North London Colourstrings Centre & Conservatoire , 76 St James’s Lane, N10 3RD ©  Deborah Harris 2011

Francesca Papadakis

Frankie Papadakis did not plan to become a music teacher: at school she loved violin, piano and maths. She graduated from Sussex University with a BA(Hons) in Philosophy with Cognitive Studies where she studied Artificial Intelligence and Child Development. She was all set to study for a PhD (“Do people think logically? Of course not!”) but somehow, on graduating, she instead qualified as a chartered accountant with one of the top five firms and became an Audit Training Manager, running courses in audit training and management and computing skills.

In 1993 Frankie left her job.  She took piano lessons again passed Grade 8.  In 1995 she discovered North London Colourstrings for her young daughter and was immediately hooked.  Deborah Harris, realising she was musical, offered her a job assisting in Music Kindergarten. Frankie has been teaching and studying ever since.  Today, she is NLCC Deputy, teaches piano, and is Head of Musicianship and Kindergarten.  She also teaches piano privately and teaches Kodály Musicianship and String Ensembles on the String Training Programme at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama Junior Department.   She has gained several music qualifications, including an LRSM.

Developing the perfect teaching philosophy is a passion. Frankie is constantly looking for the right repertoire for each student, and the best way for developing technique, her aim to inspire students with a love of music for life, and to give them the technique with which to express themselves musically.   

She loves going to concerts, or theatre, going out to dinner, watching popular TV (is a fan of Swedish Wallander and Casualty) and walks in the park with friends.

Frankie Papadakis