What Parents are Saying
Thank you for your skill and talent as a teacher to bring out the best in Shawn. Your dedication to him as an individual has been exceptional and has made the course a positive and worthwhile experience.
Thank you also for giving me such encouragement and for reminding me how far Shaun has come and how much he has achieved.
Judith W
It was during those times that we observed Rachel to be a highly professional, enthusiastic and patient but firm teacher. She is totally at ease with children and she possesses the classroom management skills to teach a range of children, from those with limited concentration to those who were overly shy.
Although Rachel taught these children as a group, she catered for their individual needs and talents and she constantly liaised with the parents.
When Alex progressed to individual lessons, we requested specifically to have Rachel teach him. She was able to provide Alex with the confidence and self-trust he needed to blossom and achieve wonderful results in his piano exams. She worked not only on his piano skills but also on his personal development.
Rachel is very organised and punctual, and she is also an effective communicator and showed great flexibility when changes had to be made to our schedule. She is also very talented in her own right and we have had the pleasure of sharing her artistic passions and expression in her live performances.
Rex S
Ma fille a suivi des cours d’éveil musical avec Rachel CATO, une professeure exceptionnelle ! Bienveillante et dynamique, elle a su éveiller les enfants à la musique avec plaisir. Son sens du relationnel avec les enfants comme avec les parents est remarquable, elle instaure un climat de confiance même avec les plus petits.
Elle prend le temps de partager les progrès de chaque enfant et de les valoriser. De plus, ses supports sont d’une grande qualité, attrayants et ludiques, ils nous permettent d'accompagner nos enfants à la maison (et aussi d’apprendre).
Audrey L
As a teacher of music, she displays a warm, caring attitude to her students! Her music programme reflects a conscientious and hight organised approach to her work.
She is interested in fostering a sincere appreciation of music and encourages her students to achieve to the best of their ability,. Rachel is prepared to be flexible to cater to the individual need and abilities off her students
Rachel is an enthusiastic and talented teacher whom I would recommend to any future employer without any hesitation
Julia I
I was lucky enough to observe Rachelb teaching style because I sat at the back of the room during most of the group lessons. This is an experience I thoroughly enjoyed because Rachel is a fantastic teacher. She is positive and encouraging. She speaks at the children's level, but never speaks down to them. She motivates the children with her creativity and her good humour. She always varies the lessons to maintain interest and certainly caters well for children of different abilities within the one class,
Rachel shows patience when explaining a new topic and is always keen to support the children in their endeavours particularly encouraging them to improvise, and compose music. Also, she always ensured the children were thoroughly prepared for their annual concert*. Last year, she encouraged them to perform both the traditional version and alternative style of a particular piece of music * The Sugar PIum Fairy, which the children were involved with creating as an ensemble piece.
They had a lot of fun putting the'alternative interpretation'together. Rachel is also conscious of what the children are learning in their private lessons and supported them by encouraging them to perform their solo pieces for the group as a whole, and giving them specific feedback which complimented the private lessons.
Rachel is a very talented musician in her own right. We were fortunate to attend one of her solo performances - a one woman show that she wrote and performed, and we really enjoyed it.
Danielle S
Rachel Cato has been my daughter's piano teacher in an ensemble class for the past three years. In that time she managed the group extremely well and inspired my daughter to vigorously pursue her music education.
Rachel facilitated learning in ensemble playing, music theory, sight-reading, rhythm and pitch; all facets were thoroughly enjoyed by the students.
I observed most of these lessons over the three year period because it was thoroughly enjoyable to watch Rachel working with the children. She is knowledgeable, entertaining, considerate and most importantly interested in her students.
Rachel also has a beautiful singing voice and it was a pleasure to listen to her singing for and with the students. She has a special talent for making students feel comfortable enough to attempt difficult tasks in the group situation. Her lessons were always well prepared and presented in a way that allowed for the students' individual differences and interests.
Krista R
At all times I found her to be professional, punctual and reliable.
Personally, I hold her character in the highest regard. Her teaching ability, skill and encouragement have guided my daughters through the difficulties of learning an instrument.
Her passion has ensured that they will continue with their studies as she hasbeen able to pass on her love of music.
Caroline V
Ma fille a pu suivre cette année les cours d’éveil musical avec Rachel.
Elle y allait toujours avec enthousiasme et ressortait à chaque fois avec le sourire. Rachel lui a fait découvrir les bases de la musique, quelques notes et rythmes. Je suis si déçue qu’on ne puisse pas continuer ensemble l’an prochain. Merci pour tout Rachel !
Aline D
Ms Cato has been instrumental in injecting Holly with the enthusiasm and passion for learning the piano and a genuine love of music. Her style of teaching is unique in that it is able to capture the hearts and minds of all the students in the class, not just the most talented. She was able to bring out all their musical abilities, whether they were gifted or not. Notwithstanding, her gifted students were constantly challenged in a fun and positive environment.
Holly began as an average student, but quickly grew into quite an extraordinary little piano player. Through Ms Cato's constant praise, passion and eagerness for her students to grasp the sometimes difficult musical concepts the children (including Holly) were able to understand and play at very high levels.
Her classes have been bright, cheerful and fun; the children have flourished and continue to do so with the solid foundation and understanding of music Ms Cato has given them.
Ms Cato, I can say with all honesty, is the sole reason my daughter is now blessed with the solid foundation of music basics. It is now very much a part of her life and will continue to be, with all the thanks going to lv{s Cato for her wonderful classes. It was a special gift for Holly to have been part of them.
Lydia Z