A piano teacher in Bath — how lessons work
When a student learns to read music confidently and sound good playing the piano, music can be a source of pleasure for a lifetime. That is the whole aim.
A private lesson and a group class
Students come for one private lesson and one group class per week. The private lesson is 30, 45 or 60 minutes, one-to-one. The group class brings students together for performance, theory and musicianship, so there are friends to play for and a second reason each week to be prepared.
My curriculum includes a balanced course of repertoire, technique, theory, and performance. I teach in my home studio, beside Royal Victoria Park in Bath.
Every student also performs in four studio recitals a year, and all music and materials are included in the monthly fee.
To teach students how to play the piano well
To accomplish this, I teach students to:
Become musically literate
Reading confidently, in all 12 keys, from the first year onward.
Play music by the master composers
Real repertoire from the 17th through the 21st centuries, at every level.
Perform musically with a secure and fluent technique
Technique that serves the music, built slowly and properly.
Levels, and the books for each
My students range from young beginners who will have a lifetime of music enjoyment to advanced teenage pianists preparing to study music at university or conservatoire. Much of what students play comes from books I wrote or edited for the Neil A. Kjos Music Company — Piano Town, the Piano Repertoire series, Fundamentals of Piano Theory and Scale Skills.
Beginning & Elementary levels
All beginners receive a solid foundation in reading, rhythm, technique, and musicianship. I proceed slowly and thoroughly in the early years of lessons to ensure secure and confident progress. I am a multi-key teacher, which means students will read and play in all 12 keys as they progress through their method books.
Method books for young beginners:
Piano Party (by the Bastiens) ·
Piano Town
Method books for older beginners: Keith Snell Piano Course for the Adult Beginner
Intermediate & Early Advanced levels
Progressive Piano Repertoire · Scale Skills · Fundamentals of Piano Theory · Sight Reading
Advanced levels
A wide selection of music by the master composers of the 17th through 21st centuries.
How we begin
I will have a phone conversation with the parent(s). After that, we will arrange an in-person interview with the parent(s) and child. If it seems like a good fit, we will schedule lessons.
Get in touch
Send a short enquiry.
A phone conversation
We talk about your child and what you're hoping for.
Meet at the studio
Parent(s) and child come to the studio. If it's a good fit, lessons are scheduled.
"Consistency and sincerity."
Daily practice, six days a week, at home. Arriving on time, with the right materials. A home where practice is encouraged. The practice guide sets out how much time to expect at each stage and how parents can help.
Fees, what they include, and this year's term dates are on the fees and term dates page.