BSc Hons (RHBNC, London) and PGCE (Goldsmiths, London)
Plays and Teaches: Piano and Violin.
Areas Covered: Medway
Cathy Hall has been working as a teacher for the past 22 years in a variety of settings since graduating from University with the last 12 years teaching Piano and Violin both in schools and freelance privately. Piano is her first instrument but violin is a close second! Cathy is currently a piano peripatetic teacher at Kings Rochester and also their music administrator. Through the school and also through Rochester Cathedral where she is a bell ringer, she has received full Safeguarding Training (certificate).
Cathy learnt to read music and play the piano whilst watching her mother play as a toddler and took up lessons from the age of 3. In her teens, she found her late grandfather’s violin in her grandmother’s shed and persuaded her parents to get it repaired so she could learn to play! Taking up formal lessons through her school, Cathy became leader of the orchestra in 6th form and performed in local competitions and festivals. Cathy also sang in the Chamber choir made up of pupils and staff members, winning group categories at the local music festival.
Cathy read Geography at Royal Holloway and Bedford New College and during that time, was accepted into the prestigious Chapel Choir as a soprano, recording CDs with them and going on tour to France. Cathy became leader of the orchestra set up for non music students. Realising that teaching was in her blood, Cathy went on to take her PGCE at Goldsmith’s College, University of London and then started teaching Humanities including Geography, RS and Music in schools. There followed a number of years working with adults and children with special educational and health needs where the benefits of music upon wellbeing became very apparent, inspiring Cathy to set up as a private instrumental tutor. Cathy also worked in schools in Medway for Dynamics Music Hub teaching KS2 percussion and Violin, differentiating for a wide range of abilities.
Cathy has been a first soprano in the BBC Symphony Chorus for the last 13 years, taking part in many concerts in the Barbican and the Royal Albert Hall, particularly enjoying the proms season. This has given her the opportunity to obtain passes for her pupils to come and watch orchestral rehearsals, some of them hearing such music live for the first time ever which has been a real joy to see. Special highlights have been performing under the late Sir Andrew Davis recording Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius, The Kingdom and The Music Makers on the Chandos label and also recording Arthur Sullivan’s rarely performed ‘The Light of the World’ with the BBC Concert Orchestra. Cathy is looking forward to the Prom season this year and an exciting Barbican programme in the Autumn.
Having had the constant comfort and enjoyment of music in all its forms throughout her life, Cathy’s motivation comes from wanting to give the skills of music making to others to enhance their lives.