Our Cello Community
Helen Neilson’s Suzuki Cello Group Southwest London SW18
Helen Neilson with “Phoenix”, July 2022. Photo courtesy of Alessandro Gavazzeni.
New starters welcome!
Families of new beginners interested in starting cello lessons with Helen Neilson in September 2024 and beyond are invited to apply now.
For more information please visit Helen Neilson’s SW4 teaching practice page or click the button. The commitment required is to taking both weekly individual lessons during term time and to participate in this group programme, which runs 6 Saturday mornings a term in Wandsworth Town.
If you would like to apply to observe some of our lessons with no obligation, please complete the NEW BEGINNERS application form. You can find more information on the Joining us page of this site.
Please email Helen on info@ourcellocommunity.com for more information about starting lessons with Our Cello Community.
“Our Cello Community” is a group programme run by Helen Neilson for cello students learning with the Suzuki Method. We run regular group sessions on Saturday mornings in Wandsworth Town, SW18, 6 Saturdays a term, with occasional larger events which will be open to the wider cello community. The core group of students also have individual lessons with Helen Neilson in SW4, and students of other Suzuki teachers are welcome too. Parents of students working at grade 6+ level in any method are also welcome to email Helen to ask about the possibility of their child joining.
The belief behind the work here is that students learn from their environment, and that the learning process is most humane and best supported when children are able to learn from being together with other children in a consistent and stable environment. We are working in a thorough, systematic and logical way, and ideas are presented in a holistic and child centred way, bringing a sense of fun to the learning process too as we work. Parents are usually present in lessons, and learn together with their child, sharing the journey of the process of the work together. Group lessons are open to cello students from the earliest stages of their cello playing journey who are also having individual lessons with a Suzuki teacher; applications from advanced level students learning in different pathways at grade 6+ level are also welcomed. Most students are aged 4-18.
“Man is the son of his environment.” – Dr Shinichi Suzuki
Our programme includes cello repertoire groups covering both Suzuki core repertoire and wider supplementary repertoire; cello ensemble sessions for students who have started on their reading journeys; musicianship sessions and a massed cello Playtogether session where all cellists come together with Helen. We have a break time in the middle of the morning where all families can talk together and the children can play, further developing the social bonds of our group.
Our work is designed to give young cellists strong and secure all round foundations so that they can develop as players and musicians in a way which is built to last, supporting them on their musical journeys throughout their lifetime.
Our group lessons are designed to complement and support the work being done in their regular individual lessons with a registered Suzuki teacher. All families joining must be members of the London Suzuki Group, which automatically includes British Suzuki Music Association membership. This allows the children to participate in the wider Suzuki community events and courses, and parents are supported with informative regular magazines. Parents of more advanced students working at grade 6+ levels learning in different pathways who are willing to do some preparation work in advance of sessions are also welcome to contact Helen to ask about the possibility of joining.
“Where love is deep, much can be accomplished.” – Dr Shinichi Suzuki.