Piano Teaching
Discover a world of great music...
With so many piano composers and styles to choose from, students are encouraged to explore the repertoire as widely but always to select music that interests them. This approach helps sustain each student's musical interest but inspires the development of new skills and techniques along the way leading to great musical accomplishment.
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Working with such a wide range of students at different ages and levels is both rewarding and invaluable: to appreciate how students learn and develop across a much wider plane and the challenges faced at advanced levels provides perspective and understanding, and help shape the learning programmes of those just starting out.
Establishing the basics
Taking your first steps as a beginner may be daunting but with a carefully-selected programme of attractive and enticing pieces, and supportive exercises to develop your technique, you will soon have the basis of a musical foundation on which to build.
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We will start by learning how to sit at the piano and the importance of adopting a good hand position. After a few simple warm-up exercises to get some mobility in the fingers, we will learn our first piece together. This will be shown to you without the music, initially, to help you develop a better aural sense of the music and to make your first piece more accessible.
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You will, of course, still be taught how to read music: a vital skill that gives pupils the confidence to discover new music independently; however, approaching a new piece without the music helps new students actually play something meaningful at their first lesson without being overwhelmed with reading and playing simultaneously.
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To develop rhythmic awareness and listening skills further, a number of duets intended for beginners will be introduced. But, please don't worry about this: many beginners find the playing of duets really enjoyable and are surprised by just how good the ensemble sounds! Having worked with many beginners, rest assured, we will find the one that is right for you.
Piano Accompaniment
Completing the ensemble...
Est. 2000
IMJMusic
piano | theory | accompaniment
About
Education and experience
About me
Education and experience
Explore my musical training and teaching experience, and read what other students and parents have to say about their time here at IMJMusic. This will give you an insight as to whether I may be the right teacher for you.​
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If you have any questions or need more information, don’t hesitate to get in touch through the contact form. I’m here to help and look forward to hearing from you.
Music education
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​​​Ian read music at undergraduate and postgraduate level and experienced a wide and varied music training. He auditioned and accepted a place on the BMus Musicology programme at the London College of Music but later specialised in performance at Bath Spa University. Under the direction of John Parry, Ian gave a 45-minute public recital in his final year of works by Beethoven, Debussy, Liszt, and Henry Cowell, and was awarded a First.
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Postgraduate studies followed at the University of Reading where Ian explored disciplines in historical performance practice and music analysis. His research, supervised by Christopher Wilson and Jonathan Dunsby, resulted in the award of Master of Arts in Music Theory and Analysis.
Ian also holds an Associate Diploma in Piano Performance with Distinction (Trinity College, London); a Licentiate Diploma in Piano Performance (National College of Music, London); and a DipLCM in Piano Accompaniment (London College of Music), as well as Grade 8 in Music Theory.
Professional experience
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​Ian worked as a peripatetic teacher for the Swindon Music Service soon after graduation and gained valued experience working with pupils at primary and secondary level. As his client base grew with an increasing number of enquiries for lessons during the day, Ian decided to concentrate on developing his teaching business, and IMJMusic was conceived in 2000.
From his busy, dedicated teaching studio in Shaw, Ian provides tuition to over 45 pupils a week - from complete beginners to those working towards professional diplomas in performance and teaching.
Alongside his teaching activities, Ian is a busy accompanist working with candidates for exams at grade and diploma level, and as an Area Representative for London College of Music Examinations. He is also a Fellow of the Incorporated Society of Musicians.
“Ian is quite simply an outstanding teacher who teaches in a beautiful studio. We consider ourselves very fortunate to have found him. Our daughter loves her lessons and always comes out happy and full of enthusiasm. Thanks to Ian's excellent teaching she has made astonishing progress and her self confidence has increased, too. ”
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Chris Corner
Pupil's mum​
Qualifications
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Bachelor of Arts in Music specialising in Performance | Bath Spa University
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Master of Arts in Music Theory and Analysis | University of Reading
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Licentiate in Piano Playing | National College of Music, London
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DipLCM in Piano Accompaniment | London College of Music
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Associate of Trinity College London with Distinction | Trinity College, London​
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Grade 8 in Music Theory | Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music
Research articles
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'Motivational Aspects and The Beginner Mindset' | Forte | London College of Music, 2010
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'Casting your net', Music Teacher | Rhinegold Publishing, 2004
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'The Latest Theory', Music Teacher | Rhinegold Publshing), 2002
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'A Set-Theoretical Analysis of Scena III by Richard Rodney Bennett' | Teoria, 2001
Professional memberships
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Fellow of the Independent Society of Musicians