New college coaching this year
In September 2023, I was lucky enough to start teaching at not one but two local sixth form colleges.
I was very excited to join the staff at Peter Symonds College in Winchester and Barton Peveril College in Eastleigh. These colleges are among the biggest in the country, each with around 4,000 students. Both have thriving music and performing arts departments.
Peter Symonds happens to be my alma mater, where I studied for my A Levels many moons ago! Whilst none of the old department staff remain, it feels weirdly normal to be back on campus and singing in those practice rooms!
Barton Peveril is a very modern college with an integrated performing arts department. I feel very blessed to be part of their amazing team.
Working with 16-18 year olds has been incredibly rewarding and I've learnt so much about developing voices. It's also been very challenging since I picked up four full days of teaching, which has called for a lot of rest and reflection to deliver week after week. At the end of term, I calculated that I've taught 659 one-to-one college lessons this academic year... phew!
I love my new teenage students but the downside is that it has limited my capacity for private lessons somewhat. So I want to thank you for your support and flexibility whilst I've embarked on this new venture. The upside is that everything I'm learning comes back to benefit you in your lessons!
Or, if you have a child approaching year 10 or 11 who is a budding singer, I'd definitely recommend both of these institutions.