Marged

Hi - my name is Marged and I am a welsh harpist living and working in South Wales. I am an encouraging and patient teacher who enjoys sharing the joy, the variety and beauty of music with my students.

I offer harp lessons and I can also help with music theory and general musicianship.I can teach in Welsh or English depending on your preference.

I charge £34 an hour or £17 for 30 minutes.

I teach students at my home in the Vale of Glamorgan. However I am willing to travel in exceptional circumstances. I have a varied timetable but aim to be very flexible regarding when I teach and this can be discussed on an individual basis. I am also available to teach during the school holidays.

*Due to the outbreak of Covid 19 and the continuing need for social distancing all lessons are currently being undertaken online via platforms such as Zoom or Skype.

The most important elements that the last few months has taught me is that changing to online lessons was a lot easier than I anticipated, I have learnt new skills for life, and that it was as important and as joyous for me as it has been for my students to have a regular routine and contact through music. My students have all made excellent progress over lockdown and have been able to continue to benefit from scheduled, regular one to one tuition. In these uncertain times, having a regular routine has been reassuring for the student and for myself as a musician.

Whilst this is not what any of us would wish for in the long run, it has been surprisingly joyous and rewarding, and it’s good to know that this is a method that works even when we are back to “normal”. The more flexibility we have the better!*

I teach students of all ages from beginners to advanced on harp, and Grade 5 for music theory.

I am happy to work to the student's own specified objectives. Music should be fun! I am happy to prepare students for ABRSM or Trinity/Guildhall examinations.

I believe learning music should be enjoyable and life enhancing and that the learning process should be mutually fun and satisfying. I enjoy evolving my teaching style to each individual and their needs, and learning all the different ways of explaining different elements of musical education as everyone learns slightly differently. I like to play games as a means of learning in my lessons which include using flash cards, rhythmic challenge books, and composition games. Having high quality technique is important for any instrument so I will also help you to achieve a strong grounding in technique so that you are enabled to be the best player you can be.

Tutoring Experience

I have a Masters degree and a Bachelors Honours degree (BMus) in Classical Harp performance from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. I also hold an ABRSM Licentiate in Harp Performance, Grade 8 ABRSM Piano, grade 6 singing and Grade 5 Theory, and I hold an up-to-date DBS certificate.

I am an experienced solo, chamber and orchestral player and offer tutoring and coaching to all levels in all genres of music. I have been teaching privately for a number of years and I enjoy sharing my experience and enthusiasm with my students. I have tutoring experience at Youth Orchestra level, including the National Children's Orchestra of Great Britain - preparing students for orchestral playing is a particular interest of mine.

I have been very lucky to receive exceptional, and inspiring teaching from the start. My first harp teacher Eluned Pierce, (Principal Harpist with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra) instilled a love of music in me, and she was the catalyst for me wanting to study further. I continued my studies with 4 years at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Charlotte Seale and Imogen Barford, and I graduated my Masters degree from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama having studied with Caryl Thomas. My piano tuition was through local tutor Sally Mathewson, and then with Pavlina Radislavova at the Junior department of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

I am a member of the UK Harp Association, and I am a member of the committee for "Music in the Vale" which is local music competition promoting the talent of young musicians and offering exceptional performance opportunities for the winners and runners up. I have also worked with Cowbridge Music Festival, helping to organise the fringe festival and promoting young musicians.

My students always excel in their ABRSM exams, with all receiving high merit scores and above in their exams, along with an enjoyment in the process of sitting exams, and further confidence in performance in general.

Tutoring Approach

I believe learning music should be enjoyable and life enhancing and that the learning process should be mutually fun and satisfying. I enjoy evolving my teaching style to each individual and their needs, and learning all the different ways of explaining different elements of musical education as everyone learns slightly differently. I like to play games as a means of learning in my lessons which include using flash cards, rhythmic challenge books, and composition games. Having high quality technique is important for any instrument so I will also help you to achieve a strong grounding in technique so that you are enabled to be the best player you can be.