About Janet

Janet has travelled extensively in the UK and abroad as a performer on electronic and theatre pipe organs.  She combines a career as a performer with that of teacher, on both organ and keyboards, and a Senior Examiner for the London College of Music.  She also writes for various publications, and is the co-owner with her husband, Neil, of The Music People – a company selling musical goods via a website www.themusicpeople.co.uk and mail order on 0118 9887444.

She holds both the FLCM and LLCM diplomas.

Janet worked for the Yamaha organisation for 11 years as a demonstrator, presenting concerts, demonstrations and masterclasses on registration, technique and so on related to the electronic organ, and later as the Promotions Manager organising Festivals, events, and promoting the network of Yamaha Music Schools.

Freelance since 1992, Janet follows a very hectic timetable and is in great demand all over the country at Organ Societies and Festivals.  She is also known for her compering skills, and is a regular contributor to the Yamaha Interactive and Organ and Keyboard Cavalcade. She also demonstrates Yamaha Keyboards live on QVC television.

Janet’s instrument is the Yamaha EL900 which she carries wherever she goes.  She is also in great demand to play theatre organ concerts.  She has several commercial recordings available on CD – the most recent being ‘Harmony’ released on 22^nd December 2008. 'Harmony' is a 73 minute recording, played on her Yamaha EL900, and is available from www.themusicpeople.co.uk (see the website for track details) or from Janet direct at her concerts.

Janet's easy personality is always a hit at Organ Societies - she's guaranteed to make the audience smile!  Her programme is always suited to the age group of her audience (and the volume of her performance is never too much!)  She also makes sure her concert programme evolves over a period of a few months, so there will always be something new to hear.

Her current programme includes such things as: Selections from Mamma Mia, the King And I, 'TV Cops and Robbers, Glenn Miller Swing, Classical pieces such as Jesu Joy Of Man's Desiren and Prelude In Classic Style, up to date ballads such as 'Hallelujah', Cliff Richard's Miss You Nights and Michael Jackson's 'She's Out Of My Life', novelty pieces such as Dizzy Fingers and Magic Fingers, marches such as The Knightsbridge March, theatre organ pieces such as Espagna, showtunes such as 'Cabaret', 'All That Jazz', 'On My Own' and 'Wouldn't It Be Luverly' and so on.

Janet is available for both electronic and theatre organ concerts in the UK.  She is now taking bookings for 2010 and beyond. Phone on 0118 9883971 or email janetdowsett@hotmail.com for availability.

Janet has produced a most successful series of book for customers called 'Magic' books which are available priced £6.99 plus p&p from www.themusicpeople.co.uk or from her direct at one of her concerts or festival events.  Chord Magic is the definitive guide to reading and understanding chord symbols, and playing them correctly on a keyboard or organ.  Registration Magic talks about how to put sounds and rhythms together and make your playing as authentic as possible.  Fingering Magic is for all your right hand fingering issues.  Timing Magic looks at how to count and keep time in your playing. The latest in the series is 'Practice Magic'.  This is complemented by a DVD called 'Practice Makes Perfect', in the KeyPlay4U series of tuition DVDs.  Janet also has a DVD called 'Registrations - A Commonsense Guide' in this series.

 

Janet's Photo Gallery

Janet's Concert Diary