Educator
Coaching at JJ Amadeus Music Summer Camp - used with permission from JJ Amadeus Music
Teaching
Rachel teaches at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama Junior Department along with Oakham School (Rutland), St Johns College School (Cambridge), The Leys (Cambridge) along with a few private students both in person and online. Overall Rachel teaches about 35 oboists each week ranging from age 7 to 70+ and are beginners right through to post diploma level.
Many of her students have gained music scholarships to their secondary schools and have gained places in National youth orchestras like the National Children's Orchestra and the National Schools Symphony Orchestra. Rachel has also had numerous students gain Scholarships to Music College to continue their studies to degree level.
Rachel is a passionate teacher who enjoys the different challenges every student brings. Her approach to teaching is to try and make the oboe as easy as it can be. We all know if can be a tricky instrument but when learning students get into habits that make the oboe much more challenging to play so Rachel does work a lot on ensuring students are using correct technique but in a way that is fun and engaging. She aims to not only pass on a love of playing the oboe but a love of music in general.
Coaching
Rachel has coached at the Big Double Reed Day for the past 9 years giving adult masterclasses, Cor Anglais workshops and coaching the junior oboes and bassoons teaching them an ensemble piece to perform at the end of the day. Rachel has also coached at Benslow Hills (Hertfordshire) and on the Music for People Summer Course at Giggleswick School (Yorkshire) working with adult amateur players on chamber music playing. In 2015 Rachel was invited to Portugal to coach the woodwind players from the Yovem Orquestra Portuguesa (Portuguese Youth Orchestra) in preparation for their performances of The Rite of Spring.
Big Double Reed Day 2019
Workshops
In 2020 Rachel set up a series of online workshops for oboists of every level and standard. These were full day workshops covering warm ups, scales, technique, reed making, a virtual concert and a virtual ensemble. Visiting schools to demonstrate musical instruments, alongside working with students on creative projects are are also a big part of Rachel's work. She has taken part in many woodwind demonstrations as a member of a variety of chamber ensembles and has taken part in many schools music projects as part of the Brandenburg Sinfonia. In these workshops a variety of activities take place, musical story telling, listening, percussion, improvisation, body percussion, working as a large group and in smaller groups all lead to the students performing their own atmospheric story based improvisatory composition.
Rhythm & Pulse Workshop at JJ Amadeus Music Summer Camp 2023 - used with permission from JJ Amadeus Music
Demonstrations
An important part of teaching is giving regular demonstrations in schools to encourage the next generation of oboe players. Rachel has given demonstrations as part of class lessons, school assemblies, and last year was invited to be part of an endangered species event at the South East Derbyshire Music Centre where students got to hear about the instrument, heard it being played and then were able to come and try the instrument.
Oboe demonstration, Cokethorpe School, Oxfordshire
Further Information
If you would like to enquire about oboe lessons or a one off consultation lesson, would like to book Rachel to give a demonstration, workshop or coach an ensemble then please do get in touch via email.