Spotlight Interview: Charlotte Venn

3 June 2021

Newham Music recently welcomed Charlotte Venn to the NM team of teacher musicians. Charlotte is the daughter of longstanding NM teacher, Allison Venn, and ascended through the ranks, playing in the Newham Music Academy. Charlotte was kind enough to answer a few questions about her history with Newham Music and future career goals.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

My name is Charlotte Venn, I am 21 years old and I have just finished a BMus Music Degree from Goldsmiths University of London and I play the violin, piano and I sing. I have always loved playing and singing in ensembles since I was very young and have continued right through till university, I have also found a new interest in arranging and orchestrating which I find most of the time is like one big puzzle.

Can you tell us about your history with Newham Music?

I have been at Newham Music since I was 2 years and 10 months old when I joined the Kodaly lessons to help with a speech impediment I had at the time. Music helped me to communicate and from that moment on I was hooked. I participated in Orchestra on a Saturday morning from the time I was 7 years old until I left the Newham Music at 18 which has meant I have been given some amazing opportunities to play at some pretty cool places.

Why have you chosen to become a music teacher?

I have chosen to become a music teacher as I want to give back and share my love of music with a whole new generation as I know I certainly wouldn’t be where I am if I didn’t have the teachers I had pushing me on. I would like to help many more people to develop their love [of] music through music lessons.

More specifically, what made you want to become a teacher with Newham Music?

As I have said previously Newham Music has been a big part of my life from the time I was very small and being able to come back to the place that I was first exposed to music is amazing.
By coming back I can give back to the community that has helped me get to where I am today and that is a big part of why I also want to teach.

Besides teaching, what will you do in your spare time?

I’m hoping to maybe do some arranging work or composition work. I have an idea of writing some exercise books so maybe I can try and crack on with that in my spare time.

What are some of your long-term career goals?

When you say you are a musician many people just think that you play as a full-time job and that certainly isn’t the case. I would like my music career to be as diverse as it can and allow me to dip my feet into all parts of the music world, I would like to perform, compose, teach and anything else that takes my fancy. So I think my long-term goals are just to experience all parts of the music world and learn from them.

What are you most excited to achieve whilst working with Newham Music?

I think I am most excited to help more people find themselves in music in whatever way that is. May that be playing an instrument, singing, playing in a band/ensemble, producing, working with
electronics, whatever they feel most confident in.

What advice would you give to other young musicians considering a career as a music teacher?

Definitely go for it. You can learn so much about your own instrument just through teaching someone else and every day of teaching is never the same. How many people can say that for their job they get to listen to people playing music, it is such a great experience.

Newham Music are thrilled for Charlotte to join us and we will continue working to strengthen our pathways into employment for other local young musicians.

Jack Petchey FoundationNational Foundation For Youth MusicArts Council England
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