Information About Mike - Hove teacher

Personal Description:

My name is Mike, I'm a musician from Sweden and have been in the UK for the last fifteen years. I'm an active pianist in bars and occasionally with various function bands. I've played piano from a young age, specializing mainly in jazz and blues-based styles, including boogie-woogie, rock n' roll, as well as pop, funk and soul.

I'm also a busy drummer, currently playing in a couple of experimental punk/metal/rock bands. I love playing drums, the energy that comes with it, creating cool grooves and heavy beats!

I'm a fan of all types of music and love teaching. Aside from that, I'm passionate about philosophy, psychology and linguistics. I am fluent in English, German and Swedish.

Tutoring Experience:

I have been teaching piano and keyboard periodically since 1998. Most of my students have been between the ages of roughly eight and thirty, ranging from complete beginners to upper-intermediate players. I began teaching in a private studio in Zurich, Switzerland back in '98 and have since taught in London, Stockholm Sweden and Brighton. These lessons have taken place either at my home or at the homes of the students.

I studied Music at Roehampton University London and also completed several certificate courses in Music Studies at Lund University in Sweden.

Tutoring Approach:

I teach in a fun, laid-back and casual way, always structuring my lessons around the students' needs and tastes. Please note: I specifically do not teach piano with notations or scores of any sort. My method of teaching is based on playing by ear, with emphasis on the music and the joy in playing it, rather than the theory. I also place importance on technique and memorization, again tailoring these to the needs and wishes of the student. I have a perfect understanding of music theory myself, so this will come in to my lessons; there simply won't be any scores! I have found that my students can learn rather progressively and develop more profoundly as a creative musician in this way.