One-to-one piano tuition with Maggie…

How does it all begin?

It’s as easy as registering your interest and giving your contact details: as soon as a lesson slot that matches a space in your diary becomes vacant you are invited to a free consultation lesson. At this point all three of us discuss how the parent-teacher-child triangle will work. Everyone has a part to play to ensure the best learning will take place. Any questions can be raised, and the student can enjoy playing the piano in my studio.

Adults generally come to me for an hour’s lesson once a fortnight. At the consultation meeting we discuss among other things the best timings for a lesson so that it fits in with work and family life. Quite often we discuss what instrument you have and what past experiences of piano and music tuition you have, as well as your expectations for the future. I teach people from all sorts of backgrounds with a wide variety of past experiences – all tuition is tailored to your specific goals.

What will the first lessons be like?

Students come to lessons in my home in Ben Rhydding at the same time each week. From the outset they are made to feel welcome and able to achieve. Parents are welcome to stay to help them settle, though most leave and return at collecting time. Time is spent in a wide variety of ways: playing pieces, practising good technique, singing and moving to music, playing theory games.

What’s the philosophy behind your style of teaching?

I aim to use music to help people express themselves and become better versions of themselves. Just like when we learn our native tongue, so with music it is good to listen and create your own sounds before reading symbols. When beginners are first reading pieces then I find it good to look for patterns, to listen to what sounds right, to have fun and stimulating music to play. Students who progress to be intermediate level and beyond continue to develop the same skills of listening and pattern finding: they learn about harmony and aural skills in a completely integrated way. I also believe strongly in a good technique and posture and try to instil these from the start. Everything all dovetails together to make a whole musician.

Will lessons just be working through one book at a time?

We are so lucky with the wealth of music that there is available to us to play as pianists. I use Sally Cathcart’s musicianship books for beginners alongside Julie Knerr-Hague and Katherine Fisher’s Piano Safari series. I really enjoy teaching pieces by June Armstrong because they are so atmospheric and then Pathways to Artistry gives a great sweep of music through the ages and helps develop harmony. Because everyone is different, I choose different books depending on what music the student likes or what the learning needs are. Sometimes I will transcribe a pop song for a student with a particular favourite, or we might play it by ear and write it down together. By investing in lessons with me, you will be able to tap in to my wealth of knowledge about the wonderful music there is out there to play.