Daniel Ryder

Name: Daniel Ryder
Exam taken: Classical & Jazz, Piano Grade 4
Category nominated under: Overcoming challenges - qualification success despite difficult circumstances or barriers to access
Nominated by: Anna Simonetta Samuels, Teacher

Being able to aim for a Trinity Music exam has certainly been an excellent goal for Daniel. Despite Daniel's special needs he has worked very hard during each lesson and at home with his own personal practice to pass Grade 4.

He is totally dedicated to learning and improving a piece, this is shown by his ability now to repeat hard passages and to listen carefully to his playing. He still wants to finger each note and sometimes even letter each note as a back up, but this all helps towards his own personal growth with with his piano playing. Daniel is very focused now on achieving his Grade 5 which he is working towards and showing immense pleasure in learning the new pieces, and managing to climb the learning curve that Grade 5 pieces require.

I, as his teacher, and his whole family are so proud of him and he even played one of his exam pieces in public at the Brighton and Hove Springboard Festival.