Richard's Tutor Profile, Cambridge Piano teacher, Cambridge Music Theory teacher

Piano
Beginner - £34.00 p.h.
Intermediate - £34.00 p.h.
Advanced - £34.00 p.h.
Expert - £34.00 p.h.
Casual - £34.00 p.h.

Music Theory
Beginner - £34.00 p.h.
Intermediate - £34.00 p.h.
Advanced - £34.00 p.h.
Expert - £34.00 p.h.
Casual - £34.00 p.h.

Personal Description: My formal musical education began with piano lessons at the age of fourteen and flute lessons a year later. After gaining Grade 8 Distinction at the age of seventeen I studied for two years at the Royal Academy of Music: piano (with Graeme Humphrey), flute, and composition. After a further year of piano studies with Graeme Humphrey, I studied music at the University of Sheffield, where I continued my piano studies with John Irving. After winning the Julian Payne First Year Prize, I graduated in 1986, winning both the Mrs Stewart Blake Dissertation Prize and the Mrs Stewart Blake BMus Prize. My subsequent musical education was at King’s College London: MMus (1987) and PhD (1994, with Professor Arnold Whittall). Since 1989 piano teaching has been my sole profession, though my practice is restricted to my own village of Histon/Impington, where I teach in my pupils’ homes. With regard to my personal life I think of myself as essentially a family man; it has been the greatest joy of my life to be a very active parent of my two daughters (now in their teens). My interests range widely but are dominated by the other arts: literature (especially Jane Austen, George Eliot, DH Lawrence, Shakespeare), painting (especially the Dutch School of Rembrandt and Vermeer), films (from art-house to Hollywood blockbuster), running and tennis (injuries permitting!), and rugby (now as a spectator only!)

Tutoring Experience: My first teaching experience was as one of the founding members of the Young Arbury Music Makers, where I taught children on Saturday mornings. I took up teaching again in 1989, firstly to fund the end of my doctoral research and then to support my growing family. For the past 21 years I have maintained a very full and successful teaching practice of approximately 30-35 weekly pupils, both children and adults, firstly in Cambridge city and subsequently almost exclusively in my own village of Histon/Impington. During this time I have taught children as young as five through to eighteen, and have guided many to much exam success. I have always enjoyed teaching the ABRSM exams, and during the time I have been teaching in Cambridge I have, excluding the adults I have taught, made 118 exam entries covering the full spectrum of Grades 1-8. Of these 97% of pupils have passed (31% pass, 42% Merit, 24% Distinction). And of the children I have prepared for Grade 5 Theory all have passed and the average mark has been a Merit of 86/100. Every year I organise a ‘Summer Celebration of Piano Music’, which gives my pupils an opportunity to perform before an audience. Besides the obvious benefits to both musical and personal maturity which the accomplishment of playing in public offers, it is good for younger pupils to hear my older pupils perform and to see what they may achieve; and it is equally good for my older pupils to see how far they have come. These summer concerts are always heart-warming occasions, much enjoyed by parents and pupils alike (not least for the tea and cakes afterwards!)

Tutoring Approach: I teach as I have been taught, and aim to give all my pupils a sure and sound classical technique. But with regard to repertoire I am always very sensitive to my pupils’ tastes, and this often involves jazz and pop. It is hardly ever necessary, even for exams, to ask pupils to learn what they regard as an unappealing repertoire; the time and effort devoted to practise should always be directed to a musically satisfying end; thus, if a pupil’s own taste dominates the choice of repertoire, the music itself is the most compelling (and the longest lasting) motivation and inspiration. I am equally happy to teach those who want to learn solely for the pleasure and fun of music as those who also want to take exams. Whilst I am always aware of what high standards music making can reach, I never regard the aim of teaching to be the attainment of any particular standards, for above all the aim is the attainment of potential, be this ever so humble or high-flying. If I can be said to have a teaching philosophy it may be summed up as “teaching music, teaching the piano, but teaching an individual”. By this I mean that I think of myself as teaching music first – teaching what magic it is that we can unlock with our own two hands - and teaching the piano second – the particular techniques of the instrument. Nonetheless I also recognise that all my pupils are individuals, and I try to understand as best I can how music fits into their sometimes complex and busy lives. Lastly, I believe my teaching has benefitted greatly by my experience of being a very active parent.

Qualifications:

• BMus (Sheffield)
• MMus (King's College London)
• PhD (King's College London)

Availability: Weekends / Weekdays (all times)
References Available: Yes
CRB Check: No