I began my studies with renowned teacher, composer and editor, Christine Brown, winning numerous competitions and the Lloyd Hartley prize for Grade 8 Piano. Continuing my education with acclaimed concert pianist David Murray, I specialised in piano performance at Newcastle University - the equivalent of a licentiate diploma. As a skilled and versatile pianist, I gained a Masters in composition and now write and produce music for some of the world’s largest companies and brands.

TEACHING METHOD

I have combined over a decade of teaching experience, access to world-class pianists and educators and the latest pedagogical research to create a method which establishes a strong foundation of motor skills whilst encouraging musical expression.

Repertoire choice is key and I utilise a mix of my bespoke beginners curriculum, selected repertoire books and students’ own requests to motivate and inspire the love of making music. From the very first lessons, it is possible to play pieces which are not only pedagogically designed but musically satisfying. Pieces are carefully levelled to ensure the gradual introduction of new concepts and the reinforcement of skills already acquired.

Learning to read music notation is a very complex cognitive task and is one of the major causes for early drop-outs from music studies, so where appropriate, this is gradually introduced alongside learning by rote and playing by ear. In lessons at all levels, a chord-based approach to learning is encouraged and students are encouraged and assisted in creating their own song arrangements and compositions.

My students have a 100% pass rate in graded exams with the majority securing merits or distinctions. I work with advanced students preparing for professional diplomas, offering technical fixes and exercises and developing nuanced tonal control. For those with busy lifestyles, I offer advice on practice which focusses on objectives, rather than the counting of minutes, to ensure that your time is maximised.

All students are given free access to an online folder containing original compositions and arrangements, an exclusive beginners curriculum and student resources including exam packs, practice tips and links to useful third-party content.