Piano Teachers Giving Piano Lessons in England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales

Catherine Cossey ALCM BA(Hons) CertPPTC



Catherine Cossey graduated from Anglia Ruskin University with a BA (Hons) in Music. Whilst there she studied piano with David Earl and performed extensively as a pianist, clarinettist and singer. She wrote her dissertation on how the National Curriculum for music at Key stage 1 encourages children’s creativity, research that she has since drawn on in her work with young beginners. In 2010 Catherine was awarded EPTA’s Certificate of Practical Piano Teaching with Distinction. She is currently working towards an LLCM teaching diploma and hopes to begin an MA in Music Teaching in Professional Practice with the University of Reading in 2011.

Catherine began teaching piano in 2001 and now has a thriving practice in Coventry as well as working as a freelance accompanist. She has had wide experience working with students of all levels and abilities, from preschoolers to pensioners. She places a high emphasis on encouraging students’ creativity, teaching composition, improvisation and musicianship skills alongside note reading and performance. Catherine also enjoys developing curriculum and materials that allow her students to experience music in a variety of different ways.

About lessons
My aim is to make lessons as enjoyable and creative as possible, giving students the opportunity to experience music in a variety of different ways. I work from a balanced curriculum that gives students opportunities to:

* Create their own music
* Develop aural skills
* Play a variety of styles and genres
* Perform regularly by themselves and with other musicians
* Develop their technical ability
* Study music history and music theory

I adopt a multi-sensory approach in much of my teaching, using games, singing, movement, floor activities and other instruments to explore musical concepts. It is hoped that the skills taught and developed in lessons will set the foundation for whatever musical activities students choose to engage in throughout their lives.

As well as teaching individual piano lessons I also run pre-piano musicianship classes for 4-6 year olds. In these classes children learn the foundations of music through movement, singing and multisensory activities allowing them to experience music in a variety of ways. Lessons are fun and energetic with a high emphasis placed on encouraging each individual’s natural musicality and creativity.

During these classes children will:

* Learn the basic elements of music, such as pulse, rhythm, pitch and dynamics
* Improvise and compose music using a selection of tuned and untuned percussion instruments
* Play musical games
* Respond creatively to music from a variety of genres
* Have fun, make friends and enjoy sharing music in a community

Classes take place once a week for 45 minutes in groups of 4-5 children.