they want to. I currently teach the ABRSM syllabus and I am also starting to teach Trinity Guildhall as well because I have found it suits some pupils better.
I have a background of classical repertoire but am keen to pursue any music and styles which the pupil is interested in for example: film music, folk, jazz etc.
Musical Experience
How I started - I started leaning the violin when I was about 8 years old. They read out a list of instruments at school and I put my hand up for violin! I started off in a group of 5 but in a few years time it was just me. I had already started the piano when I was 7. I think it was probably when I reached about grade 5 that I knew I wanted to pursue music more seriously. I started looking for music and deciding what I liked best about it.
What I am doing now - I have just graduated with First Class Honours in Music (Performance) from Dartington College of Arts. I am particularly interested in contemporary music and am in the process of forming a contemporary music ensemble with other ex students from Dartington. I am also working for the composer Graham Fitkin, editing scores. I have an interest in composing and arranging and regularly write/arrange music for my pupils and the groups that I teach and am particularly fascinated by cross rhythms and changing time signatures.
This year I have begun teaching the violin and viola in some school in Exeter: Stoke Hill Middle School, St Luke’s and St Peter’s High School. I play with the Torbay Symphony Orchestra and am soon to be part of the Devon Sinfonietta and South West Camerata. I was involved with the summer youth programme at the Dartington summer school last year as a string coach. I regularly play for musicals with Stage By Stage and The Northcott Youth Company. From January I will be involved in setting up some workshops for children in the youth company.
About me
Inspiring Performers/Ensembles – Joanna Macgreggor, Monica Germino, Sarah Nicholls, Andrew Zolinsky, Helen Reid, Miriam Kramer, Mr Mcfalls Chamber, Icebreaker, Pianocircus, Alarm Will Sound, Polar Bear.
Favourite Composers and Inspiring Pieces – Bach’s Double Violin Concerto, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, Schubert’s Piano Sonata in A, Beethoven’s Pathetic Sonata, Chopin’s Preludes for Piano, Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in C# minor, Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, Bartok’s Romanian Dances, Scriabin’s Piano Sonata No. 2, Janacek’s In the Mists, Messian’s Quartet for the End of Time, Steve Reich’s Music for 18 Musicians, Louis Andreessen’s De Stadt, Graham Fitkin’s Hard Fairy, John Adams’ Hallelujah Junction, Caleb Burhans’s In Time of Desparation.
Rebecca on the internet
Rebecca live
A YouTube video clip starring Rebecca
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other tutors: Kirsty Hugill, Jackie Oates, Alison Savic
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