About us
Dawn Smart ISM CT ABRSM
Dawn is an experienced and qualified Instrumental Music Teacher. She holds a Certificate of Teaching with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM). Dawn is a Fellow of the Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM) and also an Ambassador for the ISM.
She is an enthusiastic teacher both at several local schools (see the school music lessons page) and in her own music studio in Lazonby with students of all ages.
Her students have included individuals, groups and a very successful concert band. Dawn is passionate about music and started Penrith Music Festival in 2011, so that musicians in and around the Penrith area have a platform on which to perform.
Dawn is the District (Lancashire and Cumbria) Organiser of the international competition - Rotary Young Musician. As well as organising her own Penrith Music Festival on the last Saturday in November every year. she also organises music competitions for 3 stages of the RIBI Young Musician Competition - 3 stages - club (Penrith), District Cumbria & Lancashire and then every 3 years, she also organises this same competition at Regional level, which incorporates Cumbria, Lancashire and North Wales. This is a large competition, with which Dawn has now gained recognition amongst many Rotary Clubs for her excellent organisational skills and more importantly her passion for inspiring music in young people.
Our other teachers
Heather Shuttleworth
Heather (daughter of Dawn Smart) has been playing music from a very young age and has always been inspired by music. Her main instrument is the flute, although like Dawn, she plays many others - piano, saxophone, recorder, violin and guitar. Having achieved several music exams, she decided to enter the role of teacher in order to be able to inspire people to enjoy music as much as she does.
Heather was a student at Bruton School for Girls in Somerset, where she had her first experience playing in a larger orchestra and concert band. Since then she has played in many ensembles in both theatres and schools - the most recent of which was Oliver at QEGS, Penrith.
Together with Dawn, she will share her expertise so that all of her pupils will attain their own personal goals in playing music. Heather is a Member of the ISM.
Andrew Roze
Andrew is a local man and is very well-known in the area. He is a very able guitarist and ukulele player, who is first rate at motivating young people to play with an emphasis on rock and pop. He has his own band - Falling Red - with which he tours not only in this country, but around the world. As well as teaching with My Smart Music, Andrew teaches at other local schools (Hunter Hall, QEGS) and privately in a shop in Penrith.
Andrew has a great range of technical skills, that he has achieved with time and experience (and of course hard work and practice!) and he is able to pass these onto his students. Like Heather and Dawn, Andrew is also keen to inspire people to enjoy music.