Who am I?
I am a pianist/composer with a focus on the avant-garde music of the 20th century Soviet composers. Having spent more than a decade teaching the piano and improvising, on and off the stage, I excel in instructing beyond the technical aspects of the notes written on the page - the whys and hows of music, of creating sound worlds unique to the situation or the individual. My favourite quote is attributed to Beethoven (as a summary of his beliefs): 'To play a wrong note is insignificant, to play without passion is inexcusable'

Where do I teach from?
I teach from my home in a quiet part of Brighton. I find the distance from the city centre to be a very welcome one.

What are benefits of learning the piano online? The benefits of learning the piano online are significant. Whilst it is harder to convey certain concepts and practices at a distance, organisation is the number one barrier to progress. When a student is in their own home, they always have their sheet music and can write down notes from the lesson, immediately putting them in a sensible place that they will check (rather than being left by accident in the bottom of a bag). The familiarity with their own environment helps them feel at ease (being just a small window on a screen is less intimidating than a full person, sitting nearby). At least to begin with, I'm sure students feel less embarrassed to play the piano when there is a greater distance between themselves and their piano teacher. 

What are the downsides to having piano lessons online?
The downsides are few - technical problems being the greatest. Some (parents of) students seem to think that I need to see their face, not their hands. Others' Internet can mean that there is an interruption to the sound quality. Sometimes this impacts on the effectiveness of lessons, but not by much. 

What equipment do you use?
I use an HP Omen laptop with a Blue Yeti microphone. The microphone itself is basically the cheapest of the upper end (acceptable) sound captures available. It's designed to be used by professionals who don't have a lot of money. 

Thanks,

Mikah