TestimonialsStephen Cockroft - adult student "Some fifteen months ago I approached Deryn with a view to discovering whether I, aged 73 with mild arthritis in both hands and shoulders, could try to learn to play the cello from scratch and expected a flat refusal. Deryn, who, I quickly found, is always positive thought otherwise and offered a trial lesson after which we agreed a programme of weekly lessons. Trying to play the cello has been a struggle even with Deryn helping as much as anyone possibly could. Without her help and constant encouragement I should probably have given up some time ago." Read more Jenn Chubb - adult student "I have been coming to Deryn for cello lessons for just over a year. I originally started playing the cello when I was 7 years old and progressed through to grade 6 standard by the time I hit Sixth Form, various things got in the way during my pursuit of A level music (namely distractions such as rock music and guitars) and I ended up selling my cello when I came to University. Now eight years after graduation, I am playing the cello again, and loving it. Since coming to Deryn for lessons, I have vastly improved, to the point where I think I may nearly be back where I was all those years ago when I stopped playing." Read more Clive Lane - adult student "I had long wished to take 'cello lessons and finally took the plunge last September at the rather unsuitable age of 50. I searched the web for teachers and approached Deryn partly as the result of reading her very helpful article on teaching adult beginners. Deryn responded immediately and seemed completely unconcerned that I was starting from scratch so late in life. She has continued this positive attitude during our weekly lessons which I have thoroughly enjoyed. Deryn is very professional and rigorous in her teaching method." Read more Jody Beaumont - adult student After wanting to learn to play the Cello for a number of years I was finally allowed the opportunity. I began researching many Cello teachers from around my area and trying to rent out an instrument of my own. Nearly all of the Cello teachers advertising on various websites either did not reply or did not want to teach a complete beginner. Out of all of the tutors I contacted Deryn was the one who's reply was the most prompt and detailed. She explained about her prices, her lesson structure and her expectations of me as a student, plus her ability to rent me a quality instrument which took this difficult task off me." Read more Geoff Beetles - adult student "I'd spent some time playing Bach on electric bass before deciding to do the thing properly and buying a cello, at the age of 54. Deryn was the only teacher I contacted who wasn’t fazed by my dark electric secret. Some were very strait-laced and sniffy when I mentioned even electric cello. Rock to baroque, metal to tango, it’s all music to Deryn and it was the breadth and depth of her musical tastes and experience that made me feel sure we’d get on. I loved my fortnightly hour with her. Read more
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Full TestimonialsStephen Cockroft - adult student "Some fifteen months ago I approached Deryn with a view to discovering whether I, aged 73 with mild arthritis in both hands and shoulders, could try to learn to play the cello from scratch and expected a flat refusal. Deryn, who, I quickly found, is always positive thought otherwise and offered a trial lesson after which we agreed a programme of weekly lessons. Trying to play the cello has been a struggle even with Deryn helping as much as anyone possibly could. Without her help and constant encouragement I should probably have given up some time ago. "I have been coming to Deryn for cello lessons for just over a year. I originally started playing the cello when I was 7 years old and progressed through to grade 6 standard by the time I hit Sixth Form, various things got in the way from my pursuit of A level music (namely distractions such as rock music and guitars) and I ended up selling my cello when I came to University. Now eight years after graduation, I am playing the cello again, and loving it. Since coming to Deryn for lessons, I have vastly improved, to the point where I think I may nearly be back where I was all those years ago when I stopped playing. Deryn's lessons are THOROUGH - She is extremely articulate and takes a holistic approach to music, very much focusing on the learner's strengths and any barriers to development. My particular issues have been around confidence and technique and posture. Deryn employs the use of Alexander Technique in her lessons and has really changed the way I approach my instrument. "I had long wished to take 'cello lessons and finally took the plunge last September at the rather unsuitable age of 50. I searched the web for teachers and approached Deryn partly as the result of reading her very helpful article on teaching adult beginners. Deryn responded immediately and seemed completely unconcerned that I was starting from scratch so late in life. She has continued this positive attitude during our weekly lessons which I have thoroughly enjoyed. Deryn is very professional and rigorous in her teaching method but she is always aware of the need to match the pace of learning to the individual student's ability. As a result, I have kept my spirits up at times when, with a less calm, skilful and sympathetic teacher, I might have despaired of mastering even basic techniques. After wanting to learn to play the Cello for a number of years I was finally allowed the opportunity. I began researching many Cello teachers from around my area and trying to rent out an instrument of my own. Nearly all of the Cello teachers advertising on various websites either did not reply or did not want to teach a complete beginner. Out of all of the tutors I contacted Deryn was the one who's reply was the most prompt and detailed. She explained about her prices, her lesson structure and her expectations of me as a student, plus her ability to rent me a quality instrument which took this difficult task off me. I was very impressed by her dedication to her tutoring. After my first lesson with Deryn I was convinced that I would be happy studying under her for a long time learning this beautiful instrument. "I'd spent some time playing Bach on electric bass before deciding to do the thing properly and buying a cello, at the age of 54. Deryn was the only teacher I contacted who wasn’t fazed by my dark electric secret. Some were very strait-laced and sniffy when I mentioned even electric cello. Rock to baroque, metal to tango, it’s all music to Deryn and it was the breadth and depth of her musical tastes and experience that made me feel sure we’d get on. I loved my fortnightly hour with her. Deryn’s very strong on the physical basis of playing the instrument, posture and relaxation from feet to head, before playing a note. She takes an undogmatic view on some areas (if a bow hold works, that’s fine), but she’s uncompromising about tuning and intonation. I found her high musical standards very demanding, but very inspiring. Deryn looks for commitment from her pupils, and hard work, but there’s lots of laughing too. We covered a lot of ground in the year I was with her and I got a solid foundation in elementary cello playing. I wish she hadn’t left London. I’m a very long way from playing Bach, but I always went away from my lessons feeling better about my cello playing than when I arrived. What more can you ask?"
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