facebook
from64.00GBP/ h

Improvisation for String Players - Unlock your creativity!

Learn to improvise, jam and create your own music.

I am a cellist, composer and improviser specialising in working with string players to unlock and devlop creative potential. I will work with you to deveop a bespoke course to help you develop skills in improvisation.

Areas covered:
Jazz improvisation - Blues, Standards, Harmony, Bass Lines, Finding Chords, Building and Creating Solos, Elarnig repertoire.
Baroque Imrpovisation - Ground Bass, Partimento realisation and developing cadenzas for classical repertoire
Free/Folk and other styles - we can explore any styles of improvisation, and discuss how to develop your skills.

I am a professor of Imrpovisation at the Royal Colege of Music in London, and a composer and performer of my own music internationally.

Location

At teacher's location: The Avenue, London E4 9RP, UK
Online via webcam

|
Use ⊞+wheel to zoom!
+

General info

Age:
Teenagers (13-17 years old)
Adults (18-64 years old)
Seniors (65+ years old)
Student level:
Intermediate
Advanced
Duration:
45 minutes
60 minutes
90 minutes
The class is taught in:English

About Me

Hi, my name is Shirley.
I'm a cellist, composer and improviser.

I specialise in helping people develop creative skills in improvisation, composition and collaborative music making,
I have a very wide musical background which incorporates classical music, jazz and various traditions from North Africa and the Middle East, giving me a broad knowledge base and range of perspectives to draw on to help students explore their own interests.

I have developed a method of practice strategies for improvising, which can be applied across various genres, and help students to think creatively on the instrument, building understanding as you go along.

Everyone is different, and has different interests, strengths and weaknesses, so my teaching style reflects this in that I work with each student to develop a programme to support their personal development.

As a performer, I also practice what I teach, leading my trio, sextet and other projects in London. I've toured the UK and Europe with my trio and currently working on our second album.
I've also released several albums of free improvisation, and am working on a new [piano trio project combining classical repertoire with imrpovised works.

Education

I trained under Raphael Wallfisch at the Guilldhall School of Music, and Janos Starker in Paris before moving to Jerusalem, where I remained for 10 years, studying and performing a wide variety of musical traditions from the North Africa, Turkey and Middle East. Whilst in Jerusalem, I also became highly active on the jazz scene, working with artists including Avishai Cohen, Omer Avital and Yasmin Levy. Since returning to the UK, I have also worked with many leading jazz and world music groups, including Antonio Forcione, Mulato Astatke, Gilad Atzmon, Neil Cowley, Julian Ferraretto, Robert Mitchell, Maya Youssef and Alice Zawadzki.

Experience / Qualifications

I am a Professor of Musicianship and Improvisation at the Royal College of Music in London, and also teach at Trinity Laban Conservatoire, and RCM Junior Department.

I have taught for various Music Services in the UK, and also given workshops for Chethams School of Music, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, National Youth Jazz Collective, Royal Academy of Music and Drama, Royal Northern College of Music, and the Universities of Huddersfield, Kent, Manchester and Surrey.

I am also currently completeing a PhD in Musicology exploring issues of cross-cultural musical performance and authenticity.

Ask a question

Send a message explaining your needs and Shirley will reply soon:
The more detail, the better.
Ex. "Hi, when are you available to meet for a lesson?"

Availability of a typical week

(GMT -05:00) New York
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
0              
1              
2              
3    Tuesday at 3:00  Wednesday at 3:00    Friday at 3:00    
4    Tuesday at 4:00  Wednesday at 4:00    Friday at 4:00    
5    Tuesday at 5:00  Wednesday at 5:00    Friday at 5:00    
6    Tuesday at 6:00  Wednesday at 6:00    Friday at 6:00    
7    Tuesday at 7:00  Wednesday at 7:00    Friday at 7:00    Sunday at 7:00
8    Tuesday at 8:00  Wednesday at 8:00    Friday at 8:00    Sunday at 8:00
9    Tuesday at 9:00  Wednesday at 9:00    Friday at 9:00    Sunday at 9:00
10    Tuesday at 10:00  Wednesday at 10:00    Friday at 10:00    Sunday at 10:00
11    Tuesday at 11:00  Wednesday at 11:00  Thursday at 11:00  Friday at 11:00    Sunday at 11:00
12  Monday at 12:00  Tuesday at 12:00  Wednesday at 12:00  Thursday at 12:00  Friday at 12:00    Sunday at 12:00
13  Monday at 13:00  Tuesday at 13:00  Wednesday at 13:00  Thursday at 13:00  Friday at 13:00    Sunday at 13:00
14  Monday at 14:00      Thursday at 14:00  Friday at 14:00    
15              
16              
17              
18              
19              
20              
21              
22              
23              
from £64At teacher's location
from £64Online via webcam

Good-fit Instructor Guarantee


If you are not satisfied after your first lesson, Apprentus will find you another instructor or will refund your first lesson.

Online reputation

  • Instructor since October 2024
  • Google connected

Availability of a typical week

(GMT -05:00) New York
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
0              
1              
2              
3    Tuesday at 3:00  Wednesday at 3:00    Friday at 3:00    
4    Tuesday at 4:00  Wednesday at 4:00    Friday at 4:00    
5    Tuesday at 5:00  Wednesday at 5:00    Friday at 5:00    
6    Tuesday at 6:00  Wednesday at 6:00    Friday at 6:00    
7    Tuesday at 7:00  Wednesday at 7:00    Friday at 7:00    Sunday at 7:00
8    Tuesday at 8:00  Wednesday at 8:00    Friday at 8:00    Sunday at 8:00
9    Tuesday at 9:00  Wednesday at 9:00    Friday at 9:00    Sunday at 9:00
10    Tuesday at 10:00  Wednesday at 10:00    Friday at 10:00    Sunday at 10:00
11    Tuesday at 11:00  Wednesday at 11:00  Thursday at 11:00  Friday at 11:00    Sunday at 11:00
12  Monday at 12:00  Tuesday at 12:00  Wednesday at 12:00  Thursday at 12:00  Friday at 12:00    Sunday at 12:00
13  Monday at 13:00  Tuesday at 13:00  Wednesday at 13:00  Thursday at 13:00  Friday at 13:00    Sunday at 13:00
14  Monday at 14:00      Thursday at 14:00  Friday at 14:00    
15              
16              
17              
18              
19              
20              
21              
22              
23              
from £64At teacher's location
from £64Online via webcam

Good-fit Instructor Guarantee


If you are not satisfied after your first lesson, Apprentus will find you another instructor or will refund your first lesson.

Share

You are here


Enrico
Learn to play piano, and be a better musician. (for all ages and players)
Hi everyone! My name is Enrico. I am a musician from Italy currently based in Valencia, Spain. In this course you will learn to - Play your favourite songs. - Read music. - Unlock your aural skills through ear training. - Improvise . - Understand how melody, rhythm, and harmony works. - Play in different styles. My Background I started playing organ in church when I was 10 years old. I quickly enrolled at my nearest Conservatory where I have been for 12 years, studying Organ and classical composition for 8 years. I continued with jazz piano studies, and graduated in 2021. I have been performing since 2016, in folk, pop and jazz ensembles around Italy and now I am continuing my music studies in Valencia, at the Berklee College of Music. You will feel inspired by the variety of concepts, practices, and assignments made just for you. I can make classes either online or in person. I am open to answer any question you might have about lessons, pricing, materials etc. I am available for a quick call if that would be helpful as well. Best, Enrico.

Erika
Découvre le violon et l'alto à Anvers / Ontdek de viool en altviool in Antwerpen
Cours personnalisés pour tous niveaux, de l'initiation au perfectionnement. Ensemble, nous explorerons les nuances de la musique, développerons votre technique et ferons vibrer votre instrument! Altiste avec expérience au sein d'orchestres nationaux et internationaux, je propose des cours d'alto et violon pour tous niveaux. Actuellement en fin de master en Belgique, j'ai eu l'opportunité de jouer en tant qu'altiste avec des orchestres tels que l'Orquesta Nacional de Cataluña, Belgian National Orchestra, Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra, l'Orquesta Simón Bolívar, et d'autres ensembles renommés en Europe. Je vous propose une pédagogie personnalisée basée sur : La technique : acquisition d'une gestuelle précise et efficace. La musicalité : développement de votre oreille et de votre sens du rythme. La lecture : déchiffrage et interprétation des partitions. La pratique : travail régulier et méthodique. N'hésitez pas à me contacter pour plus d'informations et pour organiser un premier cours !

David
(LIVE or ONLINE!) Piano, improvisation, composition and music theory lessons
I am a Spanish pianist and composer (MMus graduate from Codarts Rotterdam in both directions) with many years of teaching experience, and also very active in performing in various contexts. I give private piano lessons for all levels and styles (classical, jazz, Latin, new age, pop...), as well as music theory, composition and improvisation lessons. My lessons are distinguished by their dynamics, practical approach and adaptation to the needs and interests of the student. The lessons (live or online) take place in my studio next to the Maastunnel, where I have a premium stage piano and a top-quality webcam setup. I speak Dutch at an intermediate level, which is improving every day.

Pinelopi
Singing Lessons (Individual) - Jazz/Pop/Soul/Improvisation and Stage Performace
Singing Lessons (Individual) - Live or Online! Hello! I’m Pinelopi, a vocalist and guitarist from Greece. My journey in music began in childhood, the last eight years I'm performing professionally, touring the Greek Islands and gracing stages across Europe, including Berlin, London, Sofia, Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam, Groningen, and Athens. Music is a vital part in my life, it is joy, emotional expression and a way to connect! My musical journey has led me to the Netherlands, to grow as an artist and expand my music network. What to Expect in Our Singing Lessons: We'll focus on posture and breathing technique. We'll built repertoire - play together and improvise. I'll give you tricks to find your self on stage and never ever forget lyrics. " Voice is the muscle of the soul " <3 Lesson Structure: Each session is tailored to your experience and goals, and we can explore topics such as: -Warm-up exercises -Breathing and posture techniques -Full-body awakening exercises -Tips for playing in a band setting -Leadership and on-the-spot arrangements for jam sessions -Ear training and pitch correction -Vocal improvisation and scat syllables -Techniques for singing with a microphone (control, dynamics) ! After each lesson, you’ll receive a PDF summary of our class and goals for our next sessions. Whether you’re a beginner or a professional singer, we’ll work together to set and achieve your goals! <3

Laura
Cello lessons for everyone! Learn how to play cello or improve your musical skills!
Hi, I'm Laura, I'm a cellist and I love to share my musical knowledge with other people. I have experience with students of all ages and I believe that there is no right age to start learning to play an instrument. I adapt my lessons to the objectives and tastes of each student. We can learn classical music, but also other styles such as pop. I also offer lessons focused on music theory if that is what you are looking for! If you want to learn to play the cello or improve your skills do not hesitate to write me!

Aleksandrs
Beginner to intermediate/advanced guitar (acoustic or electric)
This class fits students of different age groups and playing levels. From absolute beginners about to make their first (musical) steps to more advanced players with more precise goals. The approach is individual and we will discuss the desired goals in advance and build the learning process around those. Some topics that are usually covered are - rhythm guitar, being able to accompany yourself while singing (in different styles and techniques), lead guitar, improvisation (from basics to advanced), general knowledge of the fretboard and technique.

Leonor
Cello and baroque cello classes, musical theory classes
For anyone willing to immerse themselves in the fantastic world of music and also "early music", the music wrote between the XVII and XVIII centuries. I offer dynamic lessons for all ages, from music theory to an instrument, the cello. For the most curious, the baroque cello and early music can become a huge passion.

Raphael
Violin lessons, music theory, musical improvisation, chamber music, musical awakening
With 27 years of experience as a violin teacher, artist and composer, I transmit my love of music in a creative, playful and holistic way. I have developed a method that adapts to each student according to their needs, levels and desires. I attach great importance to creating a caring and relaxed atmosphere where the student can flourish and develop both a solid technique and learn self-confidence. We will also discuss how to work efficiently and calmly and we will develop the qualities necessary to express yourself freely with your instrument. We will talk about musicality, physical well-being (the importance of breathing!), attentive listening and we will take the time to explore while having fun. If necessary, the basics of music theory will be learned gradually. Although I have a classical background I enjoy teaching a variety of music (Celtic, folk, klezmer, tango, jazz, films...) and I encourage my students to discover the most beautiful melodies in the repertoire and sometimes even to improvise or compose together. I often play chamber music (piano/violin) or violin duets with my students. My course is aimed at anyone who has the time to work on their instrument, children from 4 or 5 years old, adolescents, seasoned amateurs, beginners or advanced adults... Do not hesitate to contact me for any additional information. I look forward to meeting you very soon!

Andrea
Cello lessons for everybody! Learn and improve your skills with me.
One of the most wonderfull string instrument is the cello. If you want to learn how to play cello or just to continue improving your skills do not hesitate to contact me. I have a lot of experience teaching cello and for me, the most important thing in my lessons is learn well and enjoy. Ussually, my lesson programme is start with a short warm up (technique exercises) to continue with different cello pieces chosen by the students. I have a lot of pop and actual music cello pieces for all levels. In addition, I'm familiar with methods like ABRSM, Suzuki, Feuillard, Duport, Popper and Piatti.

Kellie
Music Lessons - Beginner to Advanced, all ages welcome!
Experienced Violin, Viola, Piano, Voice, Ukulele, and Composition/Music Theory Teacher offering Top quality 1:1 or small group lessons around Berlin or Online. Please contact me to arrange a lesson, or for any further information All ages and abilities are welcome.

Neda
Violin lessons, for beginners and advanced no matter the age.
Whether you're a beginner or an experienced player, if you're here, it probably means you need support in some aspect of your music education. With a background of over 17 years of playing the violin and pedagogical experience in teaching youth, I bring the knowledge gathered from the world scene in a systematized way to the students I work with. As part of my program, you will get to know and explore: - Fundamentals: reading violin music, proper posture, intonation, scales, solfeggio, techniques and other exercises. - Violin Technique: correct posture, holding of the violin and the bow, finger and bow techniques through various exercises. - Pitch and Rhythm: recognize and notate pitches on all strings, experience diverse rhythms and meters. - Musical Vocabulary: basic musical terms and symbols. - Making music: learning to express your musicality through understanding form, dynamics, tempo and phrasing. - Repertoire: literature of various composers, understanding their style and of the epoch of theirs. Please contact me before booking a lesson so that I can understand your priorities and, in accordance with your level of experience and individual learning pace, embark on this musical journey. With the desire to build a platform for violinists together, I eagerly await you in my online classroom!

Mehrad
Bass Breakthrough: Transforming Players into Pros - Unlocking Your Musical Potential
Dive into the world of bass mastery with my comprehensive lessons! From mastering the groove to honing technique, delving into theory, harmony, and rhythm, and even mastering music reading and fretboard note names, these sessions cover it all. Drawing from years of experience, I've finely tuned the curriculum to suit every learner, ensuring a paced and organized approach that guarantees progress. But beyond just playing notes, the ultimate aim is to empower you with the knowledge of how music truly works. Together, we'll unlock the secrets of crafting your own basslines and solos, fostering creativity and musical independence that extends far beyond the confines of any lesson.

Meric
Learn how to sing jazz/pop, Improve your vocal technique
Singing lessons offered from experienced singer/vocal coach for every level. I am Meriç and I hold a bachelor and a masters degree in Jazz voice. If you want to learn how to sing in various styles or to improve your vocal technique. I am that person you are looking for :)

Ester
Private violin lessons, Music Theory, Technical and Musical Skills
My goal is to make people of all ages and levels learn not only playing an instrument but how can music help them in their everyday life. I am an Albanian violinist, with a Bachelor degree in Classical Music (Violin) and Musicologie in Sorbonne University. Over the years, my experiences with different youth and professional orchestras all around Europe have made me understand that music is important not only for professional musicians but also for everyone. I can teach in English or French and of course in my mother tongue Albanian.

Francesco
MUSIC as you wish! DOUBLE BASS, BASS, THEORY / HARMONY
Musician since the age of 14, I have been giving lessons for more than 8 years as a private teacher. I focus on your desires, whether to improve your vocabulary (jazz or other modern genres), or learn the basics of double bass and electric bass. I pay great attention to the practical application of theoretical notions. Personalized itinerary according to the student's needs and wishes. non-exhaustive list of what we can see: - basic techniques for beginners - learning songs of your choice -develop your knowledge of the neck (scale, arpeggios, triads) -develop your ear and improvisation -develop your sense of rhythm and music theory -musical theory, composition and arrangement