Katherine Payne

My lessons ultimately come down to the students themselves. For younger beginners, it’s important for the lessons to not only set them up correctly, but to be fun and engaging, so that they want to continue to learn and practise outside of the lessons. As they grow as people and musicians, a key element of music is learning how to teach themselves, using techniques taught in their lessons. I want them to recognise their progress and use that to motivate themselves to evolve as a musician. Every student is different, so adapting to what works best for them individually is crucial. My role, therefore, is not just to teach, but to understand the person in front of me and find the approach that helps them learn most effectively. I want my students to develop a genuine enjoyment of music, alongside the skills and confidence that will benefit them whether the long-term goal is to be a successful musician, or just to learn an instrument for fun. As a teacher, I encourage curiosity and confidence, rather than simply teaching what is “right”, while still developing the fundamental skills and techniques the students need, creating an environment where mistakes are embraced as part of the process, and learnt from. I ensure that the confidence developed in learning and performing an instrument, is also transferable to life outside of music, and therefore invaluable to all students, regardless of age or standard. My goal is for my student leaves my lesson feeling inspired and proud of their work.