

from3188.11EGP/ h
Music Tuition available in Piano, Theory, Composition and Orchestration
I specialise in advanced Classical and Jazz Piano, Composition and Arranging, as well as fundamentals of Theory of Music for students from ABRSM Grade 5 to Diploma level. I offer substantial discounts for families and for bundles of 5 or 10 lessons.
I have a well-equipped studio with a new grand piano as well as other keyboards and music tech gear, and teach both in-person for students living in Edinburgh, and online internationally. As many of my students are from Edinburgh university, where I also teach Orchestration and Screen Composition, daytime lessons can be flexible from week to week.
My classes are helpful to students seeking to pass the higher performance and theory grade examinations, as well as to university undergraduates seeking to fill knowledge gaps and to explore composition and orchestration in greater depth. Students I have taught invariably achieve excellent results, as high as 144/150 in recent ABRSM practical piano examinations, and as high as 100% in Theory of Music.
I also teach Music Technology, specialising in Cubase DAW as well as Sibelius and Dorico scorewriter applications.
I have a well-equipped studio with a new grand piano as well as other keyboards and music tech gear, and teach both in-person for students living in Edinburgh, and online internationally. As many of my students are from Edinburgh university, where I also teach Orchestration and Screen Composition, daytime lessons can be flexible from week to week.
My classes are helpful to students seeking to pass the higher performance and theory grade examinations, as well as to university undergraduates seeking to fill knowledge gaps and to explore composition and orchestration in greater depth. Students I have taught invariably achieve excellent results, as high as 144/150 in recent ABRSM practical piano examinations, and as high as 100% in Theory of Music.
I also teach Music Technology, specialising in Cubase DAW as well as Sibelius and Dorico scorewriter applications.
Extra information
Parents are welcome to attend all lessons for school-age students.Location
At teacher's location: Guthrie Street, Edinburgh, UK
Online via webcam






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General info
Age: | Teenagers (13-17 years old) Adults (18-64 years old) Seniors (65+ years old) |
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Student level: | Intermediate Advanced |
Duration: | 60 minutes 90 minutes 120 minutes |
The class is taught in: | English, French, German |
About Me
Since 2007 I have taught Composition and Orchestration at the University of Edinburgh. Alongside my career as an educator. I have been self-employed variously as composer, conductor, musical director and record producer for a range of international clients including Caroline O'Connor and Sir Robert Helpmann. My commissions have been performed at the Royal Albert Hall and Garrick Theatre (London), Sydney Opera House and Melbourne Hamer Hall (Australia), the Australian Embassy (New York), Sala Accademica di Santa Cecilia (Rome) and Edinburgh University.I have been a film orchestrator, composer, and musician and possess 28 IMDb credits for feature films, television documentaries, mini-series, as well as 33 Discogs album recording credits and I have been a frequent conductor of studio orchestras such as Victorian Philharmonic Orchestra (Melbourne Symphony Orchestra). Many of the media on which I am credited have gone on to achieve critical and popular acclaim, including Los Angeles Film Festival, Indiefilms, BAFTA, Best Film Score (NZ), an Oscar, Platinum record sales and an Australian Aria Award nomination.
Stars in films I have scored include Russell Crowe, Hugo Weaving, Phil Collins, Josephine Byrnes, Lee Majors, Guy Pearce and Terence Stamp. I have worked with Torvill & Dean as arranger and pianist; I was keyboardist for over 400 performances of Andrew Lloyd Webber's show Cats (Really Useful Theatre Company) as well for Phantom of the Opera (Cameron Mackintosh Limited), and as musical director for independent productions.
Some more recent commissions have been to arrange, conduct, mix and master the vocal and orchestral music for the Glenfiddich 21yo Whisky ad campaign, which reached 1.7 million YouTube hits, and to score the music for Ruaridh M Turner's multi award winning short thriller, The Beast in the Storm. Other commissions have been to compose a new 4 movement symphony for The Orchestra of the Canongait, and a new trio for the Hindemith Trio in Parma, Italy.
Education
PhD (Music Composition) The University of Edinburgh (2012)BMus (Bachelor of Music) The University of Auckland, New Zealand (1975)
* First. All music subject passes with Distinction (A) or High Distinction (A+)
* Winner Hollinrake Memorial Prize and Senior Scholarship for best graduate student
DipEd (3 Diplomas in Education):
* Auckland Secondary Teachers College Diploma
* DipTchg - New Zealand Department of Education
* DpTeach - New South Wales Department of Education & Training, Australia
FTCL (Composition & Performance) Fellow of Trinity College of Music, London (1977)
LMusTCL (Composition) Licentiate of Trinity College of Music London (1976)
Experience / Qualifications
Qualifications:* PhD, BMus, DipEd, FTCL, LMusTCL
Experience:
2007- present: The University of Edinburgh:
* Teaching postgraduate Orchestration and Composition
1986-2006: NSW Department Of Education & Training:
* Teacher of Music, Software Design & Development, Information Processes & Technology
1989-2006: NSW Board Of Studies:
* Higher School Certificate (HSC) Music Examiner & Computing Studies Advisor
1995-2006: Sydney Community College:
* Lecturer – Steinberg Training Centre: Authorised Trainer in Music Technology
1984: Progeni Systems Ltd/Polycorp secondment, New Zealand:
* Computer Programmer of educational software for New Zealand schools
1979-1985: New Zealand Ministry Of Education:
* Teacher of Music, English and Computer Awareness
1979: Waiariki Technical Institute:
* Lecturer – Theory of Music (part time)
1974-1978: New Zealand School Of Music Ltd:
* Founder / Director / Teacher
1973-1974: Auckland University Conservatorium of Music:
* Lecturer, Tutor & Examiner (part time) – Harmony & Aural Training
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from 3188.11 EGPAt teacher's location
from 3188.11 EGPOnline via webcam
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Online reputation
- Instructor since October 2024
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from 3188.11 EGPAt teacher's location
from 3188.11 EGPOnline via webcam
Good-fit Instructor Guarantee
If you are not satisfied after your first lesson, Apprentus will find you another instructor or will refund your first lesson.
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Unlock your musical potential with personalized piano lessons tailored to your skill level and goals.
✨ What We Offer:
🎼 Beginner to Advanced Lessons
👧 Ages 5 & up | Adults Welcome
🎵 Classical, Jazz, Pop & More
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