‘The contribution made by City Music Services in providing an excellent atmosphere for music making at Allen and Overy LLP has been significant and I highly recommend it’
Don McGown – Partner. Allen and Overy LLP
"Mark Luther and Howard Charles have asked me to provide some background to the significant musical services which they provide to Allen & Overy LLP."
Howard and Mark have been the main contacts I have dealt with as the co-ordinator of our musical activities here at Allen & Overy LLP. In the [three to four years] since they have been providing services to Allen & Overy LLP, the number of people taking music lessons at Allen & Overy LLP has risen from a small singing group to now in excess of some [130] pupils drawn from partners, associates, trainees, PAs, and other staff.. Lessons offered now include the guitar, saxophone, clarinet, strings, singing, piano, brass and percussion, depending on demand. Due in no small measure to the enthusiasm and dedication of the tutors and the efficiency and encouragement of Mark and Howard, music is now thriving at Allen & Overy LLP. Lessons are organised throughout the day and bookings run through our email system and administered by Mark and Howard. Fees for lessons are paid direct to the tutors concerned and we pay a retainer to Mark and Howard to cover out of pocket expenses on a regular basis.
Mark and Howard, together with the other tutors, have also been instrumental in helping to put on concerts by both new and experienced performers, as well as running master classes and the occasional choir. Both are extremely enthusiastic and have struck the right balance in nurturing performers who may not perhaps be the best at practising!
The contribution made by City Music Services in providing an excellent atmosphere for music making at Allen & Overy LLP has been significant and I highly recommend the services they offer and the tutors that they provide.
If you would like to speak to me about any aspect of their services, please feel free to call me at Allen & Overy LLP."
Don McGown, Allen & Overy - Senior Partner (Tel: 020 7330 3156)
"My regular CMS singing lessons are the perfect way to balance a stressful City career.I would strongly recommend CMS lessons to anybody, whatever your age, ability, or schedule. CMS provide me with the ability to forget about work for a while and let rip in the most constructive and enjoyable way possible!
Karin Paynter, Assistant to Director Technology and Training. The Goldsmiths' Company
"At first it was odd to find myself belting out songs in my lunch break but I can think of no
better way to put yourself in a good mood and come back to work full of energy.
The way CMS is set up - the quality of the teaching, the sense of fun and the ability to swap lessons
with colleagues when work intervenes- all make it easy.
I get tremendous fun out of it and would never have been able to do it if it was not made so easy to fit in to the working day.
I feel I have actually been able to make progress in one of my personal ambitions!"
Joanna Page, Allen & Overy - Partner
Having experienced one of CMS's 60 minute individual coaching sessions, with one of its Directors, Howard Charles; I'm delighted to offer this feedback on my experience of this training.
Preparing for a Keynote speech in Bermuda, I was fast tracked through a number of important areas; such as: Correct Breathing, and how to re-develop this; Realignment of Posture, the importance of correcting this & health benefits; and how to help produce a better vocal performance through using my diaphragm.
During our 60 minutes I was given an enormous amount of information, based on techniques and skills learned & developed for professional performers, which I believe, would be invaluable to anyone wishing to become more effective as a communicator.
Paul Ross - CEO Arundel Iveagh
I contacted CMS after finding I was paralysed with fear at the thought of presenting to high profile members of my industry. I was concerned that I would shake throughout, be sick, forget what I was talking about and make a complete fool of myself, all at the same time!
I booked a last minute emergency session with Howard Charles of City Music Services who talked me through breathing and postural techniques as well as tips and tricks to transform the experience into more of a pleasure than a torment. As a result of his session, I approached the day a lot more calmly than I would have done otherwise and even enjoyed the occasion which I didn't think was possible! It has had quite an effect on my career, as giving a confident talk has helped me stand out rather than hiding in the background and I've had a few people contact me as a result.
Karin Paynter, Assistant to Director Technology and Training. The Goldsmiths' Company
"Having received both individual tuition and taken part in the production of HMS Pinafore, I can vouch for the professionalism and verve of the City Music Services team, and also for their ability to bring fun and humour into the task of having a team work well together."
Jeremy Thomas
Ex-Partner Allen & Overy
Director of ‘Outside Insight’ - a firm which provides coaching and mentoring services to law firms and in house lawyers.
"The lessons make me feel energised and take me away from all the stresses of the day. I go back to the office with a real spring in my step (and a tendency to hum out loud which is unfortunate in open plan)! Sometimes it seems difficult to escape your desk for five minutes, let alone 45 minutes. But the lessons actually help me concentrate on my return to work and relieve tensions which have built up."
Jocelyn Land, Associate, Allen & Overy LLP.