About Miss Anna C Smith

Miss Anna C Smith is an instrumental and vocal teacher, choir director, and music practitioner based in Darlington, County Durham.

Musical beginnings

Anna grew up in Darlington, and had both an aptitude and love for music from a young age. At age seven she began to learn the violin with George Wood, in a varied approach which started with a Suzuki-inspired class, and went on to include both classical and folk training - enjoying playing in orchestras up to county level, as well as the Darlington Folk Fiddle Group. She had her first piano lesson a few years later, with Margaret Bowden. Anna remained with her first teachers until she moved away to begin a BA in Music at the University of York, in 2002, having reached Grade 8 level on both instruments. 

University years 

Whilst studying at York, Anna continued to receive tuition on piano and violin. She began to focus her studies on aspects of music education, receiving training in a range of aspects of music education and workshop leading, including working with all ages from early years up to older adults. During this time she also further developed an interest in composing and arranging music, particularly songs for children and choirs. 

Getting started

It was whilst still a student that Anna taught her first piano lessons, in 2004. This was initially planned to be one-off experience, but she soon found that both she and her pupil thoroughly enjoyed the lessons, and she went on to teach a few other students during the next couple of years (and, of course, many more since!) She also had her first taster of choral direction around this time, as she began to lead her church singing group. Her first involvement in primary school music, having begun even earlier, at the age of sixteen, continued throughout her time at university - leading workshops, choirs, and a school production. 

Music For All Darlington 

In 2007, Anna returned to Darlington, where she is now an established teacher and music practitioner. Currently she spends her week teaching piano, violin, singing, and music theory lessons, as well as directing three choirs: Crescendo Junior Choir, The Crescendo Singers, and Mowden Key Stage 2 Choir. She also puts on various events and workshops for adults and children throughout the year. Over the past fifteen years Anna has undertaken various other ventures, including creating and running the Music Theory For Choirs course; teaching music, running choirs and staging productions in local primary schools; as well as working with local adult choirs. She has especially fond memories of her time with wonderful ladies choir, The Richardson Singers, whom Anna joined in 2007, going on to sing regular solos, and taking on the role of Deputy Musical Director for a number of years before sadly leaving in 2019. 

Anna is DBS checked, and has undergone training in child protection and safeguarding. She is a member of the Incorporated Society of Musicians, and a registered applicant with three major music exam boards: Trinity College London, Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, and London College of Music (though students who don't wish to take exams are just as welcome). She is also a registered teacher-assessor for ABRSM Music Medals.  

Whether it's one to one or a whole school, a 4 year old or a 74 year old, Anna just loves teaching music, and feels privileged to have such a fantastically rewarding job. 

Further Training

Since Anna wants to be the best teacher and director she can be, she is always looking for opportunities to learn and improve. In 2013 she enjoyed completing a choral conducting course with Sing for Pleasure, then 0ver the following year, a fantastic music education course, run by The Voices Foundation. This is where she was first introduced to the Kodály method - and since then, she has never looked back! This methodology now underpins her approach in one-to-one lessons, in the classroom, and in choral settings. 

In 2017, Anna was delighted to attend a piano pedagogy course run by internationally acclaimed teacher, Irina Gorin, whose books and approach Anna uses with her piano students.  

In addition to these longer courses, she also enjoys attending regular workshops and training days, of which some of her favourites have been a vocal pedagogy workshop with leading expert Jenevora Williams, and further Kodály education training with Lucinda Geoghegan (from NYCOS). 

In 2012 Anna began having vocal tuition for the first time, with local teacher, Nikki Lycett-Findlay. She has since gone on to achieve Grade 8 in both Classical singing and Musical Theatre, passing both exams with distinction. 

Beyond the teaching room

Despite music filling Anna's working life, she does still try still to make time to enjoy playing and singing outside of work, too! 

As she continues with her tuition and enjoying working towards further qualifications, she finds taking lessons herself - as well as trying to fit piano, violin and singing practice into a busy schedule! - helps her to keep a real understanding of what it's like for her own students. 

Anna is a committed Christian, and is glad to be able to serve her church by playing piano for services. She also finds herself often called upon to play, sing or arrange music for friends and family's special occasions, which she feels privileged to be able to do. 

In 2016 she was delighted to be asked to join band "The Music Will Tell You" as their fiddle player. The band come together to play for Scottish dancing and ceilidhs, and Anna really loves playing with them!