DipLCM(TD): Delivering an Effective Demonstration Lesson
In this blog post, I want to share some thoughts about planning, rehearsing and delivering your demonstration lesson as part of the DipLCM(TD) teaching diploma. The advice given here is…
Review: ABRSM More Piano Sight-Reading, Grades 1-8
I suppose you might ask, with some justification I may add, what the point of another set of piano sight-reading books is. ABRSM have always produced a set of eight…
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Review: Music & Drama Education Expo 2019
I have just returned from this year’s Music & Drama Education Expo, held at Olympia London on 6th and 7th March. 2019 is the fifth consecutive event I’ve attended in…
8 Myths of Private Instrumental Teaching
Over the past 18 years, I have come across many myths surrounding the nature of private teaching as a professional occupation. Sometimes these myths are perpetuated by those outside of…
On the Record: Reflections on Using Recordings as a Learning Tool
Ruth Carlyle is an adult student, studying singing with David Barton. She reflects here on her experience of making recordings of her singing as part of her learning. You can…
Age-Appropriate: Why Instrumental Teachers Should Be Honest About Their Skillset
When I started teaching, as I'm sure a lot of us did, I'd teach anyone who came my way, who was interested and who was willing to pay. My first…
Review: ABRSM Theory Works App
This is an entirely independent review. I purchased the app myself and have not been asked by ABRSM to review it. For more information, you can read my Reviews Policy…
Instrumental Teaching: The Critical Art of Choice
As instrumental teachers, we are overwhelmed by choice when it comes to teaching resources and materials. New books, websites and subscription sites appear on an almost daily basis. There is…
Review: ABRSM Teacher Conference 2018
Since 1889, ABRSM have held over 40 million exams, and currently, more than 700 examiners conduct over 600,000 exams a year in over 90 countries. It was a pleasure to…
Work and Music: Music Lessons, Practice and Full-Time Employment
When adults learn an instrument or study singing, they have to juggle music lessons and practice time with other commitments, notably full-time employment. In this guest blog post, David Barton…
ABRSM Piano Syllabus 2019/20: an overview
I shall preface this overview by saying that I wholeheartedly believe that learning an instrument is not solely about taking exams, and indeed only a small number of my pupils…
Setting the Tempo: Working With Accompanists When There Is No Rehearsal Time
David Barton Music student, Ruth Carlyle, has taken part in two local festivals and has also worked with many other accompanists on fairly limited rehearsal time. Thank you to Ruth…