FAQs

Do you teach online?

Yes, I teach pupils all over the UK.  So wherever you are, providing you have a stable internet connection I can teach you.  

At the moment all of my teaching is carried out online, via FaceTime, Zoom, Skype and any other suitable alternatives.  The audio and video quality depends largely on bandwidth, so before the first lesson we'll arrange a few minutes to check the connection is suitable for lessons.  

The majority of my online lessons are on Zoom, FaceTime and Skype, but I'm happy to use suitable alternatives.

Who do you teach?

Children and adult learners are welcome for lessons.  You can learn for leisure at your own pace, or you can take practical performance and / or theory exams, for example if you want a professional music career, or for personal development.  For face-to-face lessons I teach pupils aged five years upwards, although for online lessons ideally a child would need to be aged nine years or over, unless you (as the parent or guardian) have some experience in teaching, music or both.  

Wellbeing is at the centre of my teaching philosophy and I feel strongly that people learn in different ways so my aim is to find each pupil's best approach to learning to suit their individual needs.  My studio has a diverse mix of learners, from complete beginners to Diploma level.

Am I too old to start learning to play piano or learn music theory?

No, you are never too old to take up an instrument.  Music is for all and learning an instrument should be available to all who want to learn. 

How much do lessons cost?

You can choose from 30 (£12), 45 (£18) or 60 minute lessons (£24).  I can advise on what is best to start with if you're not certain how much time you need.  For example, a beginner may need 30 minutes only, with the amount of time increasing as they progress.

What time do you teach?

Usually weekdays from 9am to 9pm.  Please contact me for availability.

Do I need to have a piano at home?

To make the most out of your learning, the answer is "Yes".  You need to have a piano so you can practice at home.  I recommend an acoustic piano, but if sound production is an issue in your home, then a digital piano would be fine providing it's the right type.  I have pupils who have passed Grade 8 piano performance having practiced on a digital piano at home.

My studio piano is an upright Petrof.  I qualified as a piano technician (CGLI, Dip), so I'm very happy to offer advice to parents and music students searching for a piano of their own.

Do I need to practice between lessons?

To make solid progress, the answer is yes, yes, yes :).  That said, things can happen in our lives which means regular practice must stop from time to time.  However, generally if you find that your spare time is scarce, I recommend starting lessons when you know you have a little time to dedicate on a reasonably regular basis.  Just 10 minutes of focused practice regularly (e.g. four or five days a week) can make all the difference to your progress and help you to get the most out of your learning.  

There are many ways to approach practice, and different approaches suit different students.  I can recommend practice approaches for you to fit them into your lifestyle.