Key Roles In Music Class - August 2005
Cathy Stanworth talks to a Shropshire couple who are bringing a taste of Russian music to the county with a pioneering new musical initiative.
A GROUND-BREAKING new school of classical music - which combines the teaching cultures of both Russia and England - is opening up in the heart of Shropshire.
The Shropshire School of Classical Music is being launched in Shrewsbury by husband and wife team and professional pianists, Christopher and Maria Giles (nee Sytnik).
It will be based in the music block of Kingsland Grange School in the town from next month, where Christopher already works as Director of Music. He and his Russian wife Maria, both aged 28, are hoping to offer the best teaching practices from their respective countries, and are very passionate about what they are trying to achieve.
Maria is a professional pianist and musicologist who trained at the Moscow State Conservatoire after performing from the age of five and becoming a professional pianist and teacher aged just 16.
She also worked as a teacher at the Central Music School for Gifted Musicians in Moscow and as a correspondant and editor at the Moscow classical music radio station, Orpheus. Christopher, also a professional pianist, studied for his degree at Goldsmiths, University of London, before going on to specialise in contemporary music for his Masters.
Teacher
The Shropshire School of Classical Music will also employ Russian teacher, Olga Lewis, who graduated from the Gnessins Academy of Music, Moscow and worked as an accompanist to the Moscow Choir, and Philippa Dearsley, who graduated from the University of London and also studied at The Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland. It will initially cater for 30 children for the basic course.
Christopher and Maria, both principals of the school said "We want to complement what we have in England, adding what we feel will be of benefit to our pupils."
In Russia, musical education is taken for granted with free music schools running in conjunction with normal state education for children from seven years of age and every musician in Russia plays the piano. Piano will be a compulsory instrument for all pupils of The Shropshire School of Classical Music.
Maria said "Chris has been to Russia and obviously knows a lot about the running of English schools as well. He thought that if we could combine our expertise we could do so much more. Because Chris works at Kingsland Grange School we put this project to the Headmaster. We are very glad that he thought it was a good idea."
The classes will be in addition to a child's normal schooling taking place on Tuesday afternoons and Saturday mornings and afternoons.
They range from courses for five to six year olds to 11 to 16 year olds. Subjects taught include piano, advanced aural training and music history. The adult courses will take place on Monday and Friday afternoons.
Maria said: "Our basic programme and curriculum is based on Russian music education adapted to the British system. All we initially ask is that the children are showing an interest in music.
Special
"It is an additional opportunity for children to be educated in a very special and important part of general education and it is also a wonderful start for someone who may go on to be a professional musician."
Pupils will also be expected to perform in public and will be fully prepared to sit music examinations under the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music if they so wish.
Anyone interested is invited to a presentation at Kingsland Grange School on August 13th from 10am to 11am. Auditions will be held later, although the only requirement for entry is "an interest" in music. For further details ring 01743 363154 or 07906 377630.
