Rachel Potgieter - Founder of Dolce Music Academy.

Qualifications and Achievements:

• Completed the Unisa piano exams (2001)
• Performed as a soloist with the Hugo Lamprechts Youth Orchestra (2001)
• Completed a B.Mus degree – University of Stellenbosch (2002 – 2004)
• Completed an Honours degree in Education – University of Stellenbosch (2005)
• Founder of the ‘Music and Movement’ programme currently running in pre-schools. (2004 – current)
• Taught piano and recorder lessons privately (2004 – 2009)
• Primary school teacher – Arts and Culture Grades 4 - 7 (2006 – 2009)
• Founder and teacher at Dolce Music Academy

About Me

My musical tuition started at an early age and continued through to high school. During my high school years I participated in many piano and choir Eisteddfods; achieving a Cum Laude result for almost every item. I had the privilege of attending masterclasses with many of the world-class performers of today and in my matric year I performed as a soloist with the Hugo-Lamprechts Youth Orchestra.

After this, I pursued a future in the music world. I studied and completed my B.Mus at the University of Stellenbosch under the direction of Nina Schumann. I then completed my Honours degree in education.

While pursuing my degrees I taught numerous piano students. I also started my own business. It was called ‘Music and Movement’. It started as a small programme operating in a few pre-schools. This programme was aimed at developing the musical abilities needed in order to understand and truly enjoy music. Through game-like activities and movement, the children (aged 3 – 6) were introduced to musical concepts such as fast, slow, high, low, music interpretation and so on. This programme has been extended over the years and is now run in numerous pre-schools and playgroups throughout the Helderberg area. Its success speaks for itself.

When qualifying in 2005, I moved to Johannesburg, leaving the ‘Music and Movement’ business in the capable hands of Lynette Calver. There, I worked as a classroom teacher, teaching Arts and Culture to Grades 4 – 7 for four years. This has given me indispensable experience.

While teaching full time for a school, I also offered piano and recorder lessons to students.

In January 2010, I opened Dolce Music Academy in Somerset West, Cape Town.

Since then, Dolce Music Academy has grown significantly and is reaching more and more students throughout the country.

Watching my students grow from strength to strength is truly rewarding.

This is the reason I teach.

• Member of instrumental groups and choirs from primary school age all through until end of highschool
• Former Member of the Symphonic Wind Band under the direction of Mr Conradie, and the West Rand Youth Orchestra under the direction of Pienaar Fourie
• Church organist and pianist for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Roodepoort area
• Participated in various multistake choirs and stake choirs, touring the Johannesburg area and up to Botswana
• Studied clarinet in the United States of America and was a member of the Millcreek Junior Band
• Completed Trinity Practical Piano Examinations in Advanced Musical Performance, receiving the highest score in the Johannesburg section for various examinations
• Served as Children’s’ Church Education pianist
• Performed piano and clarinet for weddings and a restaurant
• Spent one year as volunteer teacher in Ghana, teaching beginners’ piano to young Ghanaians

• Completed Trinity Practical Piano Examinations in Advanced Musical Performance
• Studied the Seth Riggs vocal performance technique under the tuition of Terry Stock in the United States of America
• Served as Children’s’ Church Education pianist and as music director
• Performed as soloist in many choirs
• Church organist and pianist for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Randburg area
• Involved in Children’s Primary Musical Programs and Performances
• Accompanied instruments and singers on piano, as well as performed at weddings and functions
• Completed in Eisteddfods, and received highest score
• Awarded for Cultural Excellence in school
• Served as Church Ward Choir Director
• Teaching beginners piano to pupils of all ages (2007 – current)