Information About Paul - Oxford teacher -

(1 review)

Personal Description:

Alongside my academic career, I have taught classical piano in and around Oxford for the past decade. My musical education began at the age of six and, three years later, I was admitted to the Yehudi Menuhin School where I studied the piano under Nikolai Demidenko. I went on to attend Chetham's School of Music in Manchester before taking up a scholarship for the BMus in Piano Performance at the Royal Academy of Music at age 16. While in London, I was also mentored by the late Maria Curcio, whose disciples included such celebrated concert pianists as Martha Argerich and Radu Lupu. I was awarded the Silver Medal at the Concours européen Claude Khan (in which I was the youngest competitor at age 16) and have performed widely in the UK and abroad. Concert appearances have included performances at the Royal Festival Hall (London), Salle Pleyel (Paris), and Avery Fisher Hall (New York City). Ultimately I chose not to pursue a career as a concert pianist and first came to Oxford in 2005 to read for an M.St. in Oriental Studies. I went on to complete a D.Phil in 2014 and have held research and teaching positions at the Universities of Oxford, Exeter, and Tokyo.

Tutoring Experience:

My piano students over the past decade have ranged widely across all age groups and abilities – from primary-school pupils to adult learners in retirement, from complete beginners to those of Grade-8 standard and beyond. My only preference is for students who are committed to improving their playing through regular practice, whatever their age and level. Those who have chosen to pursue ABRSM or Trinity College grade exams with me have had a 100 percent success rate, the vast majority achieving Distinction or Merit.

Tutoring Approach:

My approach is rigorous but undogmatic. I am dedicated to helping my students find their own musical voice through their playing and am sensitive to their particular strengths, weaknesses, and aspirations. I consider the development of a sound technique to be indispensable to the pursuit of musical enjoyment and bring an analytical perspective to addressing the physical challenges associated with executing a given musical idea. Recognizing that regular practice is essential but also that the time available to a student is often limited, I stress the importance of managing the time that he or she is able to commit by implementing thoughtful practice strategies that go beyond mere repetition.