Visit the shop to purchase Around the World Piano Course books, a piano inspired story book, and more.
Now offering Online Piano Tuition
Welcome to my web site! I am a piano teacher living in Binstead, on the Isle of Wight.
I have been playing the piano since the age of 8 and music has always been an important part of my life.
I teach pupils from the age of 5 to 95, at all levels ranging from beginner to Grade 8.
I adopt a very relaxed approach to teaching and try to make each lesson stimulating and enjoyable.
My musical path began at the age of 8, when I had weekly piano lessons. My first piano was a condemned piano from the 1920s, and none of the notes I was capable of producing would have taken it off the condemned list!.
I wasn't a natural, it took me quite a few years to really understand the concept of rhythm. Nevertheless my long-suffering piano teacher was very patient with me, and my parents continued to encourage me to practice.
By the age of 15 I had ABRSM Grade 5 Theory and Practical behind me, together with an 'O' level in Music. ABRSM Grade 6 practical was achieved soon after this, after a switch of circumstances and piano teacher.
Some years later I was married, and bringing up young children brought a new challenge to my practice time. I eventually conceded that the children had to come before regular practice. It is very difficult to play seriously when you have a toddler plinky plonking up the top end of the keyboard! When the children were older, I was able to resume my piano studies and went on to achieve ABRSM Grades 7 and 8.
I passed my Associate and Licentiate Piano Teaching Diplomas with the Victoria College of Music and attained Honours at each level.
I have attended numerous seminars and courses in the past to upgrade my teaching skills and learn new techniques . I like to keep myself up to date with all the current examining board exam requirements and pieces/supporting tests.
Lessons are mainly taken place in my own home on a fairly new upright Yamaha B1 piano, which has a lovely tone and even the mistakes sound good!
European Piano Teachers Association (UK) Ltd.
I am a full member of the EPTA, which provides me with professional and legal advice and support, together with further training opportunities and Public Liability Insurance.
Lessons are 30, 45 or 60 minutes long, depending upon the level of the student and whether or not they are studying for exams. Parents are encouraged to stay during lesson if they wish to, especially with small children. Parental input is quite important with supporting very young children.
Theory of Music is taught during the lesson and homework is given to those who wish to do it in their own time. We also learn scales, arpeggios, broken chords etc, sight reading skills and how to prepare for the part in the exam that everyone dreads!
If children find theory a bit of a bore, we do a bit of composing together, this way they still learn the main elements of theory whilst creating and playing their own music.
Aural training is also given at all levels, this consists of exercising your ability to listen and memorise a rhythm, tips are also given to aid sight singing from a sheet of music. Training is also given to prepare your ear to listen to and understand a piece of music. I can give you some pointers to help you to talk about and discuss style, texture, rhythm, articulation and dynamics, in preparation for exams.
What is most important to me is to see people learn and progress at a comfortable level and speed, whilst enjoying every minute of it.
Following a major career change in my life from law to music, I have now been teaching piano for 16 years.
My past and present pupils range from school children of age 5 upwards to adults of retirement age. I enjoy the challenge that each pupil presents; some of them have intentions of working towards exams as their goals, others just want to play for pleasure and social entertainment.
I have found working with each different individual very stimulating and enjoyable. I adopt a very relaxed approach to teaching and try to make the lessons fun, but always make sure the pupil feels encouraged by their progress. I endlessly promote the importance of regular practice, as a teacher it would be a sin not to, and most of my pupils practice well and fit it in to their lifestyles and school work.
All face to face lessons take place at my home in Binstead. See Contact for my full address.
Exams
A lot of my pupils regularly take piano exams, for which I prepare them. I currently enter pupils for exams with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, Trinity Guildhall or the Victoria College of Music. I have a good pass rate with each board.
I held the position of Honorary Local Representative for the ABRSM on the Island for ten years and am very knowledgeable of the workings of the exam board. I also enter students for digitally assessed performance exams with ABRSM and Trinity College. These exams were introduced during the 2020 lockdown and have proved very successful. They are very popular with students who prefer to avoid the exam day nerves and the anxiety of the build up to exam day. The exam can be recorded either at my home or in a student's own home, playing on their own piano or keyboard. The digitally assessed exams hold the same weight in terms of accreditation as the face to face exams and UCAS points can be gained in the same way.
Everyone learns at different paces and has different strengths. As a teacher I feel it is important to discover the pupil's strengths and weaknesses before embarking on exam preparation, and allowing enough time for the pupil to be ready and fully prepared in time for the exam. It is often necessary to change a teaching method to suit each individual pupil and age group in order to produce the same successful result.
European Piano Teachers Association (UK) Ltd.
I am a full member of the EPTA, which provides me with professional and legal advice and support, together with further training opportunities and Public Liability Insurance.
Website designed by Matrix Create
