Information About Peter - West Molesey teacher

Personal Description:

25 years' experience. Teaching Wed-Sat. Fun and engaging music lessons for all ages and abilities, to help you develop your creativity and musical expression. GCSE, A-Level and Degree level guidance and study skills.

Dr Peter wants to help you live a more creative and musical life! Whatever your age, ability, or genre; if you don't know any "music theory"; if you can't carry a tune in a bucket; if you don't know your Beethoven from your Beetroot… music can teach you all sorts of useful and rewarding transferable skills that enrich every part of your life, studies, and work. We need music in our lives to express the creativity that we all have inside us.

Practical lessons take place in West Molesey, although some theory and composition lessons can be taken over Zoom.

Peter holds a PhD in Music Composition from the University of Southampton and is currently associate lecturer at the University of Southampton and Goldsmiths College, London. Their songs and instrumental compositions have been performed at numerous international festivals and by a variety of acclaimed soloists and ensembles. They have presented at various international conferences and regularly deliver seminars at universities across the UK. Their early piano training was with Gaynor Lee and Dame Fanny Waterman.

Since 2002, Peter has worked as a professional gigging musician, performing vocals, keyboards, saxophone, drums, and bass in a range of covers and original bands, as well as working as a pianist for weddings and restaurants. In 2022 he appeared on comedy show Outsiders, playing the Northumbrian Smallpipes alongside comedians Phil Wang and Fatiha El Ghorri! From 2014 to 2017, they served as the lead vocalist, vocal arranger, and lyricist for the acclaimed prog rock band Drifting Sun. One reviewer described them as “a modern-day Hercules of the microphone,” which will definitely go on the tombstone!

As well as piano, singing, composition/songwriting and production lessons, Peter offers sessions on listening skills, performance & public speaking, and general musicianship, as well as study skills and GCSE to Degree level preparation.

Exams

Piano students can be entered for ABRSM exams if they wish, although these are entirely optional and students are not pushed to take exams. This is not a place to say "Classical music = boring and good for you like cabbage; pop music = easy and fun like Haribo." Music is music! :D

Extra info

Peter holds an enhanced DBS check certificate and is a qualified Mental Health First Aider, accredited by MHFA England. LGBTQ friendly. There is a cat here so be sure to take an antihistamine before you come if you need to!

Tutoring Experience:

25 years' teaching experience - private lessons, college and university classes. Associate lecturer at the University of Southampton and Goldsmiths College, London. All ages and abilities.

Tutoring Approach:

Dr Peter wants to help you live a more creative and musical life! Whatever your age, ability, or genre; if you don't know any "music theory"; if you can't carry a tune in a bucket; if you don't know your Beethoven from your Beetroot… music can teach you all sorts of useful and rewarding transferable skills that enrich every part of your life, studies, and work. We need music in our lives to express the creativity that we all have inside us.

Students are not entered for exams unless they specifically want/need to be. This is not a place for "Classical music = boring and good for you like cabbage; pop music = easy and fun like Haribo." Music is music, whether you're learning a Mozart minuet, diving into Jazz, writing a song, or creating some bizarre ambient noise music for electronic tape.