Suzanne Wilson Teaching and Performance
About
I am a professional musician, arranger, individual and group teacher and musical director covering Salisbury, Amesbury and the Salisbury Plain Garrison area. I bring a very dynamic, fun teaching style and am keen for all my students to be enthusiastic about the music they create and their performance ability.
My work is incredibly varied as I am passionate about a range of styles. I teach singing, piano, recorder, clarinet and bassoon in classical, jazz and contemporary styles. I specialise in teaching musical theatre material and performance technique within this genre. Having trained and worked as an actress being able to reflect character as well as correct singing technique is something I instill in all my vocal students.
I am the piano and singing peripatetic teacher at Old Sarum Primary School, Netheravon Primary School, Wellington Academy and Avon Valley College. I also run a choir at Avon Valley College. I partner with Royal Artillery Band to create choirs made up of children from local schools for their concerts. We have performed at Salisbury Cathedral for Armistice and every year at their popular Christmas Spectacular Concert at Tidworth Garrison Theatre
Other musical director roles include Tidworth Military Wives Choir and St Francis Community Choir.
What I / we help young people achieve
I teach singing as an enrichment subject at The Wellington Academy to Years 7-9. For many of my pupils here this is their first experience of music in a class environment. I teach pupils that they don't need a background in music to create exciting works. All of my students have been able to create mash ups of both popular and less known songs. It has given them a chance to explore music outside their normal listening. It's quite an experience seeing young people listen to orchestral works for the first time!
The ability to read music and understand the theory of music I think is essential for those learning an instrument. I am able to adapt my teaching style depending on the student, for example I use kinesthetic learning strategies for my dyslexic pupils.
Giving my students a chance to perform and create music within their community is paramount to my teaching. I encourage all my students to join local or even national orchestras, bands and choirs. Through my work as an actress I am able to guide my students into performing in musical theatre and plays.
I am able to give my students chances to perform in the local community, compose and record their own music.
Opportunities for children & young people
- To learn to play an instrument and / or develop skills on an instrument
- To learn to sing
- To create / write music and / or lyrics
- To develop recording /production skills
- To play, perform music with others
- To learn things about oneself , other subjects or life-skills through musical activity
- To work with and support other young musicians
- To develop their wellbeing
Also Works With
The Wellington Academy
http://www.thewellingtonacademy.org.uk/
Tidworth Military Wives Choir
http://www.militarywiveschoirs.org/
Avon Valley College
https://www.avonvalleycollege.org.uk/
Old Sarum Primary School
Netheravon Primary School
St Francis Community Choir
Times
- Term Time
- After School
- Weekends
- School Holidays
- Project based
- Seasonal
- Drop in
Working with special needs
I have worked with the Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s Support to provide ‘Singing for the Brain’ and ‘Music for Mind’ sessions for those living with dementia and their carers. I used singing techniques and material including rounds, partner songs, familiar songs and rhythm exercises to help memory and create a fun, social atmosphere.
I teach students with dyslexia and dyspraxia and after research and advice from other music professionals with experience in this field I have been able to adapt my teaching style to help these pupils.
Taught Instruments
- Woodwind
- Singing / Voice
- Piano / Keyboard
- Music Theory
- Musical Director / Conductor
- Songwriting / Composition
- Music Production
Ages Taught
- 4 and under
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
- 14-15
- 16+
Level Taught
- Beginners
- Intermediate
- Advanced
- Tasters
Qualifications, Grades & Certificates Taught
- Instrument grades
- Rockschool
- Arts Award
Musical Clusters Covered
- Salisbury / Wilton
- Downton
- Amesbury
- Mere & Tisbury
- Tidworth
Endorsements
Donna Burns-Tidworth Military Wives Choir
tidworth@militarywiveschoirs.org
Kate Edgar-Musical Director for Amici Singers, The Navy Larks, The Coffee Choir and Downton Community Choir
Keedgar@aol.com
Lucy Bennett-The Wellington Academy
lucybennett@thewellingtonacademy.org.uk
My Training & Development
My musical training started at a very young age as I started learning the piano and singing aged 4. My enthusiasm for music persisted and I added organ, recorder, clarinet, bassoon and saxophone to my repertoire. Growing up I enjoyed playing and singing in many youth groups including Salisbury Youth Orchestra and Choir, Senior Wind Band and Durrington Walls Wind Band. These are groups I now recommend to my own students.
I started performing professionally at 16 as an organist for Salisbury Plain Garrison Churches, bassoonist for chamber ensemble ‘Die Kliene Kappelle’ and as a singer.
I trained and performed as an actress with Fourth Monkey Theatre Company and Saltmine Theatre Company. This has given experience of how to direct music within theatre.
My other passion outside of music is Mixed Martial Arts. My teaching ability and my experience competing in Boxing, Kickboxing and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has lead me to be a Coach for Women’s and Children’s classes. This in turn has helped my music teaching through observing other coaches teaching styles.
I continually strive to develop as a musician and teacher and most recently attended Wiltshire Music Connect’s Inclusive Music Conference. Sharing ideas and techniques with other musicians for me is one of the best ways I grow within my practice.