Experienced cello teacher, happy to teach all ages and abilities, free consultation lesson!

Find out more about Gabriel

• When did you first develop a passion for music and your favourite instrument?

  Since I began to play the cello when was just four years old, music was embedded as a part of my life very early on. I would, however, say that my passion for music comes from even earlier than this. As my older brother is a violinist, and my dad is a pianist, hearing them play together inspired me to join them! Through playing with them, my passion for music grew beyond what I could have ever imagined at the time.

• Is there a particular type of music or artist that you listen to on a loop without it driving you crazy?

  For me, I could listen to the music of Shostakovich constantly. Much like many other 20th Century composers, his music has an intriguing duality: intimate beauty and dialogue, with a hint pure rock music!

• Explain to us the most difficult or riveting course you could personally give to a student of music.

  The most difficult course I could give a student depends on their individual character. What I have learned in my years of teaching, is that each student is very unique, and can respond differently to the same situation. I would say that in general, most students at an early stage find the technical aspects of cello playing more difficult than the musical. Therefore, a challenging course would be one in which I build in the foundations of advanced technique immediately. While it takes time and is very demanding, it proves to be very successful.

• What do you think is the most complicated instrument to master and why?

  In my opinion, the most complicated instrument to master would have to be either the French horn or the violin. Despite their differences, their difficulties actually seem to centre around the same idea: tonal purity. On both instruments, it is very difficult to produce a clean, sonorous tone.

• What are your keys to success?

  My keys to success revolve around one simple rule: the basics will always serve you well. Scales, foundations and exercises practised CONSISTENTLY is the first step to achieving your goals. Beyond this, imagination and love for the music will take you further than anything else.

• Name three musicians you dream of meeting in your favourite bar in the early hours of the morning. Explain why.

  I would love to meet Steven Isserlis, Andras Schiff and Kirill Petrenko, because I believe they represent personalised artistry above all. I feel that meeting them would be unbelievably inspiring, and a great way to learn about shaping my own musical voice.

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to music or your days at music school.

  While in my first year of study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, I used to start my sessions at 7am, when the building opened. While I was practising for around six to eight hours consistently because of this, I found that I progressed rather slowly. As it turns out, resting more and working for fewer hours increased the rate of my progress dramatically. It’s an important lesson: pushing yourself to the physical maximum is not always the most productive way of guaranteeing your progress.

• What are the little touches that make you a Superprof in music?

  I believe that I have a rather gentle teaching style, but without letting go the things that matter. I would say that my keen eye for detail allows me to simplify the solutions to the problems I see. This makes it much easier for a student to process, and quickly leads to improvement.