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Instrumental

All enquiries to the Section Co-Ordinator
Mrs Ruth Pitts, 07933 210 667, Email

Ruth is a music teacher and freelance musician More ...

Ruth is a music teacher and freelance musician working in the Southwest. She teaches piano and clarinet to a range of ages and abilities, both at home and school. She enjoys preparing pupils for performances and exams, whilst encouraging a sense of fun and creativity in their music-making. She is excited about creating opportunities for young people to perform, especially in environments like the Devon Performing Arts Festival, where they will be built up and enthused for their musical journey.

Ruth studied music at Royal Holloway University of London, specialising in clarinet performance and composition. She also holds a PCGE in primary education from Exeter University, and a diploma in piano performance. Alongside teaching, she regularly performs solo piano in local concerts and recitals, as well as accompanying instrumentalists for performances and exams. 

Where Levels are given rather than grades, the approximate levels are:

  • Beginner: Pre Grade 1 & Grade 1; Elementary: Grades 2 & 3
  • Intermediate: Grades 4 – 5; Advanced: Grades 6 – 7
  • Open: Post Grade 8

GUIDANCE

Where reference has been made either to a specific grade, or to terms such as elementary, intermediate etc, or to a level expressed in Grades, it is expected that entrants, parents, and especially teachers, will bear in mind that it is in the spirit of the festival to try to adhere carefully to the standards suggested by the the relevant grade.  If in any doubt about the level of a piece then teachers should not hesitate to contact the Instrumental Section Co-ordinator who will be happy to give guidance.  

Whilst it is obviously acceptable to play an exam piece in the festival, wider repertoire is strongly encouraged, in the context of the above advice.

Entrants may play more than one piece in a class as long as the time limit is adhered to.

Within any class, the adjudicator will pay more heed to the standard of the performance than to the level of difficulty of the piece. 

Adjudicator: Robin Page MA Cantab, LRAM

Robin has extensive experience as a Festival Adjudicator with Music for Youth at The Royal Festival Hall and at Birmingham Symphony Hall, and at Festivals throughout the UK including: Glasgow, Ayr, Mid-Argyll, Dundee, Carrickfergus, Blackpool, Derby, Dumfries, Swindon, Ealing, Worthing, Bournemouth, Southampton, Bath, Camborne, Truro, Isle of Wight and Guernsey. Robin has examined for the ABRSM for over 30 years in the UK and the Far East, including Diplomas.

He was Professor of Conducting at Kneller Hall in the 2000s and has taught and conducted at the Royal Academy of Music London, Birmingham Conservatoire, Royal Scottish Conservatoire, Aberdeen University, Kingston University and the Purcell School.

Robin’s conducting career has included engagements with the London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, RPO Pops, BBC Ulster Orchestra, Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra, Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra, Nordic Chamber Orchestra (Sweden), Hungarian State Opera Orchestra, Estonian State Symphony Orchestra, Polish Radio Orchestra, Bulgarian Film Orchestra and Amor Artis Orchestra (New York). Choirs include Kingston Choral Society, West Sussex Philharmonic Choir and the Halle Chorus.

He was educated at Magdalen College School, Oxford (as a choral scholar), at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge (as a Choral Exhibitioner) and as a post-graduate at the Royal Academy of Music, London.