My main professional activity is as a piano teacher in Aberdeen, providing piano lessons for all ages and abilities, from children to adults and from beginners to advanced players. Tuition is delivered either in my own home, or at the pupil’s home by arrangement.
From beginning with only 5 students in 2005, I now have over 50 students who I see on a regular basis. Please note that the minimum age for having lessons with me is six years old; there is no upper age limit.
For beginners I recommend a weekly 30 minute lesson. More advanced students or returners may prefer 45 minutes or one hour lessons. The exact curriculum followed by each student is negotiable, based to an extent on your own preferences. Attention is based on developing good technique. All students follow a guided course in music theory, which is taught for all levels from beginner to Grade 8.
I believe that by learning classical piano technique, students can then experiment with other genres of music in the future in accordance with their own interests.
Beginners books I use include the following:
- Piano Safari by Katherine Fisher and Julie Knerr
- Dozen a Day series by Edna-Mae Burnam
- Really Easy Jazzin’ About by Pam Wedgwood
Pupils are encouraged also to play piano duets, and to broaden their horizons by tackling repertoire outside their “comfort zone”!
My students are regularly successful in gaining passes in the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) piano exams at all Grades from 1-8. I also prepare students for the ABRSM Theory of Music examinations. A pass at ABRSM Grade 5 Theory of Music is required for students who wish to enter the Piano exams at grades 6, 7 and 8.
A highlight of my teaching year is the annual students’ concert, normally held in March or June and open to all students to perform in.
As at 2022, I have successfully coached two students through professional diplomas in piano performance: ATCL (Trinity College London) and DipABRSM (ABRSM).
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