Lucinda is an inspirational international lecturer, workshop leader, author, pianist and teacher. Over the past four decades she has pioneered Practical Psychology for Musicians, Dance for Musicians and a system for learning to Play by Ear and Improvise in Simple Steps.

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Born and raised in the UK, Lucinda has degrees, qualifications and expertise in music, psychology, dance, integrative arts psychotherapy and a wide variety of educational and performance practices.

 

Practical Psychology for Musicians
Lucinda specialises in putting psychology into relevant and accessible forms for music teaching, learning and performing. She helps teachers understand pupils, develop teaching styles to suit pupil’s learning strategies, negotiate the terrain between emotion and motivation, and deal with many kinds of professional difficulties – including those with pupils’ parents.

 

She also helps performers overcome anxiety, communicate musically and confidently, and play with physical ease.

 

“I just wanted to thank you for the chats over the weekend and the time you took … Being a great pianist and leader is one thing, but being sensitive to and caring about your students really makes the difference.”

 

Dance for Musicians
Teaming up with Early Dance specialist, Nicola Gaines, Lucinda teaches musicians the dance steps of the dances they play: Minuet, Sarabande, Landler, Mazurka, Polonaise, Waltz, Galop etc.

 

Playing by Ear and Improvising in Simple Steps
Lucinda has developed a simple, step-by-step system so that all piano players can learn to play by ear and improvise, and so be able to play the piano spontaneously, at home, school or in social settings, whether or not they have their books with them.

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Music Teacher
Underpinning Lucinda’s work in professional development is her exceptional experience as a music teacher. She has taught piano, clarinet, recorder, theory, choir and class music to pupils and students of all ages and stages, in primary, secondary and tertiary educational establishments, as well as privately.

 

She now continues to teach the piano, from pre-Grade 1 to post-Diploma, and sees many musicians for private consultations for teaching and performing related issues.

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Determined to have the time to continue with her own performing, she specialises in designing light, entertaining programmes with a variety of fellow musicians – sometimes her own students, for charitable and fundraising events.

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Course Directorships

Director of the Piano Teachers’ Course UK (PTC UK)

Since her appointment as Director in 2008, Lucinda has led the development and growth of this highly successful course with energy and commitment. She exemplifies the spirit of the course, which is one of inspiration, community learning and nurturing pastoral care.

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Lucinda’s focus is on introducing students to a very wide range of the latest ideas, techniques and skills while ensuring that every student’s experience is as suitable and relevant to themselves as possible, and that all students are fully supported. In this way, students experience first-hand the benefits of an holistic and person-centred approach, and feel able to give their own pupils a similarly supportive experience, with the confidence of knowing that it not only feels good, but also works!

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Lucinda runs the PTC in close association with The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), promoting their exam syllabus and running the ABRSM CME as part of the PTC. She also liaises closely with Trinity College London (TCL), promoting their exam syllabus and developing material to help teachers teach towards the Trinity grade exam improvising option.

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Founding Director of Music, Mind and Movement, an association formed with Early Dance specialist, Nicola Gaines, and leading Dalcroze specialist, Karin Greenhead to build bridges between music, dance and psychology.

 

Under this association, Lucinda continues to run courses for all musicians -not just pianists. These include practical psychology for teaching, learning and performing, and dealing with professional difficulties, dance for musicians, playing by ear and improvising. Beginning and continuing in London, courses are also run in Norfolk and Aberystwyth, as part of Abermusicfest.

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Freelance Lecturer
Lucinda gives lectures and workshops internationally in all aspects of instrumental music teaching and performing, including psychology for teaching, learning and performing, dance for musicians, playing by ear and improvising.

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These have been for: The Association of Teachers of Singing, The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, The Birmingham Conservatoire, The Clarinet and Saxophone Society, The Colchester Institute, County Music Services, The European Guitar Teachers’ Association, The European Piano Teachers’ Association, The European Recorder Teachers’ Association, The European String Teachers’ Association, The Guildhall School of Music and Drama, The Incorporated Society of Musicians, In-service Teacher Training across the UK, Leeds College of Music, The Music Masters and Mistresses Association, Reading University, The Royal Academy of Music, The Royal College of Music, The Royal Northern College of Music, The Royal Scottish Academy of Music, Trinity College of Music etc. Internationally, Lucinda has lectured in The Republic of Ireland, Portugal, Germany, Cyprus, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Malaysia, South Africa, Australia, Canada and the USA.

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Recent Conference Presentations include:

2017     Psychology for Performance: EPTA UK Conference, Manchester

2017     Piano Teaching for the 21st Century in a Nutshell: Music Education Expo, London

2017     Piano Teaching for the 21st Century in a Nutshell
             Dance for Musicians
             Workshops: Psychology for Musicians and Playing by Ear and Improvising
             EPTA UK Conference, Nottingham

2016     Making Music Magic: British Columbian Registered Music Teachers’ Association, Vancouver BC

2016     Making Music Magic: EPTA UK Conference, Edinburgh

2016     Piano by Ear: Learn to play, improvise & accompany songs: Music Education Expo, London

2015     Piano by Ear: EPTA UK Conference, Warwick

2014     What to play without your books: EPTA UK Conference, Belfast

2014     Psychology for Music Teachers: Music Education Expo, London

 

Mentoring

2008 –             for PTC UK students

1994 –             for EPTA UK members

1995-2007       for CTABRSM students

 

Publications – Audio-visual

2017

Teaching teachers how to teach improvisation, published by Trinity College London: www.trinitycollege.co.uk/site/?id=3699

 

2016

Anyone can improvise! Series of videos with supporting text and manuscript

Beginning to Improvise

Easy Improvising with the White-note Modes and Other Exotic Scales

Twelve Bar Blues (2-part series)

Improvising with Secondary Chords (4-part series)

Improvising using your Current Piece (8-part series) published by Informance, Practising the Piano the Online Academy www.online-academy.informance.biz

Chord progressions for Christmas Carols: Santa Baby

How to improvise with chord progressions from your current pieces

How to improvise inspired by the form and style of with Chopin’s Mazurka Op. 17 No. 4

Published by The Curious Piano Teachers: www.thecuriouspianoteachers.org

 

2015

Demonstrating ideas from Piano by ear See: www.lucinda–mackworth–young.co.uk/improvisation

 

Podcasts – 2017

Why every student should know Happy Birthday in conversation with Tim Topham. Tim Topham Creative Piano Teaching Podcast https://timtopham.com/cptp110-why-every-student-should-know-happy-birthday-with-lucinda-mackworth-young

 

Blogs – 2017

Psychology for my students series. See: www.lucinda-mackworth-young.co.uk/Blog                                                                          

Books

Tuning In: Practical Psychology for Musicians (revised edition with additional see-at-a-glance visuals):  Published by Informance as an ebook, and hard copy ISBN 0-9539485-0-1

Piano by Ear*. London: Faber Music ISBN10: 0-571-53902-5

*Award finalist in the Best Print Resource category at the Music Teacher Awards for Excellence, 2016

Tuning In: Practical Psychology for Musicians. Norfolk: MMM Publications ISBN 0-9539485-0-1

 

Book Chapters

2005

The Psychology of Teaching in The Music Teacher’s Handbook. UK: Faber Music Limited

 

2004

The Psychology of Group Teaching and Learning in Marks, A. (Ed.) All Together! Teaching Music in Groups. UK: ABRSM Publishing ISBN 1-86096-398-6

 

Commissioned Course Material

1995

Psychology for teaching and learning, including teacher-pupil-parent relationships, for the Certificate of Teaching, Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (CTABRSM).

 

1994

Pupils, Teachers and Parents, Module 2, Unit 2H for the Diploma and MA “Music Teachers in Private Practice” (Mtpp Initiative) at Reading University.

 

Articles

2014

Psychology in Instrumental Teaching Rhinegold Music Teacher (September)

 

2012

Improvisation and Playing by Ear Workshop at Chappells Piano Professional, EPTA UK’s magazine for the teaching pianist (Spring)

 

2011

Are you being challenged? Incorporated Society of Musicians Music Journal (Jan/Feb)

Professional Development Opportunities for all Piano Teachers. Piano Professional EPTA UK’s magazine for the teaching pianist (Spring)

 

2009-2010

Fun and Easy Improvisation and Playing by Ear for absolute beginners Series published in Piano Professional, EPTA UK’s magazine for the teaching pianist

Christmas Carols and Modulation (Autumn, 2010)

Introducing Chords II and III (Summer, 2010)

Introducing Chords VII and VI (Spring, 2010)

Adding Chord IV (Autumn, 2009)

Home and Away (Summer 2009)

Fun and Easy Improvisation and Playing by Ear for absolute beginners (Spring, 2009)

 

2008

What were you motivated by? Piano Professional, EPTA UK’s magazine for the teaching pianist (Summer)

 

2003

Series of three articles: Joining Forces, The Root to Success, Keeping in Touch, Music Masters and Mistresses Journal (March, June and November)

Private Teachers; Public Trust, Incorporated Society of Musicians Music Journal (December)

 

2001

Learning and Teaching: Teaching for Learning, EPTA’s Piano Journal (Autumn)

Teachers, Pupils and Parents, Incorporated Society of Musicians Music Journal (May)

 

1999

This time with feeling –LMY examines the way teachers can unwittingly pick up the pupil’s feelings Rhinegold Music Teacher (November)

Am I feeling comfortable? … then I’ll begin, and thoroughly enjoy myself all the way through, Music Masters and Mistresses Journal (June)

 

1998

How to stop shaking and start playing, ABRSM Libretto (May)

Motivation: An exercise in identifying underlying emotion, EPTA UK Newsletter No.59 (January)

 

1995

The Student’s View, in Competitions and Festivals, a Rhinegold Music Teacher publication

 

1994-1995

Points of View: A bi-monthly series in Rhinegold Music Teacher

Have you ever had a pupil who was reluctant to learn? (August 1995)

Do your pupils practise enough? How do you motivate them to practise? (June 1995)

Do the private teacher and school liaise about the performing requirements of their pupils’ GCSE syllabus? (April 1995)

How do you teach your pupils to improvise? (February 1995)

How do you ensure that your pupils have something to perform? (December 1994)

What do you do to help your pupils feel the connection between their individual music lessons and the wider world of music? (October 1994)

 

1994

Coping with Exam nerves, Trinity College London’s magazine Flourish! (November)

A Dance Day Incorporated Society of Musicians Music Journal (March)

 

1993

Keeping in Touch: Ways to Improve Teacher-Student and Teacher-Parent Relationships, American Music Teacher (August/September)

 

1992-1994

Teacher Talk – A monthly column offering advice on individual problems associated with music teaching, Rhinegold Music Teacher

 

1992

A three-part series on psychology in music lessons, Rhinegold Music Teacher

Keeping in Touch: Part 3 (October)

The Root to Success: Part 2 (August)

Joining Forces: Part 1 (July)

 

Published Research

1991

Pupil-Centred Learning in Music Classes, American Music Teacher (April/May)

 

1990

Are your pupils really enjoying themselves? Music Masters and Mistresses Journal (June) 

Pupil Power, Music Teacher April London: Rhinegold Publications

Pupil Centred Learning in Piano Lessons: An evaluated Action- Research Programme, SRPPME Psychology of Music Vol.18 No1. (pp 73-86) ISSN 0305-7356

 

Membership of Professional Bodies and Societies

The British Psychological Society

The Society for Education

Music and Psychology Research

The Incorporated Society of Musicians

The European Piano Teachers’ Association

The Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council

 

Professional Qualifications

2008     Cert Soul Therapy

1996     Cert IATE, (Institute for Arts in Therapy and Education)

1995     Cert London School of Counselling

1986     MA PsychEd, The Institute of Education, London University

1985     DipEd, The Institute of Education, London University

1979     PGCE, The Institute of Education, London University

1978     GTCL (Hons), Graduate of Trinity College, London

1977     LTCL Piano, Licentiate of Trinity College, London

1977     LTCL Clarinet, Licentiate of Trinity College, London

 

Other, and ongoing, professional development in music, education or psychology related disciplines

2017     Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Open College

2015     Deep Memory Process, Energy Gateways

1990     Emotions in Education, The Tavistock Clinic