Classical Foundations Introduction
01949 861 407
Email contact: alex[the usual symbol]classical-foundations.com {I'm trying to keep my spam down}
Music and Academic Teaching in the Vale of Belvoir and Southwell
Alex offers private tuition on a one-to-one basis in a range of subjects including the 11+, Maths, English, Sciences up to GCSE; English Literature, History, Economics, Sociology, Psychology and French up to A-level; Humanity and Social Science Subjects for Degree Level and up to PhD. He also specialises in study skills, confidence, general educational and academic advice.
Our ethos is to encourage a love of music and music making and to broaden and deepen skills and foster a stronger musical appreciation. Initially, pupils follow a similar curriculum to ensure that they have a solid foundation in reading music and theory. As abilities develop, we follow their interests while encouraging an exploration of a variety of music.
While we encourage new piano tutors to develop their teaching skills, it must be remembered that Grade 8 is not a teaching qualification. Too often, we have taken on students who have had amateur teachers and have had to unravel a lot - to the frustration of both pianist and parent who may have invested money to little avail. Quality is critical and getting the foundations right are so vital to the growth of the pupil's skills and hence enjoyment. Our tutors have extensive performance and musical knowledge, reflecting our motto to "surround yourself with the best"
As a team we work together to help foster a common ethos sharing experiences and tips to help individual pupils through difficult stages in their learning.
Getting the most from private tuition
Classical Foundations are proud benefactors of JAM - the John Armitage Memorial Trust "JAM is an exciting, forward-thinking organisation, that was set up to nurture, promote & perfrom new music in the UK. "JAM, founded in 2000, has an annual ‘call for music’, during which anyone, of any age can submit music. From these submissions & an annual commission, JAM creates a concert series that it tours round the UK. "Composers commissioned by JAM include: Judith Bingham, Jonathan Dove, Adam Gorb, Timothy Jackson, John McCabe, Paul Patterson and for 2008 Gabriel Jackson and 2009 Joe Duddell." - From the JAM site. Purchase Amazon.co.uk products through our website to generate funds to purchase CDs, books and sheetmusic that we lend to pupils.
UK PIANO PAGE LINK
EDUCATIONAL STUFF
Really, it does. The sky at night: one of Alex's passions - check these useful websites for what to look for in the night sky as well as of fantastic images of space.
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TUTORS Director: Dr Alex Moseley, (BA Hons, MA, PhD ) Academic tutor in Economics, Maths, English, Sciences, general private tuition for all ages from the youngest through to university and beyond. Alex has a wide experience of teaching in many subjects and has taught in Canada, Scotland, and for an American university; he has classroom experience of teaching years 7 to 13 as well as undegraduates. He is an author as well as a perpetual teacher.
Director: Moira Brown (GTCL LTCL PGCE ITM.2, Colourstrings cert.) Piano, 'cello, and music theory tutor, Alexander Technique. Moira attended Trinity College of Music and performed in their orchestras. She gained extensive playing experience in a wide range of music before becoming a primary school teacher and then setting up her own music kindergarten using Colourstrings methods; Classical Foundations developed from her private practice.
Edward Hodgkinson (BMus Hons), Piano, beginner to advanced, accompanist. Ed began work with us in September and is now earning new pupils through word of mouth - best form of advertising! Most recently played a recital of Schubert and Chopin to raise money for LOROS; regular recitals for his Sixth Form college; keyboardist in Seussical the Musical (2007) in Nottingham. Also does a fun tribute act... :)
Mr Hobbes (Wu.Ff, BA.Ch) Classical Foundation Mascot!!
Why Classical?HOW MUCH SHOULD I PRACTICE?Classical Foundation Diary Since October 2007: Charlie's on board! Educationally we're taking him to Tiny Talk and to Socatots - great fun and Alex recommends them highly from a philosophical, pedagogical, psychological, sociological, and economical point of view.
Since Dec 2007 Way too busy!! Charlie was born with the help of Mia Scotland's Your Birth Right - highly recommend it for anyone expecting, or if you know anyone planning on having a child:
Hallowe'en Chez Nous October 2007
Autumn 2007 Edward played a recital at Nottingham's Albert Hall. Alex asked to do a chapter on John Locke for a new educational book. Business expanding! Summer 2007 Preparing for the new term: contracts sorted, timetables juggled - a hundred pupils and four teachers to sort out: Moira's done a fantastic job. Moved back into the house.New pianist on board Edward Hodgkinson! Ooh ur, where does the time go...courses, publishing deals, Becky's leaving to do a PGCE, inundated with applicants for the position. House renovation in full flow (since October). Autumn - Winter 2006 Way too busy with work and with professional development to add much to the pages in recent months - we've had some excellent results across the board once again and have recently embarked on a massive house renovation, which sees us living outside of the house and all our belongings dispersed! Moira attended Trinity-Guildhall seminar, expressed concerns that the exam board may draw on the worst of its two camps! Summer 2006 Busy schedule or what! Alex working 7 days a week and working on two books. Moira 6 days a week and preparing for their Wedding!! JANUARY 2006 Moira and Alex get engaged!!!! AUTUMN and WINTER 2005-6 Okay, the laptop gave up and it had all my files on it. This year, for Moira and Alex, has been one of those horrid bottom years the Queen spoke of - annus horibilis; we lost Moira's mum in October, had to move house in July, are presently dealing with three, no, two now, really sick and poopy-anywhere-cats; we lost a horse in the summer; we moved into a caravan for three months while we sorted out our new home, which needs a renovation way beyond our budgets, and we sold Alex's house. On top of all that, Alex has had two books to write and has worked seven days a week during term times. On the good side, Moira and Becky continued lessons with Philip Fowke until maternal matters impinged so much that they've been presently postponed; Becky's started her professional teaching certificate course (and from all accounts she sounds like a star pupil, of course - we wouldn't work with anyone less!). We had excellent exam results - all pupils passed their required courses, some doing particularly well. SPRING AND SUMMER 2005 My goodness, time has flown and much has happened. Becky and Moira have continued their lessons in London - usually once a term, with the concert pianist Philip Fowke, and always come back elate as high as proverbial kites on thermals. Alex has begun writing his two contracted books for this year with Continuum Press, and went to visit their offices in London on one of the piano lesson days. We also took on a record number of pupils and Alex and Moira now work seven days a week to keep up with demand! We will still try to fit in new pupils where and when we can. On the personal side of life, it's been a hectic time: Moira's mother has had to go into a home (the logistics of which is a full time job in itself) and at the end of the Summer term, Alex moved out of his house to move into Levesley House (where the Stathern studio is). Becky moved in with Gaz - whoohoo, and now, at the end of the holiday, we're finally fully recuperated, but don't laugh: Moira and Alex will be living in a caravan while they renovate Levesley House... MARCHMoira attended a strings day at the Birmingham Conservatoire as well as visited London on more music business. Becky attended an Associated Board open day and signed up to do a professional examination, which Classical Foundations will be sponsoring over the next year. Another Fowke lesson for Becky and Moira. Becky opens up Fridays, and Moira and Alex now working seven days a week - a temporary measure, we all hope, as they'll be shattered and grimacing by the end of term otherwise! Alex has begun work on an invited introduction to political philosophy for Continuum Press, which will keep him busy until December! FEBRUARY Becky and Moira begin their piano lessons with Philip Fowke in London - if you want the best, you must be prepared to travel!! Hmm, server issues this month. I've just realised I've been updating the files to a non-existent address, oh dear. January 05 More clients for all three of us - some purchasing piano and cello vouchers for Christmas gifts. Spelling rules uploaded to educational pages. Starter packs (5 CDs for £20) doing well. Year's first quiz completed by five hard working and dedicated pupils: draw for £20 book token in February. DECEMBER 04 The shop did well in the run up to Christmas with purchases of CDs leading the way. We come to the end of an exhausting term, having all three added pupils and responsibilities to our plates. In the New Year, we plan to introduce the CRAZY CD of the MONTH club for music afficionados. Alex has had his second novel published - copies of which will be available in the studios. He's also completed a commissioned paper on Terrorism for Wadsworth and has been asked to write a book on the Introduction to Political Philosophy. Moira and Sam have been preparing for their Colourstrings classes and Becky's Gaz has moved into his new home at last!! NOVEMBER 04 Demand for our services has shot up - our reputation for enthusiastic encouragement of all pupils is spreading. Becky's attracted 20 pupils in the first few months of working with us; in total we've over a hundred between us! We've got some big projects up ours sleeves, which have taken much business meeting time. Moira and Sam are meeting regularly to sort out a Colourstrings class and our shop has expanded to take Naxos CDs. Lookout for our new highly recommended Starter Pack for new musicians: 5 CDs for £20. Becky's sorting out a list of our recommendations there. Sadly, Alex and Moira attended two funerals. Alex's great Uncle Edward Johnson was laid to rest this month - he was a great educator and appeared at the right time for encouraging Alex with his education - without Uncle Ted, Alex would not have gone to university. Stathern village also saw the passing of Albert, a great enthusiast of classical music and frequent attendee of Moira's lectures on music for the WEA. OCTOBER 04 Our music ordering service is now running - quite smoothly too. We've got our accounts with the major suppliers and can order sheet music for any instrument - over the next few months, we hope to get our online service running too. The switch machine is now up and running! Otherwise: Moira and Alex trading in their cars. Sam pushing for Colourstrings in Nottingham. Becky gets more pupils. SEPTEMBER 04 Moira and Becky attended a Hal Leonard workshop in Nottingham and Alex read a paper at Hull University's new Applied Ethics centre at a conference on Just War Theory. A hectic start to the term - stock has arrived for the new shop in the Stathern studio and we've had our first sales!!! Look out for the beautiful Music Gifts range, which we hope to get suitably displayed soon. We've all picked up new pupils in the first three weeks of the term. Last proofs for Alex's second novel are in the hands of the printers. AUGUST 04 We're on our holidays (well, except Becky - bless her!) Moira, Becky, and Sam attended a very intensive "Colour Strings, Kodaly, and Dalcroze" course in London in preparation for running a kindergarten music course for tots 0-7 yrs of youth in Stathern and/or Southwell. JULY 04 Classical Foundations pal up with Sam Elton to begin kindergarten music preparation - see above. Alex, Moira, and Becky enjoy a day at the British Music Publishers fair getting contacts and arranging accounts to open up Classical-Foundations music sales for Stathern!! A very exciting day talking to the big boys and girls about music's new and old toys. JUNE Our new piano teacher, Becky Clarke, joins Moira and Alex to sit in on lessons during her apprenticeship. Becky has recently graduated from Loughborough University with a degree in Psychology. She will be taking several music teaching courses over the next year alongside teaching pupils. A gang of us enjoyed the talents and comedy of 'cellist Rebecca Carrington - thank you to M for arranging the tickets! MAY Moira attended a seminar on the amalgamation of Trinity and Guildhall examination bodies - she is keeping herself well informed on how things progress. Alex and Moira enjoyed a private guitar and violin concert courtesy of the Hockerton Housing project - some of whose children we teach: ever wondered how to make a house energy self-sufficient? Go on one of their tours. Mr Hobbes celebrates his 2nd birthday on the 15th!! April Academic boot camp tested! One pupil, Nathaniel, braved the rigour of exercise, physical work, healthy food, sun, sea, and sand, and plenty of academic work over the Easter Break. Moira receives her certificate for passing the ITM course on the works of FM Alexander Alex has finished his second novel!! Now being polished for publication. February Alex and Moira take Elgar pupil Francesca and her friend, Laura, to Rochdale to see a demonstration on horses by Monty Roberts and Kelly Marks. A thoroughly educational evening! How about Join-Up for piano students?! January Classical Foundations now has a telescope...Santa was good to Alex this year. In good conditions we'll be setting it up for viewing the planets (so far two good sessions done: pupils have seen Venus, Mars, Saturn, and the craters of the Moon). December 03 Classical Foundations cello players delight in Stephen Isserlis' performance at Nottingham: thanks Narelle for asking him afterwards what strings he was playing on his strad! (Gut.) Moira chairs first European String Teachers Association EMids meeting November Alex reads paper on Just War to Conference in Wales. Moira uploads Guido Arezzo information October Alex gives paper at Hull University In October, Alex read his paper on Cicero's Philosophy of War for the Centre for Strategic Studies. You can read the paper online. September Moira attended Hal Leonard workshop In September Moira met and played duets with the ubiquitous and magnificantly enthusiastic and erudite Hal Leonard composer Phil Keveren. A truly inspiring day, she reported. STEINWAY PIANOS CAME TO SOUTHWELL!!
The second seminar in a year that Moira has arranged took place on Sunday 21st September. The seminar was attended by pupils and friends and an errant Mr Hobbes who became quickly bored of playing with four new dog friends and decided to burst in onto Keith's lecture and slide all over the dance floor - just because he loves Steinways so much!
Summer 2003 New Piano at our Studio It didn't take long for pupils to notice that the venerable Beckstein has been retired in favour of a new Boston grand! It will take a few months to settle into its new environment, but what a beautiful piano it is, it is, what a beautiful piano it is.
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PIANO TUNER:We use Ben Nolan - click below for his details.
Cellos, violins, and violas: restorers, valuers, makers and general experts on your beloved instrument. John Gosling and Narelle Freeman, Balderton, Newark - now working as Chapel Violins
Excellent web-site to tune into: Adagio.FM
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