Cello Lessons Canterbury

Maja Weeks - Professional Cello Teacher

Cello Lessons Canterbury Teacher - Maja Weeks

My Mission

Exciting Lessons

I have a very varied background in music, I have taught for many years and performed all over the uk and I will use this experience to make sure you get the most out of your lessons.

I have taught privately throughout my career and enjoy the challenges that each student brings. I adapt my teaching methods to the person- and do not have one approach but try and keep the student motivated and structured whatever level they are. My main aim is to enable the student to become their own best teacher. I am a sympathetic and supportive teacher- so another focus is that enjoyment leads to motivation.

My Lessons

All Abilities Welcome.

I welcome students of all abilities, and enjoy working together with the student to create a structured learning environment in which they feel they are improving skill levels and learning a wide variety of repertoire. Also keeping lessons upbeat and positive, with clear reachable goals each week, is very important to me. I am very keen on posture and a healthy use of the body to create depth of sound and general physical well being.

I am very interested in how to structure practice time so that concentration levels remain high, and that one one does not drift and learns to use time effectively. I am happy to see a student for a consultation lesson so that they can get an idea of me as a teacher before making a decision. I have years of experience but I enjoy adapting my methods to the person in front of me.

Beginners & Advanced Students Welcome

Both beginner and advanced students are welcome. I will make a lesson plan that suits your needs as a learner.

Lesson Focus

Beginners Welcome

I also welcome beginner students.

My Experience as a Teacher

I have a long performing career behind me as detailed earlier and have personal practical experience of auditions, orchestras, chamber music playing professionally. I have taught throughout my career so I have experience of amateurs, beginners, intermediate, advanced students and young professionals. I enjoy the variety of people I meet and enjoy the challenges that each student brings. As I said before, keeping the student motivated and engaged is very important to me. I like to give the student ,clear reachable goals each week and try to help the student to really participate and be engaged in their own progress.

I like to use my experience to make sure my students really get the most out of their lessons with me and I will always make a personalised teaching plan that works for you as a learner.

I have a 100% pass rate with music exams and I like to really push my students to be the best version of themselves.

Lessons Focus

Advanced Players Welcome

I like to welcome more advanced learners as well.

More About My Lessons

For intermediate students I do use grade exams, to give structure and clear goals. I have a variety of learning materials, including studies and scales but also work with the student using folk song ,pop melodies and sight-reading in the mix to keep motivation high. For advanced students beyond grade eight, I use mainly standard classical repertoire – from different musical periods.

I teach an awareness of period style, music structure and harmony. I like to develop technique and fluency through giving a mixture of pieces, some easy and some that are a bit beyond reach. A learning plan that includes short term and long term goals, that are clear to the student is important.

I give a mixture of pieces ,studies and scales- depending on the student's own pace of learning. I also use sight reading and duos with me regularly. With beginners I use the Suzuki training books and have used color strings to develop note reading gradually.