Singing lessons in Rotherham

Jemma Freese is a full-time musician and composer who plays keyboards/synth/piano and vocals. She is a graduate from Leeds Conservatoire where she studied Pop Composition and Jazz vocals and graduated with First BA Honours and received The Directors Prize. Jemma plays keyboard and backing vocals for Maximo Park since 2019 and has done several UK and Europe tours with them, along with festivals such as Latitude, Isle of Wight, TRNSMT and Neighbourhood Weekender.  She also played on their most recent album Nature Always Wins, which was Number 2 on the UK Album Charts in 2021. Jemma is in numerous original projects where she plays keyboards and vocals and composes; J Frisco (avant-garde/electronic/punk/experimental/jazz trio) who have been played on BBC Radio 6 and BBC Radio 3 and performed at EFG London Jazz Festival; J2oh (hybrid-jazz duo) who received a placement on the Sage’s Summer Studios scheme in 2022; and her own band under her own name, currently on Jazz North’s northernline scheme. She has been awarded a place on several other schemes; Jazz North Introduces; Brighter Sounds Both Sides Now; Music:Leeds Launchpad; Manchester Jazz Festival Hothouse; Serious Take Five and Arts Council’s DYCP fund. Jemma teaches keyboards, synth, piano, vocals, music theory, composition in the genres of pop, rock, electronic, experimental, ambient, jazz, blues, classical music – and all their sub-genres and crossover genres. She would teach any genre her students prefer which may not be listed here. She has been playing piano for 18 years and singing for 11 years. She has been teaching privately for 5 years, taught at Leeds Music Academy for 4 years and currently teaches at Make Noise studios/Practise Sheffield and Dronfield Music School. Jemma has done numerous jazz and improvisation workshops with Jazz North and BlueJam Arts in Penrith and delivered multiple masterclasses at Leeds Conservatoire. She also currently work with Sheffield Music School (which focuses on children on school meals or in care) on several of their projects: Tracks (which happens a couple of times a year, helping students to compose their own songs/beats/lyrics as well as contribute to a song which they create together) and a one-to-one mentor. Jemma’s teaching style centres around what her students need/want, and what would benefit them the most. Whether it’s purely creative, or to achieve grades, or a mixture. She delivers her lessons in whichever learning style caters to their types of personalities. Jemma wants what is best for the student, and can adapt her methods to achieve this. She has taught all ages and all abilities.

I am a Theatre Performance graduate who has been playing the piano for over 40 years and who began having singing lessons over 30 years ago. I delight in the storytelling involved in the making of music and it is a part of my life every day. My approach to tuition is firstly to begin with the student. What do you want to gain from your lessons? Is this a new skill, something that is for casual enjoyment, or is there a more ambitious goal in sight. I am a qualified teacher and have taught music, humanities and social science to a wide range of students from primary school to college. I sing and conduct in a local community choir as well as my church choir and have a very eclectic taste in music. My own singing journey began with opera and folk, and then developed in jazz. I have always maintained my participation in choral music. I also sing a wide range of contemporary music, from pop to easy listening and everything in between. My piano abilities are also varied. I play classical, jazz, contemporary and church / choral. I often accompany both group singing and individuals. I have taught in both a private capacity and within schools as I have a PGCE in Primary School teaching. My teaching has been with both children and adults and involves a range of styles and abilities. It has been for audition preparation, for further work within a choral setting and for a basic understanding of the techniques needed for steady development of the singing voice. It also involves a broader understanding of the role that expression and passion play in communicating the story within a piece of acting or music. Learning must first and foremost be fun. Learning anything new requires commitment and consistency, and without the added dimension of truly enjoying it, these can be hard qualities to maintain. Essential to my teaching is an understanding of the foundations underpinning the techniques that are vital in progressing with the instrument in question. I work to do this by putting these essential - and often less appealing aspects of practice - within the larger context, so that the student is able to understand why skills such as scales and arpeggios are vital if they are to command the music. Good practice is hard, but if you know why you are doing it, it becomes easier. Another aspect of my teaching is to ensure that the student is able to find their story within the music. There is always something to be told, and it is this aspect changes what is good or very good playing, and makes it exceptional. It is also the aspect that helps to make it fun.

Let me introduce myself! My name is Nathalie Topalian, a singer and pianist who graduated from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in 2002. Over the years, I have taught at three theatre schools, a music school, privately and at various primary schools. The age and level of my students have ranged from toddlers to octogenarians and from beginners to professionals. I have had the pleasure of coaching performers for pantomimes, auditions, cruise ship shows, theatre shows and touring artists. Now, having completed a very enjoyable eight years performing on P&O ships, I have returned to my home city to share that inherited passion and to open my teaching diary again. For your information, I recently had a new enhanced DBS check and have completed safeguarding courses both in Kent and with P&O Cruises in addition to receiving updated advice from the Sheffield Music Hub. I take the welfare of all pupils (both personally and musically) seriously and I encourage keeping an open conversation about their progress and wellbeing. Whether your musical interest lies in pop, jazz, musical theatre, classical styles, working towards exams or good all-rounded musicianship, I am happy to tailor our sessions towards your goal. Music Qualifications & Achievements: I am a professional member of the Incorporated Society of Musicians. Here are a few highlights from years gone by: Piano Vocalist and Cocktail Pianist (choir director, cabaret accompanist and dep for the Musical Director) on P&O Cruises and Ferries, 2012 – 2019 Visiting tutor at Kent School of Performing Arts, 2018 – present Piano vocalist for Sportsworld, Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Club, July 2015 Keyboards/keytar/vocal dep for The Irrepressibles tour, May-July 2013 Musical Director and Vocal Coach: Robinson Crusoe, Margate Winter Gardens, The Big Panto Company/Reach Productions 2011 Musical Director and Vocal Coach: Bugsy Malone, Margate Theatre Royal 2010 BA (Hons) degree from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Advanced Certificate ABRSM Chamber Ensemble Award ABRSM Grade 8 Piano ABRSM Grade 8 Singing Trinity Rock School

Hi, my name is Rachael, I have always been passionate about singing and I’ve since gone on to qualify as a teacher so I have the opportunity to teach others. My love for singing began from an early age and I started taking part in various theatrical productions. One of my best achievements was singing at the Royal Albert Hall. My exams taken are with ABRSM and I have done AET level of teaching. My aim for you is to bring out the best in your voice with technical and mindset skills. We all have our own individual style and tone and having lessons is a great way of o bring out your potential. Singing is a great form of expression and it’s wonderful to be able to see and watch your voice develop. Everyone has their own individual learning style and I like to teach singing in a way that will suit you so that you can get the most out of your lesson. I am a down to earth teacher and I like to make sure you feel comfortable and relaxed during your lesson and we can look to work through any confidence issues that may be holding you back. Music Qualifications & Achievements: ABRSM exams taken AET teacher training