Piano tutor & more · Bristol, City of
Andrew
Piano, Music Theory & Composition Teacher of 10+ Years
Hourly rate
£35/hr
Piano tutor & more · Bristol, City of
Piano, Music Theory & Composition Teacher of 10+ Years
About
Potted history: I’ve been teaching piano and theory up to Grade 8 (and beyond), composition, orchestration, songwriting and music technology here in Bristol for about ten years.
I started playing piano myself when I was about 4, and ended up at the Royal Irish Academy when I was 14, studying there for about 7 years, passing my RIAM Grade 8 in Piano and Music Theory. I’ve got a BA (honours) in Music from Trinity College Dublin and an MA (distinction) in Film and TV Composition from Bristol University. I also play bass guitar, and used to play clarinet and organ (though neither very recently).
I have worked with students of all ages and other musicians most of my life, either through private lessons, choirs, bands, or other ensembles. Through my wide range of experience, knowledge and collaborative working, I feel I can approach any teaching situation with vitality and valuable understanding. I have also guided students through ABRSM exams with great results. I can teach a little jazz, but just basics currently (up to jazz grade 2); I have played in jazz groups before, and listen to a lot of it, but learning how to teach it effectively is currently a work in progress.
I don’t teach from home currently but will travel to students’ houses, within my range. I also teach online, though I don’t think it’s quite as effective for piano as it’s such an embodied practice. I still like to learn pieces myself (everything from Bach to Takemitsu), but not super keen playing them in public…. I’m definitely more of a teacher these days than a performer!
My opinion is that it is highly important to nurture a child's interest from a young age, speaking from personal experience… I was lucky to have some fantastic, highly regarded piano teachers who truly encouraged me, and I hope that I can pass the same exuberance I felt onto others. I am happy to teach all styles and standards, having a varied background of many musical interests and work to draw from. This includes solo performance, bands, classical and contemporary ensembles, studio work, choral singing and musical theatre.
I'm from Dublin, and started writing songs and pieces when I was about 12. My own band is The Evening Watch, just a solo venture these days, but very important to me. As a composer I've written for various choirs and ensembles, and I also write and arrange pieces for my current choir in Bristol, The Blue Sky Singers, which I helped co-found in 2018; we’ve sung all around the city in venues such as St George’s, The Mount Without and the Bristol Museum.
I’m very interested in film music and watch a ton of films myself, and I’ve worked with a few filmmakers and theatre producers over the years, the high point of which was Mechanimal’s Vigil (which was at the Bristol Old Vic and the Edinburgh Fringe in 2019). I enjoy scoring for film, but I experienced the networking side of the industry quite tiring as I find ‘selling’ myself difficult.
Since my time in Bristol I also got quite involved in experimental, improvised music. I had a band/solo project called SALTINGS and played most of the smaller, edgier Bristol venues between 2015-20 and a few festivals (including Supernormal in Oxfordshire). I even co-organised my own festival for two years, The Bristol Hum.
£35/hr · 3 subjects · 17 levels
Subjects & pricing
£35/hr
- Absolute Beginner, Grade 1-2, Early Beginner / Pre-Grade 1, Grade 3, Grade 6-7, Grade 4-5, Grade 8, Diploma & beyond
£35/hr
- Absolute Beginner, Grade 1-2, Grade 4-5, Grade 6-7, Grade 8, Grade 3, Early Beginner / Pre-Grade 1
Languages
- English Native
Qualifications
Higher education
- BA Music · Trinity College Dublin · 2:1 (Upper second) · 2004 Trinity College Dublin · 2:1 (Upper second) · 2004
- MA (Hons) Composition of Music for Film & Television Certificate checked · University of Bristol · Distinction · 2014 University of Bristol · Distinction · 2014 Certificate checked
Music grade or diploma
- Royal Irish Academy Of Music Grade 8 Piano Certificate checked · Royal Irish Academy Of Music · Distinction · 1998 Royal Irish Academy Of Music · Distinction · 1998 Certificate checked
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- Nov 2023 ·imported from First Tutors
Miss Freya
I really look forward to my lessons with Andrew and he's taught me a lot. We've been having lessons for a few months now and right from the start he has tailored the lessons to fit my interests. He's helped me make lots of progress on a Liszt piece I've been stuck on, taught me composition and improvisation techniques, how to work out a song by ear and lots of interesting music theory to support the rest. He's very good!
- Mar 2020 ·imported from First Tutors
Nicholas
Andrew is a first-class piano teacher. I have been very demanding of him, but he has made a huge effort to find relevant piano exercises and pieces suitable to help me achieve my musical goals. He is an excellent listener, and provides his expertise with subtlety and care to ensure his teaching methods are appropriate to my learning needs. I would have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending Andrew as a piano teacher!
- Feb 2020 ·imported from First Tutors
Dom
As an adult student I was very nervous to start learning a new instrument, however Andrew made me feel very comfortable very quickly. I've been learning over the last 2 years with him, and he's lead me to achieve my Grade 1 at distinction level, and I'll be taking my Grade 2 in the next few months. Always attentive, amusing, and understanding of my thoughts and approaches to things, I'd highly recommend him to anyone who's looking to start learning!
- Feb 2020 ·imported from First Tutors
Nina
Andrew is a brilliant piano teacher. He teaches our son, who is very engaged with music and has been taking formal exams and is showing great progress. With him Andrew is firm about technique and how to practice and our son loves his lessons and is sounding excellent. His exam preparation is SO thorough! Andrew also teaches our younger daughter, who hasn't done formal exams and her lessons are lively and fun - they seem to be laughing all the time in her lessons! What is most clear is that the reason Andrew is so good with both our children is that he really cares that they enjoy the piano and do well, and so tailors the lessons to suit each of them. He is absolutely 100% reliable and a really delightful person to have in our house each week. He has been teaching the kids for years and I could not recommend him more strongly. I am so glad we found him!
- Nov 2018 ·imported from First Tutors
John
Sent letter demanding £40 for two lessons that had not received. I had only received one initial sessions and had not received any subsequent sessions after this session. No agreement was entered into as no lessons prior to free initial lesson was carried out.
Andrew replied
John, I have an agreement with ALL my students, as I'm sure EVERY tutor operative on this site has, about a 24-hr notice cancellation policy. I made this very clear to you. Cancelling a lesson 5 minutes after it was due to begin when the tutor is actually standing on your doorstep ringing your doorbell- this obviously breaks the agreement!! Leaving 'feedback' such as this is not going to help your case.
- Jun 2017 ·imported from First Tutors
Jeremy
- Jan 2017 ·imported from First Tutors
Lucy
Great tutor. Andrew has helped our 11 year old daughter with music theory, sight reading, composition and preparation for music scholarship and aptitude tests. He is kind and easy to get on with and he makes her laugh! He is reliable and flexible when we have had to cancel. I highly recommend him.