Aniela Zylinski is a fully qualified piano teacher, performer, and music teacher and SLE (Specialist Leader in Education) consultant with over 15 years’ experience teaching and leading in a range of schools and learning environments.
Currently based in Wiltshire, but now expanding across to Somerset, Aniela Zylinski is passionate about teaching and learning in this important national curriculum subject area, and deliver approaches which enable the study of music which is engaging, relevant, and fun.
As many of us know, the benefits of learning a musical instrument are vast: scientific research has long proven that those who learn a musical instrument have advanced brain processing abilities, increased concentration and memory, and improved co-ordination and motor skills, to name but a few. Learning an instrument instills a sense of self-discipline and patience, heightens self-awareness, communication, and boosts self-esteem.
However, what happens when we can’t have 1:1 lessons, as is the case currently with the COVID-19 situation?
Like many instrumental teachers, Aniela has successfully moved her teaching practice online.
Here is a section from her recent blog post about the process:
“Inevitably, getting used to the medium of online lessons can take a little time, firstly due to the technology, and secondly, because the style of lesson delivery and teaching strategies (e.g. teacher demonstrations) have to be adapted somewhat.
However, what I’m finding useful (and actually quite exciting!) is that I am able to supplement the online lessons with creating short personalised video tutorials for my students, which are specific to the piece(s) they are learning. These are uploaded onto my YouTube channel so they can be accessed in between lessons, which supports students’ daily practice sessions.
So far, I’ve observed that some of the benefits of online lessons include the following:
• progress is supported whilst 1:1 “in-person” lessons are not possible due to ‘lockdown’
• continuity of lessons is maintained - continued contact between student and teacher
• students have a focus/purpose in their week
• students take responsibility for their own learning in a new way
• students continue to enjoy their instrument
• preparation for specific goals (e.g. exams) is uninterrupted
• the young person’s ongoing personal development is supported whilst in the face of adversity, which we are all experiencing - emotional resilience, sense of achievement, increased self-confidence”
Here are just two of the recent parent testimonials:
‘Hi Aniela, I just wanted to let you know that [my son] was super pleased with the [Skype] lesson today... he couldn’t wait to tell me all about it and share new stuff.
He thoroughly enjoys his piano lessons with you: I am finding I don’t need to encourage him to practice; he just does - in fact he is playing right now! As you have probably noticed, he can become quite anxious at times, and playing really helps him with this. So a big thank you from him and me.’ ET (Parent, April 2020)
‘[My son] would love to have the extra two lessons over the Easter holidays if you have space. His [first Skype] lesson was amazing and it was lovely to see it first hand. His dad said he was getting a lump in his throat listening to him play.’ NB (Parent, March 2020)
Aniela is also currently utilising her experience as an SLE consultant to lead a working group within her local music co-operative, to facilitate the sharing of good practice (both in terms of getting to grips with the technology, and also maintaining teaching and learning standards) during this lockdown situation.
She is enhanced-DBS checked, holds Public Liability insurance, and is a member of EPTA (European Piano Teachers’ Association).
For more information, or to arrange a free trial lesson, please feel free to drop Aniela a line: anielaz@hotmail.com
Or visit her website: www.zylinskimusic.com
Or follow her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/zylinskimusic
