Lessons
Learning an instrument is one of the most challenging but rewarding things any of us do.
Education is a key part my work as a professional musician, whether as a composer, conductor or as a private piano teacher. My job as a piano teacher is to make the challenge of learning the instrument an enjoyable one, so that students of all ages continue to play, discover, work and grow.
Taking up the piano is something many people do, but nearly as many will give up in their first year. From my own experience (and that of many friends and colleagues), the most important factors determining a student's journey are the quality of the teaching and the relationship with their teacher. There is no set method which works for all, and key to my approach is incorporating each student’s different musical appetite and personality. It’s thanks to this that I have such a strong retention rate, with the majority of my students having learnt with me for 4 years or more.
I’m classically trained (Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and the Royal Academy of Music), but I work in a broad range of musical styles and focus on giving students a diverse set of creative skills at the piano, with a classical foundation. For those who wish to take graded exams, I maintain a 100% pass rate, but I also explore pop, jazz, improvisation and composing with my students to broaden their knowledge and abilities. I work with students from a range of ages – the youngest starting at age 7 and the oldest –– well they probably would probably prefer me not to give their age!
I teach on a gorgeous Bösendorfer grand piano at my SE London studio, only 5 minutes’ walk from Queen’s Road Peckham station. While my availability is often limited, please send an email to register interest and I will let you know if I have any space and set up a free trial lesson if possible.
"Tom is the best teacher we have ever had, and we’ve been through a few in our time! He is always up beat and positive, the children look forward to seeing him and he makes the lessons really fun. Even when they are preparing for exams, he makes the lessons lively, varied and interesting"
"Tom is extremely patient and firm but fair, which makes the children much more enthusiastic about practicing. The children have made great progress with Tom and are developing a real love of playing the piano"