About Claire

My musical journey began at the age of seven, when I first heard a friend play the piano. I was completely fascinated — particularly by one piece with a bright, flowing left-hand pattern and a melody that seemed to float above it. I tried to recreate it from memory, and although it wasn’t accurate, that didn’t matter. What stayed with me was the sound, the feeling, and the sense that something magical had just opened up.

From that moment on, I was hooked. After much persistence, I began lessons myself, eventually working through my first exam and receiving my own piano — something I remember as a truly special moment. It quickly became the instrument I didn’t want to leave.

I was fortunate to study with a teacher who had a genuine love for music, which left a lasting impression on me. Alongside music, I also studied art, and I’ve always been interested in how different creative disciplines connect. This continues to influence my own approach to music and composition.

Certain pieces have stayed with me over the years — from well-known works such as Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata, to more personal memories like Chopin’s Étude Op.10 No.3, which I remember hearing from a small music box belonging to my grandmother. These early experiences shaped not only what I listened for in music, but how I understand it.

This curiosity about sound eventually led me beyond performance into the mechanics of the instrument itself, and I later qualified in piano tuning, design and restoration (Dip, CGLI). Alongside my music degree, I also studied composition at a higher level, which continues to inform both my teaching and creative work.

Today, alongside teaching, I continue to explore composition and broader musical ideas. These experiences all feed back into my lessons, helping students to develop not just technique, but a deeper connection with the music they play.

You can hear a selection of my compositions below.

Study in Blue for C flute:

(Performance and audio recording copyright of Tetractys Publishing.  Composition copyright of Claire Allen.)