|
"When I practise, I am a philosopher,
When I teach, I am a scientist,
When I demonstrate, I am an artist."
B.K.S. Iyengar....
Helen Neilson teaches cello students across all levels, from beginner to Diploma and beyond, and
plays regularly as a freelance double bass player and cellist with orchestras and chamber music groups. Her work is based
in London, where she leads a multi-faceted career which has continued over time to defy being put into any conventional "binary"
instrumentalist boxes! She combines an active performing career on both cello and double bass with regular cello teaching
commitments in some of London's most prestigious schools and a busy private teaching practice in South London, working
regularly on a one to one basis and in small group settings with children mostly aged 4 - 18. She is interested in working
with students from a variety of environments and backgrounds at all stages on their cellistic journeys. Helen has a track record of excellence
in results with her students, and she has taken many students on the journey from being complete beginners to post grade 8/Diploma
level and beyond, now for over two decades. Many of her students have enjoyed a range of performance experiences, and have
achieved highly in examinations, and many have been awarded music scholarships to their senior schools of choice. A strong
sense of community among the students and families working together and supporting each other defines her principal teaching
environments. During the Spring term of 2025, she prepared students for exam at every level from grade 1 to Diploma levels,
with Distinctions having been achieved by every single prep student entered, and with Distinctions having been awarded at
grade 1 and at Diploma level, plus many more strong results achieved by all.
Helen is a fully qualified Suzuki cello teacher and holds a PGDip in Advanced Performance from the Royal College of Music and an MMus in
Performance Studies from Trinity College in cello playing. Her own cello studies included time working with Anna Shuttleworth,
Melissa Phelps and Naomi Butterworth. She completed her Level 5 (top level) Suzuki teacher training in September 2021,
after over 11 years of study and training in the field. She has worked with mentors including Carey Beth-Hockett (USA), Eulalia
Subira (ES), Ruben Riviera (FR) and Pamela Devenport (USA), having started her studies in Spain in Sept 2019 and then continuing
online during the Covid-19 pandemic, including a book 9-10 training course in the USA with Laura Shaw. Her approach
to teaching is holistic and systematic and she is known for having an astute perception of the needs of each individual student
she works with. She draws upon a broad knowledge of the repertoire from beginner to advanced levels and of many different
approaches towards instrumental teaching, combined with deep awareness and knowledge of the physical elements of cello playing
as she takes them forward on their cellistic journeys with sensitivity and understanding. Helen
regularly freelances with professional orchestras, both on cello and double bass, although mostly as a double bass player
these days, and is regular principal double bass for south east London based chamber orchestra, St Paul's Sinfonia, who
have now been established for over 20 years, still with some of the original core group of players regularly participating
in concerts, having played with them since the outset. Their 20th Anniversary Concert took place in June 2025 at St Alfege
Church in Greenwich. She has played in numerous orchestral and ensemble performances around London, across the UK and abroad
in countries including France, China and India with professional orchestras and chamber ensembles on double bass. She enjoys playing chamber music on the cello, and has given many chamber and solo recitals around London
and beyond, over many years. She plays on a cello made in Salisbury in 1784 named "Phoenix", whom she considers
her partner and soulmate in the journey of life!
She enjoys exploring the use of body and mind in
music performance, and shares the findings of her research in lesson and workshop settings and through conferences and articles, having published in magazines including "The
Strad" and the ESTA Journal "ARCO". She has a special interest in neurodiversity and has significant experience
of working with children with a range of educational and behavioural needs, including children on the autism spectrum and
with ADHD, both of which are subjects she has researched extensively. Her work draws upon a knowledge of disciplines including
yoga, Alexander Technique and Feldenkrais among others to assist in teaching body movement for instrumental playing. Her
experience of working on a close one to one basis, and in small groups with many students across a range of ages over many
years has allowed her to study human behaviour and development at close range. She is particularly adept at spotting behavioural
patterns, and is known in her work for being sensitive and responsive to the needs of each individual student and working
with patience over the longer term path, both with children, and with their parents and carers, to help each individual fulfil
their potential, using positive and holistic approaches. She has provided long term stability in the teaching relationship
to many children over the longer term, including through the challenges of the Covid -19 pandemic, and enjoys the close
work with the wider family which comes with the instrumental teaching relationship, which can often span across ten years
or more of a child's life.
Helen has a strong interest in optimising set ups of string instruments of all sizes and levels
in order to allow students the greatest levels of freedom in playing at every stage of their development. She has
worked closely with many luthiers and string specialists over the years in order to develop her knowledge of the best
instruments available for students at every stage of their development at a range of budget levels, from the earliest
steps of their musical journeys through to fine instruments, and enjoys being involved in the processes of getting instruments
working to their optimum potential, and of finding the best possible match of instrument for each player as they develop.
She enjoys frequenting the workshops and dealerships, dealing with an ongoing chain of instrument repairs as well as working
on set ups and regularly advising on string instrument purchases. Helen is happy to advise string players and their families
on businesses whom she considers safe and ethical for approaching with regards to purchase of string instruments and bows,
and to guide on the best luthiers for any particular job. She also possesses a diverse collection of bows of many sizes,
from the tiniest Twinkle bows upwards! She has a strong interest in reading about the history of string instruments
and bows and their makers, with a particular interest in English instruments and the Hill tradition. She has a developing
library which she is always happy to share with interested colleagues!
A strong interest is the impact of environment
upon development. She specialises in leading large cello groups in workshop and group teaching settings,
and is interested in how these can inspire and motivate students as part of their wider path of learning. Helen has led
large group workshop sessions at events including London Cello Society "Cello Days" over ten years and more; open
lessons and workshop sessions for students, their parents and teacher trainees at courses including CelloFest and LSG International
Summer School over many years, and she has coached orchestral sections on courses including South London Youth Orchestra
and for the Duet Group Philharmonic concerts at the Royal Festival Hall.
Teaching activities include:
Helen is the
Director of "Our Cello Community" Suzuki cello and musicianship group programme, which runs
at West Hill Primary School in Wandsworth Town SW18 six Saturday mornings a term. A belief behind the work
is that children learn best directly from other children. Skills developed include communication and ensemble skills, and
the social elements of musical development which are achieved through playing together in a consistent and stable environment.
This programme is open to any cello students studying with the Suzuki Method, with the agreement of their teacher, or other
cello students working in any method at grade 6+ levels for advanced groups and ensembles. "Our Cello Community"
individual weekly lessons are based in SW4 in the Clapham area, and the supporting Suzuki cello group and musicianship
programme is based at West Hill Primary in Wandsworth Town area SW18, running six Saturday mornings a term. Students
attend weekly individual lessons mid-week after school, and attend the supporting cello community group programme.
Applications are invited from new families to join our community. Priority will usually be given to new beginners age
4- 7 when lesson slots become available. Advanced grade 6+ students will be considered on individual application. Full information and information on how to join is available on the programme website.
We are happy to welcome families with
children aged 4 - 7 to join us to observe our group lessons, with a view to applying to join us! Please email Helen on info@ourcellocommunity
for more information.
Our Cello Community website:
Helen is Head
of Strings at Latymer Upper School where she has a large cello class of preps and senior students,
boys and girls age 7 - 18, working from beginner to Diploma levels. Helen has developed and oversees the thriving chamber
music programme; coaches several chamber music groups; organises and co-ordinates major events for string players and
also maintains the extensive and diverse string instrument fleet. Her cello students have frequently been awarded music
awards and music scholarships at yr 7 and sixth form entry levels, have been awarded winning places in school and external
music competitions and have regularly achieved some outstanding examination results. Many students enjoy participating in
the wide range of school groups and orchestras available. A particular highlight of her week are the prep cello groups!
She is often to be found with tools in hand as she fixes up the various broken instruments which regularly come her way! Latymer
Upper School previously won multiple awards from the Times Educational Supplement (TES) Awards for best
Independent-State Partnership Work; Best Senior School and Best Independent School in the UK.
Her regular weekly schools include
Latymer Upper School (inc. Head of Strings); St Paul's Girls' School and the Aldgate School (formerly the Sir
John Cass Foundation Primary School). She has designed and
led large scale cello workshop events for the London Cello Society, motivating generatons of young cellists over many years.
Prior to establishing her own Suzuki group programme, "Our Cello Community", Helen previously developed successful
cello group programmes over several years on other Suzuki group programmes across London. Courses and workshops taught on include South London Youth Orchestra, Dulwich
Youth Orchestra, Duet Group Philharmonic courses, LSG International Summer School, CelloFest, Pro Corda Cello Course and LCS
Cello Days. She is on the advisory council to the London Cello Society, having previously been the director of Cello Club, their Junior Division. She is particularly interested in creating environments
and designing events which inspire and motivate students. Helen has experience of both teaching on
and designing and managing events for young string players. She is also interested in professional development for
teachers and is a consultant and mentor to the team of cello teachers on the London Music Masters Programme, bringing
quality music tuition to children in inner city London primary schools. She has lectured at Cambridge University on
"The Practical Application of the Singing Voice in Instrumental Teaching". Helen was a principal syllabus
consultant, together with Naomi Yandell, setting the cello syllabus for Trinity cello exams for 2020 - 2023. You can watch her video
discussing the Trinity cello syllabus here:
Trinity Strings Syllabus 2020-2023 video
|
|
| Helen enjoys playing regularly with orchestras on double bass |
Orchestral activities include:
Helen regularly freelances with
various orchestras as a double bass player, and enjoys engaging with various orchestral communities
from the very roots of the orchestra! She loves exploring the large scale symphonic repertoire and being at the very
foundation of the smaller chamber orchestra works and frequently plays as guest principal for various professional freelance
and community orchestras. Helen is regular principal bass with St Paul's Sinfonia based at St Alfege Church in Greenwich.
They continued to deliver many live stream concerts during the Covid-19 pandemic, which are available to view on their website.
She enjoys exploring the chamber music repertoire on the bass and has had fun playing at various festivals
and on tours around the UK and abroad. A highlight was playing bass with the massed cello orchestra in the final night concert
of the Casals Festival 2018 in the Abbaye Saint Michel de Cuxa in Prades, France, where Casals gave early performances of
the Bach Cello Suites. She enjoys the range of characters she meets along the way and the perspective it gives her into
a wide range of interesting environments.
St Paul's Sinfonia website
|
 |
|
For orchestral work diary enquiries, please
contact Helen directly by email. See social media channels for more regular updates on events. Highlights of 2026
to include: Friday 16th January, 7.30pm, St Alfege Church, Greenwich: St Paul's
Sinfonia, directed by Louis Swiegel Sunday 25th January, 3.30pm, Duke's Hall, Royal Academy
of Music: Our Cello Community performs in London Suzuki Group "Groups Festival" concert Friday 6th February: Our Cello Community Solos Concert - private event, details by request Friday 20th February, 7.30pm St Alfege Church, Greenwich: Strings of St Paul's Sinfonia present
"Variations and Pursuits". Programme includes David Wallace: Symphony no. 3; Purcell, arr. Britten: Chacony; Britten:
Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge Saturday 14th March: Our Cello Community Groups
concert - details by request Friday 20th March, 7.30pm, St Alfege Church, Greenwich: St
Paul's Sinfonia presents "Friends and Contemporaries: Gipps and Arnold, with Avril Coleridge-Taylor. Programme to
include Arnold" Symphony no. 7 Monday 30th March, 7.30pm, Milton Court Concert Hall: "The
Dummer of Tedworth" A Concerto for Speaking Drummer by Sean Noonan Friday 17th
April, 7.30pm, St Alfege Church: St Paul's Sinfonia presents "Symphonic Britten" - programme to include
Britten: Cello Symphony, with soloist Guy Johnston, and Beethoven Symphony no. 4 Sunday
26th April, all day, Royal Academy of Music: British Cello Society "Cello Day". A day of masterclasses
and workshops for student cellists of school age, open to all levels from beginners to G8+ advanced students. see British
Cello Society website for more information and booking details. Helen will be giving classes on both Junior and Senior events. Sunday 26th April - London Suzuki Group "Stellar Strings" Concert at Shoreditch Town Hall
- open to all string students studying Suzuki Method 2026 Courses recommended
for students include: South London Youth Orchestra - courses run three times a year during school holidays - Easter,
Summer, Christmas - see their website for dates. 4 orchestras from grade 2 to grade 8+/Diploma level, plus Cello Choir CelloFest - For
student cellists studying with the Suzuki Method - Royal Hospital School, Suffolk, 4th - 9th August 2026
*********************************************************************************************************************
|
|
