Originally from Nicosia, Cyprus, Andreas Nicolaou first came to the UK in the 1950s to study at Trinity College of Music with the renowned violinist and teacher, Yfrah Neaman and the highly regarded pedagogue, Jan Sedifka. It was whilst studying with Sedifka that Andreas  began to  develop a curiosity about the 'how' of violin practising and performing; the idea of finding the perfect release of the mind, allowing the player to perform with complete freedom and confidence.

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Andreas eventually settled permanently in the UK in 1961, and began to explore further the ideas Sedifka had introduced him to, applying them to his own teaching. An avid researcher, he read also about the ideas of Sheila Nelson and the educationalist, Paul Roland. Then, in the early 1970s, he attended a concert given by the pupils of the Japanese violinist, Dr Shinichi Suzuki. It was a complete revelation! The philosophy of Suzuki that, if every child can learn to speak a language, then they can also learn to play the violin, opened up a world of infinite possibilities to Andreas in his teaching.

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Over the years that followed, Andreas gradually honed his own approach to teaching the violin, combining all the various influences he had been exposed to. He founded his own School in 1973 and knew that, key to the musical development of the individual pupils, was the combination of weekly one to one and group lessons. This is a structure that I have continued to use, understanding from observing and working together with my father, how vital the group sessions are: children learn so readily from each other and this has a huge and positive effect on their progress and engagement.

 

The Saturday morning groups are organised according to ability. In addition, all the various levels of pupils come together regularly in performances, combining repertoire which I arrange, specifically tailored to the abilities within the ensemble. These multi-level programmes of music enable a continuous circular mentoring process of learning and allow the youngest pupils to see the entirety of their musical journey by working with those who are more advanced. The musical ideas of phrasing, tone production, rhythmic awareness etc. which this inspires, transfers into the pupils' solo performing. They play with confidence and ease on stage.

 

The most recent performances took the Nicolaou Ensemble to Vienna and Prague where they played in the Summa Cum Laude International Youth Music Festival and addition, the School also holds its own regular concerts twice a year.

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