About Rachel

Coming from a musical family, Rachel studied both cello and piano from an early age. She achieved all the ABRSM grades, later taking Cello Performance and other music modules as part of a BA (Hons) in Humanities at Ealing College of Higher Education (now London College of Music).

Rachel is an accredited Suzuki teacher (Level 4) with the British Suzuki Music Association, having also trained with Angela East and Anders Groen (Levels 1-3). Through regular ongoing participation in training and workshops, she keeps in touch with colleagues and reviews material learnt at previous levels,

Rachel also holds an ATCL Diploma in Instrumental Teaching.

She has undertaken extensive online training in Alice Kay Kanack's 'Creative Ability Development' method of teaching improvisation, and is working on integrating this in both individual and group sessions, alongside the study of repertoire and technique. Rachel has also attended other courses in improvisation with teachers from the USA, Canada, and with the London Cello Society.

Rachel has attended workshops in Stringbabies; Kodaly; and Baroque cello techniques on modern instruments - both with Angela East as part of her independent training, and with ESTA.

Rachel performs regularly in Ipswich and around Suffolk with Ipswich Symphony orchestra and Strictly Celli (their cello section); and also Trianon. With other instrumentalists, she has also spent much time exploring and performing music in a variety of genres. She enjoys both practising and performing solo cello repertoire with piano accompaniment, and playing chamber music.

Rachel is a committed member of the choir at St Mary-Le-Tower in Ipswich. Some cello pupils have also been choristers, and the high level of musicianship gained from this is very evident.

Rachel has also trained and worked in various other fields - including modern languages teaching, TEFL and counselling. For a number of years also, she explored Gabrielle Roth's 5-Rhythms Dance; and also Samba drumming. She now brings all this experience to her cello teaching.

Rachel is a proud mum of two awesome young adults; is a committed practitioner of meditation and yoga; adores spending time in Nature; and can sometimes be caught dancing around at local music events!