About Claire

I have 17 years flute/music teaching experience having entered many pupils of varying ages and abilities for Associated Board examinations, with a very high rate of merit/distinction passes. I accompany all of my students during examinations / concerts.
I graduated from Lancaster University with a Bachelor of Music honours degree in 1994, after specialising in flute under Rachel Holt (RNCM tutor and a former student of Trevor Wye). I was awarded a Diploma in flute performance (distinction) from the Independent Contemporary Music Awards (1995). I completed a Steinberg Diploma in Music Construction & Production at Manchester Midi School (2004), and have also received two Memorial prizes from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music for gaining the highest distinction marks in Grades 6 and 8 Flute in the County of Cleveland (1990/91).
I have taught and performed both in the UK and USA and created/directed flute choirs and ensembles. I currently teach music privately (flute, music theory, piano) as well as in schools on a freelance basis.
I am head of music at Fairholme Preparatory School (Denbighshire), where I teach general class music lessons, direct the school choir (years 2-6),teach woodwind, and beginner/advanced recorder consorts. Since working there I have developed what was once a descant recorder group into these two groups...gradually, over three years I have incorporated six other harmony recorder instruments into the advanced consort. Other projects and news:

March 2008/9/10: Won Under 15's Group Category "Musical Theatre Young Singers" with Stagecoach Denbigh. I chose the piece/songs,arranged & created new harmony parts, mixed and edited the backing tracks for each year and taught the singing to the children.

June 2009: Given an "outstanding" for my work as singing teacher in a Stagecoach inspection.

November 2005: I was awarded a Grade 1 mark from ESTYN (Welsh equivalent of Ofsted) for my work as music teacher at Fairholme Preparatory School. I was observed teaching Year 3 and 4 class music, beginner recorder group, advanced consort and directing the whole school in our choir rehearsal.
The school was awarded Grade 1's in all core subjects, an overall Grade of 1, and is the only school to have been awarded this highest grade.

July/August 2005/6/7: Music tutor at Theatr Cymru Junior Youth Theatre summer schools.
July/August 2004: Music tutor at Clwyd Theatr Cymru summer schools (Junior Youth Theatre 1 and Music course): conducting/teaching composition, singing and ensemble work (including handbell ringing!)& specialising in the use of their "Soundbeam" equipment.
September-November 2004: worked with the disabled children's group 'FUSE', teaching music (specialising in the use of "soundbeam" equipment for their November performance)
January 2004: Offered publishing contract for an original song.
October 2003: Composed original film music (for bassoon, piano, flutes) to accompany a silent film at Clwyd Theatr Cymru's "Silent Movie Season". (Performed by myself and some of my private flute students)