Madeleine

** NOW TAKING NEW STUDENTS FOR THE 2026/2027 ACADEMIC YEAR! **

Hi, my name is Madeleine!

I am a friendly, patient and encouraging university graduate who has been working in France for 4+ years as an English and Music teacher.

I studied Music and French for four years at the University of Birmingham (2018-2022) and I am now studying a Masters in Music Therapy at the Anglia Ruskin University (2026-2028). I am offering Music, French and English tuition from Primary/KS3 level up to A Level. I am also available for trumpet tuition for both school students and music enthusiasts.

I have a wealth of experience teaching primary and secondary school students (from Reception and upwards), as well as adults, in England and in France.

MUSIC

I offer music students assistance with music theory, history and performance. Studying at the University of Birmingham has given me a thorough grounding in music theory and a deeper understanding of the historical development of music. After mentoring younger students with performance at secondary school, I continued to enjoy encouraging others to perform and improvise at university.

Whilst I was Lead Performing Arts Ambassador in sixth form, I taught Year 7 students lessons about the trumpet to complement their lessons on instruments of the orchestra. During work experience at Brill C of E Primary school, I taught Year 5 students on the 12 Bar Blues, contributed to French lessons and accompanied a Year 5 cellist on piano for their school talent show.

In Pau, I led weekly music workshops with children aged 4-8 years-old. I introduced the key elements of music to the children, including rhythm, tempo, melody and pitch. I led body percussion exercises and we also explored the voice and the guitar. I created activities based on song-writing and story-telling, music and dance, and also incorporated English songs to help with their English learning.

I am also keen to share my trumpet playing knowledge and experience. Over the years, I have played a variety of styles, ranging from jazz to classical (Romantic, Baroque, etc.) At the University of Birmingham, I significantly developed my playing standard through taking part in auditioned ensembles: Jazz Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra and Symphonic Brass. I fully engrossed myself in a number of jazz groups, including the Jazz Collective and Jazz, Funk and Soul (JFS) societies. I have also played in various independent jazz bands since I was in sixth form, including `Quintessential`, `Phunk You Up!`, and an all-female jazz group: `Mamma Jamma`. Regarding solo performance experience, I studied solo performance in my second year of university, and in 2021, I performed Hummel`s Trumpet Concerto at All Saints Church in Isleworth.

I have played in brass bands since I was in Year 3 and have performed at many venues including the Town Hall Symphony Hall (Birmingham), Royal Albert Hall (London), Waterside Theatre (Aylesbury) and Harpa Concert Hall (Reykjavik, Iceland). In March 2023, I had the utmost privilege in playing in a Big Band Paean in memory of my former trumpet teacher and band leader, Nick Care. I was fortunate enough to play alongside high-profile trumpeters, like Mike Lovatt, and under the direction of the world-renowned conductor, Jules Buckley.

It would be a pleasure to share with you my unique experience performing, recording albums and organising concerts in France (2022-2026). Whilst living in Pau for the last three years, I have played lead solo parts in a variety of groups, including jazz combos (`Jazztet 64`, `Travel Jazz`) orchestras (Pau`s University Orchestra), Big Bands (in Lée) and further independent groups (`Les Bananes`, duos, quintets, etc). With `Les Bananes`, I have been recording new singles with this folk/rock group, and so I would be able to advise you on general recording studio practice if that is something you are interested in!

I also have extensive experience playing guitar to accompany groups, including as part of the ‘Se Canto’ charity in Pau. I also have a lot of singing experience, including with my church choir in Pau...More to be discussed during a follow-up call or conversation!...

FRENCH, ENGLISH LITERATURE

During the pandemic, I responded to the need for educational support by becoming part of the Coronavirus Tutoring Initiative. I tutored GCSE (AQA) and A Level (AQA) French via online platforms, such as Bramble. I specialise in French Language and Literature but I also offer tuition in English Literature up to A Level standard. Poetry is my particular area of interest in both languages, as well as its cross over into music.

If you are also interested in learning English as a foreign language, look no further! I have extensive experience teaching English as an English Language Assistant and an English Lecturer in France. In 2021, I worked in two collèges (secondary schools) and then in 2022-2023, I worked in a collège and a lycée professionnel (a vocational high school). In addition to teaching English to Years 7 to 13, I helped BTEC students prepare for their exams. In one year alone (2022-2023), I privately tutored five collège students and adults from different cultural backgrounds. As an English Lecturer for two years, I assisted students with English oral classes and I created lessons covering English-speaking culture, the ‘IPA’ and linguistics. I also frequently invigilated spoken and written exams and carried out regular evaluations.

In Pau, I worked for two years as an English Lecturer, and then worked for two tutoring agencies, ‘Firstep’ and ‘Alpha Langues’. This involved group/1-1 lessons for childrens and for adults, teaching thematic vocabulary, grammar, listening and written comprehension activities, songs and discussion topics. For the ‘Firstep’ agency, I often used guitar and singing when teaching English songs to the younger children (aged 2-4). As part of ‘Alpha Langues’, I delivered tailored lessons to three adults, carried out TOEIC test evaluations and wrote up regular reports of our lessons.

INTERESTED?

I am looking for students of all abilities who have a keen interest in and an enthusiasm to learn French, English or Music. I can offer an individually tailored approach to each student and if you have any further questions, please feel free to send an enquiry. I look forward to working with you!

Availability: I am available for in-person or online weekly sessions (either during the week or at the weekend).

Willing to travel: 5 miles

Experience: Qualifications

University of Birmingham: Bachelor of Arts with Honours, Class I (Modern Languages and Music).

A Levels: A*, A, A, B.
Music Composition: A*
Performance: A* (58/60)

GCSEs: 7A*s, 3As, Pass (Statistics)
Music Composition: A* (full marks)
Performance: A*

Trumpet: Grade 8 (Distinction), Grade 5 Jazz (Distinction)

Testimonials

Responding to the need for education during the pandemic, I became part of the Coronavirus Tutoring Initiative. I thoroughly enjoyed each session and after asking my tutees (in 2020) if they would summarise their experience with me, they said the following:

Tutee 1: `Madeleine has been an amazing tutor. She has really helped me with my A level French. She’s super nice and helpful always making sure not to rush through anything but also explains relatively difficult concepts in a more understandable way. She even made me an A4 list of amazing French essay phrases and really good Power Points for our sessions. I definitely recommend!`

Tutee 2: `Since the closing of schools, I have been having tutoring sessions with Madeleine, she has really helped me with grammar and pronunciation. Madeleine is so lovely and has been very flexible, as I have started to have lessons online. She is extremely helpful and it has really improved my understanding of that language.`

Tutee 3: `The enthusiasm about the lessons and wider knowledge and understanding I have gained through our sessions is incredible!`

DBS Check: Yes

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