Music

For Raphaël music could make the difference:

In education:

"I have been playing music since I was 6 years old, starting off with Classical Violin going through the grade system. Age 14 I changed direction and picked up a guitar but using an "ear based system" rather than an academic grade based system. This path has provided me with the necessary theoretical tools and knowledge to teach music on an academic basis, but I am very open to different approaches depending on students' individual inclinations and personalities. My main focus is on balancing rational knowledge (music theory) with an intuitive approach. I believe the development of intuition is underrated by our current education system yet it is key to successfully applying music theory to create music."

In teaching:

"I have worked for two consecutive summers 2012 and 2013 as a language teacher with LanguagePoint in Tuscany, teaching a range of ages from 8 to 17 year olds. Music was an essential part of my teaching method and I eventually setup an extra-curricular percussion workshop which the students thoroughly enjoyed, culminating in an organized show at the end of the Summer".

In communication:

"I was volunteering in Kenya with Camps International, teaching in a school. I particularly enjoyed interacting with children with whom I did not share a common language, music was particularly good for that in some cases becoming our main form of communication".

In creating networks of friendship :

Mattia, a band mate, says : "He made friends so easily so he became the centre of all the many friendships that existed around us, he was the pinnacle, the central connection. People loved the band and followed us because of the friendships and not just because of the music. Rapha had a way of embracing everyone. He was the core of Immigrant Swing, the silent Manager who organised gigs ensuring they benefitted everybody.