Piano lessons in Oxford

I teach the piano through demonstration and listening.  In the same way as children learn to speak before they read words, we learn skills and play songs before reading music. It's simple and works particularly well for younger children. ​I believe that everyone has musical potential which can be realised if it is nurtured in the right way. Just as we learn to sculpt the sounds we make, potential itself must be cultivated carefully if it is to become something beautiful. A child needs the support of their teacher and parent for this to happen. Adults benefit from a supportive community. I am a Suzuki-trained piano teacher (European Suzuki Association) with extensive experience. I currently hold positions at Magdalen College School and Dragon School, Oxford. Past positions include Radley College, Cleaves School and Surrey County Arts. I am a Music graduate of the University of Manchester, UK. Who I teach I teach children and adults from the beginning. If you have learnt before, I will assess your level, choose appropriate pieces for you and issue you with recordings to learn from so you can take part in studio play-togethers. The Suzuki repertoire forms the core of my teaching and it is what all my group lessons are based on. How I teach In the early stages, I teach by ear and demonstration only. Once your ears have begun to attune to the sound of the piano and your technique is in place, we start reading music. Why this order? Listening is how sound is received, so it is ultimately through listening that we refine our art as musicians at every level. By training my pupils to listen, I empower them with musically response-ability from day 1. Piano in Community  My experience is that community is a huge motivator for playing an instrument. For this reason, I offer a weekly online studio play-together which all my students are invited to. Here we review all the repertoire we have learnt, together. For children, I also give a weekly group lesson where we play games with our pieces together and learn music theory. For adults, I have an online platform to connect with me and other students to share progress, challenges and cheer each other on. Online/In Person I teach adults online and in person at my studio in Headington, Oxford. I only teach children in person.

I’m Angelica, a professional piano and cello teacher based in Oxford, offering both in-person and online lessons. I have many years of experience teaching children and adults of all ages and abilities, from complete beginners to more experienced players. My pupils currently range in age from five to sixty-four, and I tailor every lesson to suit the individual student. My aim is to make learning enjoyable, encouraging and rewarding. I want my students to feel relaxed in their lessons, to grow in confidence and, most importantly, to enjoy making music. Some pupils choose to work towards graded examinations, while others prefer to learn purely for pleasure. I am very happy to follow whichever path suits you best. Lessons can be shaped around the music you enjoy and the goals you would like to achieve. I believe there is no single approach that works for everyone, so I adapt my teaching style to each student’s personality, pace and musical interests. I began learning both piano and cello at the age of four and, at eleven, won a scholarship to the Junior Department of the Royal College of Music. At eighteen, I was awarded an Exhibition to continue my professional studies at the Royal College of Music, where I studied piano with the late Peter Wallfisch and cello with Christopher Bunting. I later spent fourteen years living in Malta, performing with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra. Since returning to the UK, I have taught at St Clare’s, Oxford and Musicland, and I currently teach cello and double bass at Cokethorpe School near Witney, alongside my private piano and cello teaching. I also continue to freelance with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra. I believe learning an instrument should be something to look forward to. For children, it can build confidence, concentration and creativity; for adults, it can be a wonderfully rewarding way to relax and express yourself. Music gives us a way to communicate without words — in many ways, we play from the heart. Above all, I want my students to enjoy their lessons. If they leave feeling happy, encouraged and proud of what they have achieved, then I know the lesson has been a success.