Paul

Hello, my name is Paul. I am a Classical Piano teacher based in Lytham St. Annes, North West, UK. I teach Classical Piano online and in-person to children and adults of any age and ability. I hold ABRSM QCF Level 4 diploma in instrumental teaching (Northern College of Music, 2010) and currently am studying towards UK Bachelor (Hons) in Music. Whether you are a beginner, intermediate or advanced piano learner, I will provide you with the most comprehensive support you need to reach your goals. From basics such as simply learning to navigate the piano keyboard to complex phrasing and pedalling techniques- I will help you to take your skills to an entirely new level.

I am now able to offer tuition in the comfort of your home. I cover:
• St. Annes
• Lytham
• Ansdell
• Wrea Green
• Higher Ballam
• Lower Ballam
• Westby
• Ribby
• Kirkham
• Warton
• Blackpool
• Bispham
• Moss Side
• Poulton-Le-Fylde
• Singleton
• Thornton- Cleveleys
• and other nearby locations.

I have a professional 88-key keyboard with weighted keys, a stand and a stool that I can bring with me if you do not yet have a piano. This service is free.

***Please note that travel fee of £3 will apply to every lesson including block bookings if I am required to travel to your house.

Tutoring Experience

I have 13 years of experience teaching online and in-person and consider myself an expert in my field. I have absolute confidence in my ability to help you whatever your targets. I work with children and adult learners and will help you fulfil any target from informal learning to school assessments to graded exams and competitions to college-level studies.
My students regularly take graded examinations and compete in international competitions. Just recently, one of my students won 1st place in the Spotlight on Talent piano competition in US 2022 (watch full performance here: Removed ). Between 2016 and 2022, all of my students have passed ABRSM and Trinity Guildhall graded exams with flying marks.

Tutoring Approach

Sometimes it looks like Classical Piano is an elite activity. Indeed, some people (and even some teachers!) will go to great lengths to impose this destructive way of thinking on others. In reality, however, none of us was born with the pre-installed musical "know-how". I remember too well what it was like to be a beginner myself; therefore, I make a deliberate effort to put my students at ease. Everything I can do, you can do too; the only difference is that I likely had a chance to clock more hours at the piano. I believe that once you sit at the piano, you become a musician in your own right. I will share everything I know with you in a friendly, relaxed and creative style, musician to musician.

The structure of the lessons varies according to your particular needs (whether it is focused work towards serious exams or casual learning “just for fun”). However, I put a strong emphasis on theory, technique and the history of the music to ensure that you receive a well rounded and comprehensive musical education in all areas, not just piano. I teach note reading as part of piano lessons of any length which means that my students can read music and play the instrument.

Here is just a small part of what my lessons cover:
For beginners:
▪️ Accelerated start: confidently play a beginner piano piece with both hands in 4 lessons.
▪️ Essential practising skills explained. Learn how to independently make any piece of music sound flawless in the shortest time (1-4 weeks, based on a minimum of 4 hours of home practice per week ).
▪️ Chord chart reading.
▪️ Learn how to choose the right chords for any song.
▪️ Note reading.
▪️ Sight-reading.
▪️ Adoption of the correct posture at the piano.
▪️ Learn essential techniques for a professional-sounding tone.
▪️ The basics of music harmony and analysis (optional).
▪️ The History of Music and musical style. Explore the co-relation of style in music with art, dance, religion and architecture. Learn about prominent classical, neo-classical and contemporary composers and how the ever-changing world around them found reflection in their famous works. (Optional. However, some elements of music history may still occasionally appear in your lessons.)
▪️ Ear training (optional).

For intermediate:
▪️ Essential practising skills explained. Learn how to independently make any piece of music sound flawless in the shortest time (1-4 weeks, based on a minimum of 8-10 hours of home practice per week ).
▪️ Understand how to choose efficient fingering to ensure smooth and intuitive performance.
▪️ Expression of the performance. Learn about all variables involved in the emotionally-charged interpretation: craft compelling phrasing using comprehensive techniques and muscle control to manipulate dynamic and speed variations.
▪️ style of performance. Understand how to intelligently interpret a period piece of music and deliver a performance true to the era and style.
▪️ Pedal control and pedalling techniques.
▪️ Learn the skill of vocal and dance accompaniment (optional).
▪️ The History of Music and musical style. Explore the co-relation of style in music with art, dance, religion and architecture. Learn about prominent classical, neo-classical and contemporary composers and how the ever-changing world around them found reflection in their famous works. (Optional. However, some elements of music history may still occasionally appear in your lessons.)
▪️ Advanced score reading, including orchestra scores (optional).
▪️ Learn strategies to alleviate performance anxiety and significantly reduce the chance of errors during the performance. Understand the basic physiological brain processes involved in piano performance and how to harness the power of your brain to achieve your goals (optional).
▪️ Correction of bad posture and hand/palm position (optional).

For advanced:
▪️ everything from the intermediate list plus any bespoke requirements.
▪️ Coaching and participation in the UK and international competitions (optional. Please note that the winning result is not guaranteed).
▪️ Coaching, guidance and practical tuition experience with my own students for adults and teenagers who want to pursue a career in instrumental teaching (optional. Additional fees apply. Please note that I can offer this service due to my extensive tuition experience, which I can share with you. I do not provide certificates or any other forms of accreditations.)