Testimonials

“Jo has been my teacher for over two years now, and every lesson is taught with patience, kindness and an abundance of assurance. She helped me through my Grade 5 Music Theory, as well as encouraging me with piano playing at my own pace. Lessons are not just interesting, but fun and enjoyable; Jo is not just my tutor, but my friend. For anyone interested in her lessons, I say you will find no better mentor & teacher.”

Daisy Dennett 

“I have know Jo for approximately 4 years since I started clarinet lessons as a complete beginner. Jo has been so encouraging and enthusiastic in all this time and even managed to get me to take examinations ( which I passed). As an adult I had found it really difficult to find a teacher but it was worth the wait as Jo is exceptional and I have a fantastic teacher and a good friend now. If you have ever wanted to learn flute,clarinet,recorder or piano come to Jo, she is a great teacher and always makes the lessons enjoyable.”

Anne

“Jo started teaching our son recorder six years ago when he was seven years old, since then he has progressed to learning piano.  Jo has been a very patient and kind teacher which has shown in our sons understanding of musical theory and ability as the years have passed.  We would highly recommend Jo for children of all ages and any musical ability.”

Tattersall Family

“Jo has given me the confidence to get back into learning the piano after a nearly 30 year break and helped me with pieces I never thought I would be able to play, with new strategies and ideas for challenging pieces. Jo also teaches my daughter who is thrilled to have already completed her first book. She is a kind and caring teacher and my daughter is really enjoying learning something new.”

Sarah

“We have only a tiny bit of experience with music teachers. Jo’s standards and approach to our kids are incomparable to what we experienced in the past. Kids love it, we love it… it can’t get better. We would definitely recommend Jo to any parent who wants their kids to learn and enjoy the music while having 100% reassurance that they’re in safe hands. ”

Julian and Alicja

“Jo is a very experienced teacher who has a deep love of music. She is a talented musician, and teacher, who teaches creatively and her lessons are a combination of friendliness, encouragement and high expectations that lead to accelerated progress and achievement. Through her teaching, students learn so much about playing the flute, from embouchure and tone to technique and musicality. This enables them to play the flute and to pass examinations through which their progression and attainment can be measured but more importantly, Jo nurtures a passion for the flute within in her students.

Two of my children have been taught to play the flute by Jo, who is a kind and very patient teacher. She not only teaches her students to play the flute but to be musicians. She has been instrumental in my daughter’s love of music as she has encouraged her to play on her own and also in a variety of groups, bands and orchestras. My daughter looks forward to her lessons which are fun and challenging and she recognises the importance of practising regularly. It has been lovely to see her confidence grow, as she has become more accomplished on the flute, and to hear her challenge herself with increasingly difficult pieces, that she chooses to play and, which Jo has given her the confidence to try.
Jo is a truly inspirational teacher whom I cannot recommend highly enough to anyone wishing to learn to play the flute or piano.”

Debbie Bastin – Parent & primary school assistant headteacher

“Jo Sear has taught both my children flute and clarinet for over 8 years. Jo has a great knowledge of all music and has helped both my children through many exams which they always managed to pass. My son has said Mrs Sear is a fantastic teacher and he has only persevered due to Mrs Sear being so patient with him. Jo was always happy to help and answer any questions we may have had. We will all miss her and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her to anyone wishing to learn how to play an instrument.”

Jo Grimsey (mother of Peter and Emily)

“I have known Jo Sear for approximately 30 years; initially, as the Educational Rep of a local music shop and subsequently as a colleague in the Luton Music Service, of which I was the manager until my retirement in 2009.
She is a very able player of flute, recorder and piano and she has a working knowledge of orchestral, single reed instruments; she has also had significant success in conducting and directing ensembles and in leading and organising large groups of young recorder players in workshop situations.
Jo is conscientious and extremely well-organised; she sets challenging targets for her pupils but makes sure that they have the knowledge and support to achieve them: she has high expectations. Jo is equally willing to take on new challenges herself.”

Stephen Beaven
Head of Luton Music Service 1997-2009

“I have worked with Jo for many years in a variety of roles within a music service. She is an absolutely outstanding teacher who is meticulous in her approach. She has produced numerous high achieving musicians, but has an ability to get the best out of any student, whatever their age or ability. She is highly proficient on a range of instruments in the woodwind family, most notably the flute and recorder. She is also an accomplished pianist who accompanies all her own students in exam situations. Jo is professional and always puts pupils at their ease. I would recommend her without hesitation.”

Chris Pascoe (Teacher and ABRSM examiner)

I always looked forward to my lessons with Jo. In the 5 years I studied flute with her, she prepared me for theory and practical exams, taking me to Grade 8 Distinction. Jo focussed on making music fun and encouraged me to join several ensembles including the wind ensemble which she led. With these groups we performed locally, toured and played at Music For Youth (Regional and National).

Nicola Irons (student – now studying music at University)

Jo was my piano teacher when I was at primary and early secondary school, taking me to Grade 5 piano and Grade 5 theory. My abiding memories of Jo are her kind and patient nature, clear focus and ability to break down complex ideas. I have very distant (and fond) memories of Jo teaching me how to read music, which must date from when I was around 6 years old. Crucially, Jo laid extremely firm foundations for my general musicianship: I achieved ABRSM Grade 8 distinction on violin and clarinet as a teenager, A* and A grades at GCSE and A-level and went on to study music at Oxford University (but not before coming back to Jo for some refresher courses in harmony and counterpoint as an 18 year old!). I now work as Communications Manager for the London Symphony Orchestra, a job which would be impossible without excellent all-round musical knowledge. I credit Jo and my other music teachers for instilling those skills, and a deep love of music.

Fabienne Morris (student – now Communications Manager for LSO)

I have worked with Jo for over 15 years. In that time she has consistently been an excellent teacher and producing fantastic students from various schools. Jo works well with other people and fits in well in a team. Luton’s loss will be Somerset’s gain.

Simon Router (Teacher, Luton Music Service)