Giovanni Del Biondo Incoronazione della Vergine - Painted 1375!!
Giovanni Del Biondo Incoronazione della Vergine - Painted 1375!!
VANESSA GAIDONI
VIOLA TEACHER
Vanessa Gaidoni - Viola Teacher Hitchin Hertfordshire
Welcome to my website.
Thank you for taking the time to visit.
- Trained at the Royal College of Music, studying Viola with Roger Best.
- From open strings to preparation for conservatoire - all ages 6 & up.
- 20 years' teaching experience.
- Lessons are given in purpose-built music studio - Hitchin, Hertfordshire.
- Viola Coach - National Youth String Orchestra
- Coordinator of the British Viola Society Young Violists.
- Many of my students enjoy taking part in wonderful organisations such as the National Youth Orchestra (NYO GB), National Children's Orchestra (NCO), National Youth String Orchestra (NYSO), Aldeburgh Young Musicians (AYM), Britten Sinfonia Academy, Arpeggione, Pro Corda and move on to music conservatoires and junior music departments.
NEWS
National Youth String Orchestra - 2024
Congratulations to pupil Lucy for gaining a place in the NYSO Sinfonia Orchestra for 2024.
You have already learned so much on the Easter course, well done for giving it your all and working so hard.
NCO National Programme - Under 13's Orchestra 2023
Huge congratulations to pupil Chu for gaining a place among the 300 exceptional young musicians of the National Children's Orchestras. Chu will take up his viola seat in the Under 13's Orchestra for 2023.
All of your hard work paid off and I admire your choice to play unaccompanied Hindemith for the audition!
NCO National Programme - Main Orchestra 2024
Congratulations to pupil Chu for gaining a place in the Main Orchestra of the National Children's Orchestras 2024.
Your final year in NCO will be a fantastic experience, enjoy!
Prayer for Ukraine
Here are 4 string arrangements - Please feel free to share...
Viola Day for Players Grade 5+
Sunday 6 February | 12:00pm to 3.30pm
What is the Viola Day?
Join us on Sunday 6th February for a fun, low-pressure day celebrating All Things Viola with devoted viola aficionados Rosalind Ventris, Vanessa Gaidoni and Isobel Doncaster.
The day starts at 12pm with a solo recital by Rosalind Ventris including works taken from her debut album: a one-of-its-kind recording of outstanding works for solo viola all by women composers. From toe-tapping Grażyna Bacewicz and Imogen Holst to the haunting ethereal sound of Irish composer Amanda Feery, this is a programme inspired by nature, folk music and dance, showcasing the extraordinary versatility of the viola.
After a lunch break (and viola-chat), Vanessa and Isobel lead an afternoon workshop beginning with warm-ups and a fun arrangement of The Rhythm of Life in canon and concluding with a massed play-through of Telemann’s Concerto in G for 4 violas.
Music Teacher Magazine
I was recently invited to write a piece on keeping pupils self motivated... here are a few ideas I shared to help keep up the practice momentum between lessons.
The Practice Toolbox
Waving off a pupil at the end of a lesson can feel a little like leaving your house plants when you go away on holiday. They are fully watered, but will they be happy and thriving, or a little wilted on your return? Some pupils will have a helpful relative pop in dutifully and tend to their every need; others are very much on their own........ FULL ARTICLE
Congratulations and Au Revoir
Final lessons with Emily and Grace.... They surprised me with a brilliant arrangement of my favourite song!
September will bring new adventures for both of them.
Emily is off to the Royal Academy of Music with a scholarship to study the viola with Martin Outram.
Grace has gained a scholarship to study music at Jesus College, Oxford.
Good luck, I look forward to receiving lots of invitations to amazing concerts in the very near future!!
Viola and Violin Zoom
A collection of call & response pieces, to help with playing together while remote teaching.
Jesus College - Oxford University 2020
Super proud of Grace who has been offered one of only two places to study music at Jesus college Oxford. The perfect combination of dedication and enthusiasm, your hard work has truly paid off. Congratulations!
NCO Main Orchestra 2020
Congratulations to Frederik for gaining a place in NCO 2020.
Touch and go there for a while, fracturing your elbow days before your audition!....but you mended just in time to catch the last audition!
C Major!
This photo was taken last term to celebrate Lucy's first ever C Major scale.
Beautifully in tune it was too!
Violin Bow Snaps
This is what happens when you give one of my viola pupils a violin!!
NYO 2020
Hats off to Emily for being offered the role of string leader within the National youth orchestra viola section 2020! Congratulations!
A Blast from the Past!
A Friend posted this memory from 1989....
Sidney Griller, Yehudi Menuhin, Martin Lovett, and Yfrah Neaman.
NYO
Great to see Emily and Jemma at the Barbican on the NYO Winter Concert Tour, and at the Royal Albert Hall BBC Prom concert this summer.
Benslow Violas
Two new beautiful Benslow violas for pupils Grace and Evie
Congratulations Frederik -
NCO Under 13's 2019
Congratulations to pupil Frederik for being offered a place in the viola section of the National Children's Orchestra under 13's for 2019.
Great job and keep inspiring your little sister!
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Thank you to the Benslow Music Instrument Loan Scheme for lending us four such beautiful violas, we had a spontaneous gathering to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
From Emily, Zoe, Frederik and Grace XXX
Congratulations Emily - NYO GB Success
Congratulations to pupil Emily for successfully securing her place in the National Youth Orchestra GB viola section.
An exciting year ahead, including a US tour and a concert in New York’s Carnegie Hall. Whoop Whoop!
Good Luck Abby & Izzy
Congratulations to Abby on graduating from the Royal Academy of Music this summer. Both Izzy and Abby are starting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama this year, Abby as a postgraduate and Izzy as an undergraduate.
BVSYoung Violists
I have recently been invited by the British Viola Society to develop a section for young violists.
We really want to encourage young players to join us, develop viola friendships and share news and ideas. We offer a warm invitation to all viola players aged under 18.
Follow the latest Blogs on our WordPress page.
Chat with other young players through our new Instagram account.
AYM & Pro Corda
Congratulations to Grace on becoming an Aldeburgh Young Musician and securing a place on the
Senior Pro Corda course this summer.
Cecil Aronowitz Viola Competition and Festival 2017
Congratulations to all pupils who attended masterclasses & workshops at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in November. Many thanks to Louise Lansdown and her wonderful team, a fabulous time was had by all. To see more photos click HERE
Benslow Instrument Loan Award
Congratulations to Jemma Starling who won the Benslow Instrument Loan award this year.
Jemma had a lovely time at Benslow and chose a beautiful violin that she can enjoy playing for the next three years.
Great Role Model
Lovely to welcome Abby, my first ever Hitchin pupil, back from the Royal Academy of Music to inspire some of the younger viola players - Thanks for coming along!
Britten Sinfonia Academy
Congratulations to both Emily and Ella for being chosen to join the Britten Sinfonia Academy from September 2017.
CONCERTS & COURSES
VIOLA ACTIVITIES
RNCM YOUNG VIOLAS
RNCM Young Violas is a series of workshops led by Lucy Nolan, and featuring special guests. The aim is simple – Young Violas will provide a chance to learn about and celebrate all things viola!
