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INTRODUCTION - A message from the Director of The Manning School

BACKGROUND

When I founded the Manning School in 1982 after many years practising as a peripatetic teacher, my sole purpose was to pass on to a younger generation more than forty years of experience as a practising musician and teacher.
For me personally my peripatetic appointments were not conducive to the serious study of the violin or viola, as class sizes were too large, students learnt on inferior instruments strung with strings of poor quality, lessons were very irregular and ceased for long periods at the end of every school term, when little or no practice was achieved.
I visualised an environment where students would be given individual tuition, advice would be furnished at a consultation interview on the choice of a suitable instrument and how the instrument should be 'set up', and a commitment from aspiring students and parents alike of regular weekly lessons.
Furthermore I believe, especially with the young beginner, that meticulous care and exactitude in the initial stages of study are vital in mastering any string instrument, and this same meticulous care and exactitude being extended into the students daily practice with an interactivity between parents and teacher. Receiving inferior tuition in the early stages of learning can and does have disastrous consequences in the latter stages of study, but a young beginner under the tutelage of an experienced professional will have the benefit of the finest guidance from the start of their studies.
It is not my intention in this introduction to give the impression that I have discovered some new concept or method which will elevate my students into the realms of great virtuosi for nothing compensates for sheer hard work if that is the desired ambition, but only to point out that I have carefully formulated principals in my cirriculum in order to achieve the desired results my students expect of me. I teach these principals in a scientific but enjoyable and interesting way by using the instrument itself to substantiate the complexities of execution and not simply by verbal instruction. This approach has been formulated over a lifetime of performing and teaching.
Finally I would like to add, that if you are considering private music lessons for your children or indeed yourself on either violin, viola or pianoforte, please contact me regarding a consultation interview. I will be only too pleased to help, and I look forward to hearing from you.

BIOGRAPHY

Gerald Manning has been a professional viola player and teacher for over forty years, and has recently retired from the number 4 position in the viola section of the BBC Symphony Orchestra after 29 years. Previous to this he also held the sub-principal viola position in the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra from 1964 to 1968, and has also worked with the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House - Covent Garden, the Philharmonia and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestras of London.
With the viola section of the BBC Symphony Orchestra he has given two Wigmore Hall recitals in celebration and in the presence of the great English viola virtuoso Lionel Tertis, and has of course worked with some of the finest conductors, composers and soloists during his long and eventful career. He has broadcast regularly on BBC Radio 3 and Television, and his discography with the BBC Symphony and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestras is considerable.
As a Conductor he has held the post of Assistant-Conductor to James Kershaw and Worthing Citizens' Orchestra, and principal conductor to Harrow Symphony Orchestra and Herga Philharmonic Orchestra. He also Composes and his most recent work 'HERCULANEUM' is a large scale orchestral work with chamber choir.
Educated at Kneller Hall and the Royal College of Music he studied the viola with Bernard Shore, clarinet with Ralph Clarke and conducting with Harvey Philips. Professor Bernard Shore imbued and inspired him to emulate his teaching methods. After graduation, and whilst a member of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra he secured what was to be the first of his peripatetic appointments with Cheshire Education Authority, and taught the violin and viola at Wirral Grammar School. Returning to London and the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Harrow Education Authority appointed him as a peripatetic teacher in two of their Grammar Schools. He has also had the opportunity to study the Suzuki method on his frequent visits to Japan.

CURRICULUM

The curriculum taught by Gerald Manning is the traditional approach to learning a musical instrument, and prospective students are divided into two groups - beginners and established pupils. Beginners are taught musical notation from the start of their studies - unlike Professor Suzuki's method which relies heavily on rote or knowledge acquired by repetition.
Great emphasis is placed on correct posture, a good left hand position, correct bow-hold and a good rhythmical foundation and developing technique. Sight-reading is introduced into each lesson as soon as practicable and the staple diet of technical studies, scales, arpeggios, diminished and dominant seventh's etc., is very strictly adhered to.
In addition to this, aural training and theory of music are compulsory adjuncts, and all students will be expected to take all theory grades of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music theory examinations as well as the practical examinations of the board.

INTRODUCTION - A message from the Director of The Manning School

BACKGROUND

BIOGRAPHY

CURRICULUM

CONTACT THE MANNING SCHOOL

LISTEN TO MY COMPOSITIONS