Music teachers bridge age gap
There is no age limit when it comes to playing and falling in love with music.
This is according to music teachers Mark Baker and Anita Pienaar of Lowveld Academy Music Centre in Hoedspruit.
The duo teaches music from small children up to pensioners, but they say the earlier you start the better.
Their experience in music is what makes them the great teachers they are.
Although Lowveld Academy Music Centre has been operational for four years only, they have already made an impact.
Baker told Herald that he has been teaching at at Trinity House Randpark Ridge and Little Falls Schools for the past 15 years.
He relocated from Johannesburg to join Lowveld Academy Music Centre.
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“I started learning the piano at the age of five and completed all my graded examinations for theory and piano,” he said.
He boasts two teaching diplomas from the International Examination Board.
Baker also studied at Wits University and continue to study further in his field of music, teaching and education.
Pienaar on the other hand has been singing professionally for 25 years and started teaching eight years ago.
She studied piano and vocals and through the years she added a couple of other instruments.
She studied at Potchefstroom University and Unisa and is currently studying further through Trinity College.
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“Teaching someone to play the piano is extremely rewarding knowing that you have given them a skill which they can use and enjoy for the rest of their lives.
“It is also rewarding when you can see that you have taught them to love music,” she said.
Baker’s passion lies with the piano, but he can also teach music theory, form and harmony, whereas Anita teaches piano, guitar and vocals.
“We are classically trained and can also teach light contemporary music.
We are willing to teach from ages five to 65 and beyond.
There is no age limit to learning but obviously the earlier you start the better,” said Baker.
The duo said the centre’s biggest achievement was to promote the playing and love of music through personalised teaching, which include class teaching and regular performances.
“We also enter various festivals and international board examinations with our students.”
