I have had many adult students over the years and love exploring a way of teaching that works for each person's individual needs. Some of my adults never learnt an instrument as a child and later in life decide to follow their dream whilst others have already learnt other instruments but want to try the oboe. Some like a stuctured approach, working towards an exam and others a freer more fluid approach. I have woodwind teachers who have just a couple of lessons because they suddenly have to teach an oboe student and other students who have no end goal except to learn a fabulous instrument and see where it takes them.
Three of my current students describe their experience of learning with me:
LUCINDA
I decided at the age of 46 that I wanted to learn a musical instrument. Apart from playing the recorder for a few weeks at primary school, I had no musical knowledge. I chose the oboe after seeing Bach’s St Mathews Passion. I liked the sound of the oboe. I bought a student oboe and a reed and tried to play it, but as I could not get a sound out of it I looked for a teacher. I did not think that a teacher would want to take on an adult learner and wondered if it was even possible to learn music in middle age,
Why I chose Alison
I live in rural Northland and work unsociable hours. I looked for a local oboe teacher and there were none. I found 3 teachers in Auckland and only one answered my phone call and it was Alison. To my surprise she said she would teach me. My first lesson was amazing as I managed to get a few notes out of the instrument. I found learning music difficult as nothing was easy and I thought I would give give up after a few months, but Alison was very patient and encouraging.15 years later I am still having lessons every 2-3 weeks.
A typical lesson
I like playing scales so we usually start with them. We also do some duets and sight-reading, I like to be working on several pieces at a time, some I chose myself and some are Alison’s suggestions. I like goals and challenges and Alison has helped me to achieve things I never thought possible, such as doing ABRSM exams and playing in a community Orchestra and two chamber music groups
Alison’s teaching style
She is supportive and encouraging, but at the same time demands high standards which I like. She also has the ability to explain things in a simple way and comes up with several ways of solving technical problems
CODY
What’s great about lessons with Alison is how she tailors them to suit the student’s learning style and oboe goals. The oboe is a hobby for me, and I don’t want to sit any exams, so in lessons we don’t work page by page through a grade book. Instead, Alison helps me find and learn pieces I will enjoy. Alternatively, I can find the sheet music for pieces I like in my own time and bring that into my next lesson. If there is a skill, I want to learn that day or some piece of theory or historical background to a piece I want to know, Alison is happy to delve into it with me. I get a lot of freedom in Alison’s lessons, but that doesn’t mean that she doesn’t challenge me to improve my musical abilities. One way she does this is by identifying my mistakes and offering different strategies and techniques to correct those mistakes.
JONATHAN
It can be a bit daunting taking music lessons as an adult. In my case I hadn’t been to regular lessons in many years. However as a long time amateur clarinetist it was immediately clear that the only way to make any progress on the oboe was to get a good teacher as soon as possible.
My original intention was to learn the oboe to be able to play the cor anglais - inspired by the great orchestral repertoire for that instrument. I have now come to really enjoy the oboe in its own right - now moving from a rental instrument to one of my own.
I chose Alison as a teacher as I had seen her working with pupils at my daughters’ school. She has emphasised the fun of playing, exploring the pieces that interest me, and is tolerant of my idiosyncrasies which are the inevitable result of so many years without a professional teacher. Alison emphasises the preparation and breath control that produces the best quality sound, and focuses on the dynamics and details that bring the music alive. Being able to schedule lessons flexibly is very helpful. Learning double reed instruments is great fun!
Three of my current students describe their experience of learning with me:
LUCINDA
I decided at the age of 46 that I wanted to learn a musical instrument. Apart from playing the recorder for a few weeks at primary school, I had no musical knowledge. I chose the oboe after seeing Bach’s St Mathews Passion. I liked the sound of the oboe. I bought a student oboe and a reed and tried to play it, but as I could not get a sound out of it I looked for a teacher. I did not think that a teacher would want to take on an adult learner and wondered if it was even possible to learn music in middle age,
Why I chose Alison
I live in rural Northland and work unsociable hours. I looked for a local oboe teacher and there were none. I found 3 teachers in Auckland and only one answered my phone call and it was Alison. To my surprise she said she would teach me. My first lesson was amazing as I managed to get a few notes out of the instrument. I found learning music difficult as nothing was easy and I thought I would give give up after a few months, but Alison was very patient and encouraging.15 years later I am still having lessons every 2-3 weeks.
A typical lesson
I like playing scales so we usually start with them. We also do some duets and sight-reading, I like to be working on several pieces at a time, some I chose myself and some are Alison’s suggestions. I like goals and challenges and Alison has helped me to achieve things I never thought possible, such as doing ABRSM exams and playing in a community Orchestra and two chamber music groups
Alison’s teaching style
She is supportive and encouraging, but at the same time demands high standards which I like. She also has the ability to explain things in a simple way and comes up with several ways of solving technical problems
CODY
What’s great about lessons with Alison is how she tailors them to suit the student’s learning style and oboe goals. The oboe is a hobby for me, and I don’t want to sit any exams, so in lessons we don’t work page by page through a grade book. Instead, Alison helps me find and learn pieces I will enjoy. Alternatively, I can find the sheet music for pieces I like in my own time and bring that into my next lesson. If there is a skill, I want to learn that day or some piece of theory or historical background to a piece I want to know, Alison is happy to delve into it with me. I get a lot of freedom in Alison’s lessons, but that doesn’t mean that she doesn’t challenge me to improve my musical abilities. One way she does this is by identifying my mistakes and offering different strategies and techniques to correct those mistakes.
JONATHAN
It can be a bit daunting taking music lessons as an adult. In my case I hadn’t been to regular lessons in many years. However as a long time amateur clarinetist it was immediately clear that the only way to make any progress on the oboe was to get a good teacher as soon as possible.
My original intention was to learn the oboe to be able to play the cor anglais - inspired by the great orchestral repertoire for that instrument. I have now come to really enjoy the oboe in its own right - now moving from a rental instrument to one of my own.
I chose Alison as a teacher as I had seen her working with pupils at my daughters’ school. She has emphasised the fun of playing, exploring the pieces that interest me, and is tolerant of my idiosyncrasies which are the inevitable result of so many years without a professional teacher. Alison emphasises the preparation and breath control that produces the best quality sound, and focuses on the dynamics and details that bring the music alive. Being able to schedule lessons flexibly is very helpful. Learning double reed instruments is great fun!
