Author Archives: Damian Oxborough

Online Lessons Availability w/c 23/03/20

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Hi all. As you know, I’ve now switched to online lessons. I’m using the Pro version of Zoom – the highest quality video conferencing software available. It’s free for my students to use and allows us to have a ‘nearly in the same room’ type of experience. There is, admittedly, one small downside: that it’s difficult to play / sing… Read more »

Online Lessons via Zoom

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A bit of good news: I’ve found a really good online conferencing tool that will be perfect for conducting piano, guitar and music theory lessons via video link. It’s free for students to use, requires no additional software to be downloaded to PC / laptops (and only a little app for android and apple devices), and so allows musicians to… Read more »

Suspension of face-to-face lessons

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Following the PM’s announcement today that schools will be closing on Friday, I am following suit and suspending all face-to-face music lessons from the end of this week until further notice. Lessons booked for tomorrow and Friday will go ahead as planned unless students need or want to cancel. I will be contacting all students who currently have lessons booked… Read more »

17th March: Service Update

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As I’m sure you’re aware, yesterday the government announced that the public should avoid large gatherings and other non-essential social interactions. As you can imagine, this has put the fear of God into lots of ordinary folk who are now wondering what on earth they can or can’t, should or shouldn’t do. As far as my service is concerned, I… Read more »

w/c 16th March: FULLY BOOKED

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Despite all the chaos, cancellations and disruption around the world as a result of the Corona Virus, my service continues to be as busy as ever. This week is another one that is completely fully booked out with students but, as usual, if this changes I will post it to my Facebook page. Speaking of the dreaded Corona Virus, I… Read more »

Corona Virus

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As with all businesses, I need to consider the impact that the spread of Corona Virus might have on my ability to deliver my service to my customers. With this in mind, the plan is as follows: As things stand: Lessons continue as normal. Those students who wish to avoid face-to-face contact have a couple of options: Switch to lessons… Read more »

w/c 9th March 2020: Fully Booked

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Hi everyone. Thanks for visiting the blog again to check for lesson availability. Hopefully, posting available spaces here each week will continue to prove useful to those of you who want to book in last minute lessons / have sudden changes of plans etc. Unfortunately, though, this week is absolutely fully booked, with students and band camp sessions running from… Read more »

Lesson Availability w/c 2nd March 2020

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This is an exciting week for me because, for the very first time, I’m collaborating with Sarah Churcher (another excellent singing teacher based in Carleton) to provide a full day’s singing workshop. It’s on Thursday at Woodlands Retreat in Giggleswick, and will be all about songs from the shows. We’re actually fully booked out already, but we’ll be planning to… Read more »

w/c 24th Feb 2020 – Fully Booked

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I’m afraid all the lessons slots for this coming week are completely booked out. However, you might want to join one of our Band Camp sessions in a couple of weeks: an ideal opportunity to learn musicianship skills alongside other students through learning and recording a song together. Check out the dates and sign up by CLICKING HERE.

The wise words of Ray Mears

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I’m in the middle of reading Ray Mears’ autobiography: Ray Mears: My Outdoor Life. It’s an absolutely fascinating read about how he got into bushcraft in the first place, and how his lifelong fascination with nature has led him to a wonderful and all consuming career as a Woodlore educator. The reason I mention it here on my blog is… Read more »