“For today’s children growing up in an ever-increasingly fast-paced world, learning to play music is more important than ever, because it’s something that can’t be rushed,” explains Talia Girton, headteacher and creative director of the Cycling Music Teachers (CMT).
CMT is a music school and music therapy service provider based in Rotherhithe.
“I’ve always loved to sing and play piano, and growing up, my father was the programme director of a local R&B and classic soul station, so I’ve always been surrounded by music,” she explains.
When she moved to London in 2017, Talia began teaching piano and offering music therapy sessions privately. Within a few months, there was a waiting list, and CMT has continued to expand ever since.
CMT has grown to six teachers (Hyunjung, Arnaldo, Ions, Saurabh, Niamh and deputy head Alex) and an administrative director (Lizzie).
And now, in addition to piano and music therapy services, CMT offers guitar lessons, singing lessons and group piano classes.
When you take music lessons, Talia explains how “you’re developing a skill that will benefit you throughout your life”.
She adds: “You learn to express yourself through sound. You can play with other people. You can take simple pleasure in creating beautiful music with your voice or your fingertips.
“Building up the skills required to play well takes time and practice. Learning music teaches patience, perseverance and tenacity, and the hard work brings about a tangible result: the ability to play (or create!) much-loved music, and to share it with friends and family.”
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CMT also offers adapted lessons, which are taught by teachers who have specific experience in working with neurodiversity, learning disabilities and other differences.
“The goal of these lessons is to help students of all abilities learn music by adapting to their unique needs,” says Talia.
Music therapy, on the other hand, uses music as a tool to work on other therapeutic aims.
“For example,” says Talia, “I may use specific singing exercises to help someone with Parkinson’s maintain the quality of their voice for as long as possible, or I may use back-and-forth instrument-play exercises to facilitate social interaction with someone who is non-verbal.”
She adds: “The scope of how music therapy can help and heal is wide; I could write a whole series of articles just on that! For both adapted lessons and music therapy, music facilitates creativity, fosters emotional expression and brings about a sense of accomplishment and enjoyment.”
Of teaching in Rotherhithe and Canada Water, she says how it is such a friendly and family-orientated place. “Every day, I walk past and greet students and families I work with while walking my dog or cycling to the CMT studio. I take such delight in these random encounters, especially when so much of our lives are carefully planned and scheduled,” she says.
CMT also hosts concerts several times a year, and “one of the best things is seeing the smile on a student’s face after they perform”, says Talia.
“They’ve been working towards this moment for several months, and watching all that hard work culminate in a single moment of pride and accomplishment is such a delight.”
Their next performance is the annual summer concert on 28 June at The Finnish Church.
For those interested in group or private music lessons, or music therapy and integrative arts psychotherapy services, get in touch via the website:
www.thecyclingmusicteachers.com
