Steven Swindells

Vocal Specialist | Classical & MT 🎤 @RCMlondon MPerf | @Birmcons BMus(Hons) Piano 🎓 Founder, @AberMusic_wales 🏫 Collaborative Pianist & MD 🎹

[Steven Swindells @StevenSwindells]

#NewProfilePic

[Steven Swindells @StevenSwindells]

I am thrilled for my article "Why Do I Teach?" to be featured in the current edition of Piano Professional Magazine @EptaUK .

 A nice surprise to be mentioned on the front cover too!

Massive thanks to @lewiswkesterton for making this happen!

#aberystwyth #classicalmusic #pianist #pianolessons #musiceducation #piano #pedagogy

[AberMusic @AberMusic_Wales]

We are very excited to announce that in addition to our studio, we will be opening a sheet music shop next door! 

#aberystwyth #piano #news #sheetmusic #shop #musiclessons #musicshop #voice #vocal #aberaeron

[In Quires and Places Where They Meme @QuireMemes]

This was pointed out earlier and, well, now we can never unhear it.

You're welcome.

[Steven Swindells @StevenSwindells]

'Your musical tastes will change as you get older". 

This was said to me by many different teachers over the years and of course I had the vision of being 90 and listening only to Wagner (mild sarcasm)! No one ever explained to me that in addition to your musical tastes changing, what you naturally find easier to play will change too. 

I stumbled across the score of Brahms Op.118 No.2 this afternoon and sight read through. A piece I do remember hearing many times whilst studying but one I haven't heard since my music college days.

While I was studying at music college there is no way that I would have found this repertoire on the easier side of reading, let alone understanding. I actively avoided Brahms because, in a similar way to Schumann, there is a depth of complexity and pianism that only time will teach. I didn't feel ready that my skills as a pianist at the point in time could do the music justice. Now however, it is an absolute joy to play. 

It just goes to show that as musicians, we are all continually learning and our life experiences continue to colour our playing through a greater understanding of our emotions.

Brahms Op.118 No. 2 is a truly beautiful piece. 

#aberystwyth #aberaeron #music #pianist #musician #ceredigion #pianoteacher #pianolessons

[Steven Swindells @StevenSwindells]

Knowing the difference between voiced and unvoiced consonants is super important for not only clear diction but also maintaining a beautiful legato line.

Remember that you can make a pitch on a voiced consonant but not on an unvoiced consonant. Voices consonants should always resonate in the same space as your vowels!

#aberystwyth #singinglessons #voice #singingtips #singingtechnique #consonants #diction

[Steven Swindells @StevenSwindells]

Creating space when singing is such an important part of technique.

There are many ways to create more space and although no-one feels in exactly the same way, yawning is a trialed a tested method to achieving more space when singing. 

Space when singing is the feeling of openness at the back of the mouth, lifting the soft palette...a yawning feeling!

It is super important to time the yawn halfway through taking a breath. If you yawn before the breath, the space isn't created and if you yawn too late before beginning to sing, it does very little to help!

Yawning halfway through your breath is a tool which will allow you sing with much more ease, less tension and a better tone!

#aberystwyth #music #tenor #classicalmusic #musicaltheatre #singingteacher #singingtechnique #operasinger #singer

[Steven Swindells @StevenSwindells]

Anyone had their @LinkedIn account hacked? This doesn’t look easy to resolve…

[Steven Swindells @StevenSwindells]

A new week and for a change, some sun! It's such a beautiful day here in Aberystwyth and I've taken some time to reflect on several things this afternoon.

I'm feeling so grateful that @abermusic.wales has a near full schedule for weekday after school lessons (only 2 slots remaining!) and that Conservatoire Cerdd is up and running with supportive parents enrolling their children for what a hope, will inspire their music making and love of music. 

I didn't expect that my move out of London last year would allow me to teach so many students with such supportive parents; allowing me to continue doing what I love!

@rootsaberaeron continues to go strong with new clients weekly. I am very fortunate to have wonderful staff. 

Back to the blog posts and videos soon!

#aberystwyth #aberaeron #music #tenor #pianist #musician #ceredigion

[Steven Swindells @StevenSwindells]

I've been a bit quiet over the last couple of weeks on social media due to a much needed holiday, and more importantly, getting ready for the opening of Conservatoire Cerdd this Saturday 14th September!

All of us at Conservatoire Cerdd are so excited for term to begin and for more music making to happen in Aberystwyth and Ceredigion! It's not too late to sign up...

I am also excited for @Abermusic.wales to be supplying teachers to Conservatoire Cerdd through The Music School CIC.

Expect more videos and blog posts soon!

#aberystwyth #gcsemusic #musictheory #masterclass #orchestra #choir #chorus #aberaeron #lampeter #ceredigion #conservatoirecerdd

[Steven Swindells @StevenSwindells]

I'm thrilled to have been asked by Aber Opera to be part of their répétiteur team.

It has always been a pleasure to be able to accompany singers.

As a tenor myself, understanding the nature of singing makes such an enormous impact to my work as an accompanist and répétiteur.

Understanding the text, technical demands and limitations of the voice with the knowledge of need for flexibility and freedom for the singer in the music is so important.

I look forward to my first collaboration with Aber Opera!

#aberystwyth #aberaeron #music #classicalmusic #opera #répétiteur #accompanist #tenor #pianist #aberopera

[Steven Swindells @StevenSwindells]

Here in Aberystwyth, we have an @oxfamgb charity bookshop which you wouldn't believe is a charity shop. Each time I walk past after my gym session, I'll take a look to see what music related books and scores they have. 

I've found this absolute gem of a book which i'm looking forward to reading. "Bel Canto: The Teaching of the Classical Italian Song-Schools, Its Decline and Restoration" by Lucie Manén.

I've always been hugely interested in technique and the Bel Canto school of singing which has allowed for some of the greatest voices to flourish.

We never stop learning.

I'll keep this book in the @AberMusic_Wales studio for all students and parents to read while they wait for their lessons to begin, or their child to finish their lesson. 

It's nice to have actual books to take a step away from all things digital.

#aberystwyth #music #singing #singingtechnique #belcanto #musician #tenor #singingteacher #singinglessons #aberaeron

[Steven Swindells @StevenSwindells]

Watching the second season of Only Murders in The Building and part of the soundtrack is using the same motif from “Kairi” in Kingdom Hearts 2.

Geek moment…

#onlymurdersinthebuilding #kingdomhearts

[Steven Swindells @StevenSwindells]

Such a great time yesterday working with a new student on 'Questo amor, vergogna mia' from Puccini's lesser known opera, Edgar. 

It is a beautiful aria which I will always remember hearing for the first time while I was studying at @RCMLondon 

If only I could get away with singing high baritone repertoire...!

The picture is of the gorgeous set design from the 3rd Act of the opera from 1950 (taken from Wikipedia)

#puccini #aberystwyth #music #classicalmusic #opera #teaching #singingteacher #Edgar

[Steven Swindells @StevenSwindells]

Sometimes we need to be on holiday to realise that we actually need a holiday! EPCOT is awesome.

[AberMusic @AberMusic_Wales]

If you cannot get to us in person, online lessons are a fantastic alternative. We have an excellent set up with a 4K camera for the best clarity and a professional Rode microphone for crystal clear audio!

#Aberystwyth #musiclessons #piano #singing #drums

[Steven Swindells @StevenSwindells]

Myself and the team at the new Conservatoire Cerdd are working hard behind the scenes to make sure we are open for the start of term next month!

[Steven Swindells @StevenSwindells]

Any vocal and instrumental teachers using Google Meet for online music lessons? Is it better than zoom?

[AberMusic @AberMusic_Wales]

We're so pleased to have a new addition to our small reading library in the studio!

Quartet by Leah Broad: How Four Women Challenged the Musical World!

Feel free to read the next time you are waiting while your child has their music lesson.

#aberystwyth #music #musiclessons

[Steven Swindells @StevenSwindells]

There’s nothing quite like playing some Bach at night…