Julia Dräger is one of southwest London’s most established violin teachers, with decades of experience working with children of all ages from four upwards. Dedicated, intuitive and thorough, she prides herself on her success in obtaining great results from her pupils, whatever their level or musical background.
Instruction with Julia begins with the basics – correct posture and bow hold – both of which are fundamental to future success. As pupils progress, she works out a personalised programme tailored to their individual needs and talent to help their further development. Julia’s pupils have done well in Trinity and ABRSM exams up to Grade 8, with a 100% pass rate. In 2019, 90% of them obtained merits and distinctions and many have won scholarships at local independent schools. Although exams can be seen as a yardstick for measuring progress, Julia encourages pupils to enjoy playing the violin for its own sake and exploring its rich repertoire. She organises regular pupils concerts to give them an opportunity to share what they have learned with family and friends. They also have the chance to be part of an ensemble and take part in Richmond and Kingston Festivals. Learning the violin can be rewarding and fun – but requires hard work. Julia expects her pupils to put in regular practice, without which it is impossible to make progress, which is the key to enjoyment. A considerable degree of parental involvement is also required, especially for younger children. Julia’s background Julia was born in Braunschweig, Germany and gained a degree in music at the prestigious Musikhochschule (Music Academy) of Heidelberg-Mannheim, where she studied the violin as her first instrument, followed by postgraduate studies with Prof. Franciszek Jurys at the Music Academy of Darmstadt. She went on to pass her first and second state teaching exams, qualifying as a secondary/grammar school teacher for music and German after reading German language and literature as her second subject at the University of Mannheim. Since moving to Britain in 1998, Julia has attained Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and is a member of the European String Teachers' Association (ESTA). Julia gives private lessons in Twickenham and also teaches at nearby St James's Catholic School. She has previously taught at Kensington & Chelsea College, the German School in Petersham and the Old Vicarage School in Richmond. She has a full DBS check. Julia is also passionate about her own violin playing and is a founder member of the London-based Aeneas Ensemble, along with fellow violinist Sylvia Eisermann, from the Bavarian State Orchestra, and pianist Jon Booth. Please visit the Aeneas Ensemble Website for further details. Julia and Jon also give concerts. While at the Music Academy, she was an active participant in international violin and chamber music masterclasses with violinists Alexander Arenkow, Klara Flieder, Winfried Rademacher and Roman Nodel. Julia has also played in a number of orchestras, including the International Orchestra Academy of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra with the acclaimed conductors Lorin Maazel, Kurt Sanderling and Semyon Bychkov, and the Jeunesses Musicales with conductor Dennis Russell Davies. |
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Photo by: wonder4lifefoto.co.uk
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