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Music Tuition, Workshops and English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)

What we offer

  • We offer one to one teaching at our home, or travelling to you (local areas) on the following instruments: Accordion, Piano, Guitar, Violin.

  • We conduct workshops in Schools and Universities, including The University of London Summer School Series (SOAS). These correspond with curriculums or offer their own programme of: Roma Music and Culture; Balkan Music, and Balkan Dances. We shall also be offering ongoing home-based workshops for children. Please contact us for details.

  • English Tuition from a native Oxford trained speaker (currently teaching at Universite Populaire Jura).

Music Tuition

  • Accordion and Piano

    Faith has been teaching accordion and piano to students of all ages for 25 years. She has taught piano (UK Guildhall Classical Grade 1 - 8) at The Surrey School of Music, Oxford Music Academy, and London Islington Piano Academy. She can teach classical piano, as well as music theory (chords / popular music accompaniment / jazz / pop music) and World Music. She studied Cuban Piano in Havana, and at The School of Oriental and African Studies (University of London) where she has a 1:1 in Music Performance.

    She is one of the specialists of Serbian Roma Accordion styles - having lived and studied in a Roma village in Serbia for 15 years. She produced and composed two albums of music, working with a foundation of Serbian Roma music, and with members of The No Smoking Orchestra - each of which reached the Top 10 World Music Charts.

    She can teach a variety of accordion styles, including Irish, Balkan, Roma and other European.

  • Violin and Guitar

    Viljo teaches Classical Violin to all ages, as well as the regional violin styles of Transylvania, and of Taraf de Haidouks. He also teaches other styles of Balkan music.

    He loves teaching and shall soon begin his training to be a school teacher in Switzerland.

    He teaches pop, rock and folk guitar - and can cater around the pieces and styles that you love.

FAQs

What is the Jura English and Music School?

Based in Undervelier, The Jura, the school provides quality music lessons in piano, accordion, violin, guitar, music theory - and English! Faith is a highly experienced and qualified tutor with more than 20 years of experience in teaching piano, accordion, leading ensembles and workshops and more. Tuition takes place at Undervelier, CH-2863, at your home (local to Undervelier), and online.

What is our philosophy?

An instrument is a companion in your life, and the way you are taught how to master it can make a real difference. We are driven by our love for music and the fulfilment it brings to us. Learning an instrument is real hard work, and finding a way to enjoy that hard work is our secret recipe.

We are dedicated to helping students create a positive learning cycle for themselves and supporting them in overcoming any difficulties they may encounter. The ultimate result is the joy you feel once the skill is mastered, allowing you to indulge in playing with a new level of ease and fun.​

Services offered:

One-to-one violin, piano, accordion and guitar lessons in Undervelier, your location, and online:

  • Tuition offered to all ages and levels: beginners, intermediate and advanced.

  • Various booking options available such as pay monthly on an annual contract, termly booking and one-off lessons

  • Piano grade exam preparation

  • Specialised tuition for Balkan folk and Romany music

What you can expect from the lessons:

  • Achieve a solid foundation in technique.

  • Learn a wide repertoire of various styles (classical, folk, world and improvisation)

  • Discover how to 'play with ease'

  • Combine studying  music on your instrument with music theory for a better musical understanding.

  • Enjoy playing with piano or guitar accompaniment in the lessons.

  • Gain excellent exam results through comprehensive preparation and intense support. All skills needed for graded piano exams (including aural, sight reading, musicianship, and theory) are taught.​​

 

What we expect from the student:​

  • Regular dedicated practice

  • Attend the lessons regularly

  • Patience

​

The Method:

 

With fun: Learn your instrument in a friendly, pressure-free, non-judgmental atmosphere. Learning an instrument should bring joy and enrichment to one's life, no matter whether the student is 4 or 74 years of age. A supportive environment is conducive for focused and concentrated learning so we can achieve the best results.

 

With feeling: Experience the ease of learning your instrument through a comprehensive approach that stimulates your senses of hearing, sight, and touch. Discover the true essence of music by expressing yourself through heartfelt playing, allowing yourself to develop emotional expression.

For available lesson times and prices:

Contact us on 0041 7780 82849

(whatsapp) 0044 7575298229

(telegram) @faithelliott 0044 7575298229

Workshops

UK born accordionist, composer and dancer Faith Ristic lived in the Roma (Gypsy) Village of Gornja Grabovica in Serbia for many years where she learnt the language, dance styles and music in its traditional context. She has taught Roma and Balkan Dance, Music and Language throughout Australia, Europe and recently with the Trinity Laban Conservertoire of Music and Dance in London. Recent workshops include Port Fairy Folk Festival, The National Folk Festival and Adelaide Fringe Festival in Australia. Faith has run workshops all over the world: at Festivals in New Zealand, Tasmania and Australia (including Dunedin Folk Festival, Cygnet Folk Festival and The National Folk Festival ); with Rural Touring Schemes in the UK (Dorset Arts Reach/ Gloucestershire) ; with Trinity Laban Dance Academy, London; with Schools in London and Gloucestershire, and for wedding and corporate Parties, and with Giffords Circus. She offers 45min - 90min workshops for primary and secondary schools.

  • Balkan Music Workshops

    Including Dunedin Folk Festival, NZ; Garden of Dreams UK Primary School Tour; Port Fairy AUS; Valjevo, SRB. Faith can offer either a specialised music workshop or a standard workshop. In the specialised workshop the attending musicians can request which instrumentation interests them - with options of percussion, guitar, violin, double bass, accordion and singing. The attendees shall bring their own instruments, divide into sectionals to learn the specific elements of Serbian Roma Music before putting it together into an ensemble piece. The standard workshop shall consist of 2 leading instrumentalists who shall deal with melody, harmony and rhythm as a group: this shall include topics such as traditional harmonies used, trills, ways of playing rhythm, improvisation and cultural context and shall enable the attendees to play 3 different styles of Balkan music by the end of the workshop. Workshops last from 45 min - 90 mins.

  • Roma Music Workshops

    20 years of leading School and University Workshops - including SOAS (University of London)

  • Balkan Dance Workshops

    Photo taken at The National Folk Festival Dance Workshop, Canberra AUS. In this workshop Faith shall introduce the main styles of Balkan circle dancing: the Kolo, 7/8 dance, Sasa - and Rumba. By the end of the workshop everyone shall be able to dance the basic steps for each of these styles and optional more advanced variations shall be offered for those who would like them. The workshop can be accompanied by live music or audio: the music and time signatures shall be also demonstrated, and the stories and traditions behind each explained to augment the dance.

  • Balkan Dance and Music Workshops

    In this workshop Faith shall teach 3 basic styles of Balkan Circle Dances as danced at Balkan and Roma weddings and parties - Serbian 'Kolo', with a number of variations for those who are quick on footwork; Macedonian '7/8' dances, and Serbian 'Sasa'. She shall teach one well known piece of Serbian Roma music, using whichever instruments are provided by the workshop attendees - looking as an ensemble at singing styles, trills, rhythm and harmonies and the stories behind the music. At the end of the workshop they shall put the music and dance together to recreate the live feeling of a Serbian Roma wedding!

English Tuition

Faith holds a 120hr TEFL Qualification from the Oxford English Academy, and has taught in Biarritz (Vienna); ESIS (Greenwich, London), and Oxford UK. She currently teaches at The Universite Populaire de Jura. Contact her for one-to-one English tuition.