Robin Padgham Piano Teacher

Latest news

This page contains a summary of what's been going on with music lessons, exams, and my website. Please make a point of returning to this page often, as it will contain details of what's new. You can also visit the website change page, where each update is listed in date order.

March 2025

It's Spring!
It's finally beginning to feel like Spring anyway. Daffodils and Magnolia coming into bloom and warmer brighter days. And this weekend the clocks go forward so we lose an hour of our weekend. I think it would be better to put the clocks forward by a minute each day for 60 consecutive days so that we didn't notice it so much. Or at all, in fact.

And another exam period completed. Well done to everyone who has worked hard and I hope all are pleased with their results. For those aiming for an exam later in the year, keep up with your practice (of course!) but also always remember that playing an instrument is all about enjoyment. Make sure you also play pieces that you like as well as any exam pieces. Ideally you will also have exam pieces that you like, but make sure it's not all that you play.

Working towards practical exams using video calls has been a new venture for me. Triggered by Covid of course, but still carying on with pupils that have moved out of the area. I was uncertain about how well it would work but with pupils in Ashby-de-la-Zouch and Durham, I feel that I have proved to myself that it can be done. A different approach, yes, but by carefully planning everything, it seems to work.

Rather than repeat everything here, I am in the process of updating my website, so please use the "Website Updates" button (above) to find the latest changes. There have already been some but more are planned so do re-visit whenever you can.

November 2024

An overdue update
It's been a long time since I've provided an update here, but that isn't because nothing has been happening!

It's been very pleasing to see so many positives with my pupils recently as everyone returns to normal following the Covid-19 pandemic. The effects of it really do seem to have lingered for years and have changed the world in many ways. The perspex screens may have been removed from the supermarket checkouts but most people are still, quite rightly, 'Covid aware' and think differently about staying safe compared to the pre-Covid days.

Finally though, it does feel more normal again, even if it's the new Post-Covid normal, and lessons, practice, performances and exams are taking place. Lots of great results from those exams recently, both theory and practical, so well done to everyone who has added a new achievement to their collection. Not just to those pupils of mine, but also to the string players that I have accompanied since my last update. It's lovely to see familiar faces of students that I've accompanied in the past returning as they move up to their next grade. Fine results all round. Well done!

Once again music exams have been chosen as a goal for the Duke of Edinburgh scheme. Taking your music skill to a new level, or even adding music as a brand new skill, is an excellent idea and one for which you will be rewarded twice! You will not only achieve the next grade level with the music examination board, but it will be recognised as part of your Duke of Edinburgh work as well. Perhaps I should say that you will be rewarded three times, not twice, because the third reward is knowning that your musical ability has moved forward significantly.

I am always happy to help my pupils move forward in any direction that they wish. Whether that's the Duke of Edinburgh scheme, music exams, or just learning to play music for their own pleasure (or as someone recently put it, to impress their mates), I'm happy to help you to make it happen.

August 2023

Results
Congratulations to all my pupils who took exams this time, both theory and practical. I'm delighted with your excellent results and hope you are too. Well done!

Congratulations also to the violinists that I had the pleasure of accompanying at Stapleford recently. Lovely playing and well deserved certificates. Well done to you as well!

The new term
It seems that we no sooner start the long summer holidays than we have to start thinking about exam entries for next term. For those preparing for exams, please keep up your hard work and stay focused. We will need to make the important decision about whether to make that entry in September, which is only a month away.

Exam boards
Regular readers and my pupils will know that I have started to make exam entries with Trinity College London. I have been impressed with the organisation and running of these exams, both for theory and practical exams, and plan to continue using this examination board. However, the choice about whether to make an entry to Trininty or ABRSM will always be based on which board offers the best option for each individual at every stage. If one board's syllabus appears more suitable or the choices of music is more appealing, then we will choose that board. I will always discuss with parents and pupils before making the decision about which board to use.

June 2023

Availability
Those "straight from school" time slots are always popular and I now have one available on Thursday, with a start time of between 3:30 and 4:00. If you have been thinking of piano lessons for your child and would like to make a start, then do get in touch. Other times are also available but most are later in the evening. However, adult learners who are able to come during the day are always welcome and I can be flexible with lesson times, whatever day of the week suits you.

Summer exams
Appointments for the Trinity College London exams are now out and I wish everyone the best of luck for the day. Keep practising and remember that I am always available to answer any last minute questions, right up until the day of your exam.

February 2023

The Ceilidh Band
For only the second time since the Covid-19 pandemic struck, the Revival Ceilidh Band played for a live gig at the weekend. With over ninety tickets sold prior to the event, the village hall in Tutbury could not have accommodated many more. A large and enthusiastic crowd with no shortage of participants for every dance made it a lively and enjoyable evening. The band played well too!

Teaching update
After all the disruption caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic, it does feel as if some things are getting back to normal at long last!

Using Zoom for lessons served its purpose, but for me, getting back to face-to-face lessons was a huge relief. My pupils all say the same. Sadly, some did not return for various reasons (including moving on to college, university, or the workplace), but it's been great to see that most have battled through and continue to enjoy their learning. Also lovely to add a couple of new pupils recently, and to welcome back another who gave up a number of years ago, later realising that he missed his lessons and piano playing.

There are still a couple of 'after school' slots available and it would be nice to fill those so do get in touch if you are interested in lessons for yourself or your child. Daytime lessons are always available too and I can often accommodate pupils later in the evening, so please contact me if you are interested in these. I would love to hear from you.

For perhaps the first time since all the isolation and upset of Covid-19, 2023 feels like it's got off to much more of a normal start. It's super to now have pupils working towards exams, and I hope they will be taking these later in the year, possibly at the end of the summer term. Unlike previous years, I now have some pupils using the ABRSM syllabus and others who will be entered with Trinity College London, including at least one theory exam.

It's already shaping up to being a busy year and it's racing past, already nearly the end of February!

December 2022

Exam results
Congratulations to everyone taking exams is this session, both my own and those that I accompanied. Excellent results that you should all be really proud of. Well done!

Stapleford Methodist Church remains my preferred venue for ABRSM exams. A relaxed centre, free on-site parking, and a lovely piano (hired from Clement Pianos) in the spacious church. Go and enjoy making a big sound!

This session I also visited Sherwood Methodist Church where I made my first ever entry with the Trinity exam board. Another lovely venue, also hiring a piano from Clement Pianos, where we were made very welcome. Very limited on-site parking but plenty of spaces on the street.

June 2022

Website
I am hoping that the new list of Musical Terms will be useful to all my pupils, whether for looking up a term that they spot whilst playing their music, or as they study towards their next theory exam. This new facility, which can be found on my Theory page within the Resources area, allows selection of four separate lists. These range from Group 1 beginner, up to Group 4 which I hope will eventually have just about all the terms needed to succeed at a Grade 5 theory exam. You can also select, for example, just Italian terms, or German, or list terms related to Dynamics, Tempo, Technique etc. Do let me know what you think.

Online Theory exams
A new article giving some thoughts on the new-style online exams for music theory has been added. Use the drop-down menu to access the Articles page, where you will find a link to it. Comments are welcome.

Derby Exam Centre
I find it amazing that the centre at Derby University no longer allows parking on site for music exam candidates. The suggested parking is at the Mundy Play Centre (charges apply), which ABRSM describes as a fifteen minute walk away. An alternative is on Broadway. Charges apply here too, but it is a bit closer. More information on parking on Broadway can be found on my Exam Venues page within the Resources Area.

I would suggest that anyone wishing to take an ABRSM practical exam considers the venue at Stapleford. A relaxed centre, free on-site parking, and a lovely piano (hired from Clement Pianos) in the spacious church. Go and enjoy making a big sound!

May 2022

Exams
Many aspects of our lives are now returning to near-normal (or the 'new normal' at least), and music exams are included. Face to face exams have been offered with new measures and guidelines in place to ensure that they are as Covid-safe as possible. As things settle, I am looking carefully at the exams offered by Trinity College London. I have always used ABRSM as the exam board for my candidates but for several reasons, I intend to switch to Trinity for most future exams. There are likely to be pros and cons both ways so I will be weighing them up to find the best possible way forward. The musical and educational aspects will remain of paramount importance and I am not ruling out ABRSM, but I will be assessing the merits of both boards before recommending a choice of route for each individual.

My website
I've completed a bit of an overhaul to my website recently. One aim has been to make it easier to find your way around, whether on desktop, laptop, or mobile devices. The new drop-down menu is one of the new features to help with this. There are other changes and new information too so it's worth having a look round. There is now a single source of information relating to keeping safe with Covid-19 and this is accessible from every page via a prominent COVID-19 Latest button.

The drop-down menu also makes it easier to access my 'resources' area, which is now also being fully reviewed and updated, particularly to bring it up to date with the latest exam information including that relating to the Trinity College London exams. I welcome any feedback, good or bad. Thanks for reading.

Future changes will be summarised on this page, but also itemised on the Website updates feed.

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