ELEANOR HODGKINSON

Professional Musician (Pianist)

  I left Sutton High School in 1992 after completing my ‘A’ and ‘AS’-levels and went immediately to music college to study piano. My undergraduate degree course was at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester where my teacher was Renna Kellaway. The course was extremely well structured and organized, giving an excellent training in all aspects of music. The college has a very supportive and friendly atmosphere and was a place where I made many valuable and lasting friendships.

 At the end of the four years, I decided to specialize in chamber music and piano accompaniment, as this was an area in which I had become increasingly interested. I chose to stay in Manchester, changing to another teacher, Carole Presland. This was another productive and rewarding year, leading to a postgraduate diploma from the RNCM. I was then awarded a scholarship to study accompaniment at the Royal Academy of Music in London with Malcolm Martineau, which brought about my return to the south of England. It was here that I formed the Elgin Piano Trio, with whom I still play. I also began to builda reputation as an accompanist and chamber musician.

 Being a performer is a physically and mentally demanding job. A player has to be able to cope with travelling long distances, playing in not always ideal circumstances, things going wrong ….. and also being able to manage a complicated diary, working unsociable hours, being self-employed ….. in addition to rehearsing, preparing and actually performing. Stamina, energy, the ability to be unaffected by the unexpected and a sense of humour are all very valuable assets!

Regular employment is a necessity, unless you really are one of the few who can make a living purely out of being a solo performer. Would-be pianists should be aware that being a performer is becoming harder these days and musicians find themselves having to be ever more flexible in order to survive. During my time at the Academy, I began teaching in a couple of schools, which formed a good basis for learning the “Art of Teaching”. Teaching is an excellent way of earning a regular income. It is also very rewarding and challenging and is something that many people take up full-time. Whilst my teaching has mainly been piano, I have also taught Grades 6-8 theory and aural classes as well as general musicianship and ‘A’-level. Currently, I teach piano at Junior Academy and at Roedean and the Lady Eleanor Holles Schools.

 I perform regularly with the Elgin Piano Trio as well as a small number of instrumentalists and singers, giving recitals at concert societies and festivals throughout the UK and abroad. In addition, I freelance as an accompanist and also do regular solo work. I particularly enjoy the challenger of working with different people and also the opportunity to learn a wide range of repertoire. I am lucky enough to be able to combine my performing with the stability of teaching and enjoy the balance that this gives me. As a professional musician, I have a job that I love, which has plenty of variety and brings pleasure to others : I can’t think of anything that I would rather do.

I am willing to be contacted via the Minerva Network Development Office and am willing to give advice/help with work experience.