About

About

As soon as I could walk and talk, I was playing the piano. I was singing, bashing out notes, and experimenting with rhythm, pitch and harmony by the time I was in Reception (Nursery), very much enjoying my time at a local Jo Jingles (music, singing and movement classes for toddlers) class and in the first year of my time at Primary School, I was going to piano lessons. I was soon learning the violin too, then I ‘picked up’ the flute, the guitar, cello, viola, clarinet, and drums throughout the following few years. I found I could play whatever I wanted quite well and I was (and still am) a quick learner.

I had my first student when I was 15. By the time I was 18, by which time I had completed my GCSEs and A-Levels, I had acquired a dozen or so pupils, mostly through word-of-mouth (still the biggest and best advertiser!). I had dipped in and out of teaching as I continued with some higher education and numerous jobs, but it remained an undercurrent, flowing consistently beneath whatever else I was doing or however else I was generating an income.

A friend of mine who I hadn’t seen in a while had set up a music school and a few years later asked me if I would like to join the team as a tutor. I loved my time there and appreciated the freedom of still being self-employed but getting to work with and surrounded by like-minded individuals. I was able to tailor my lessons to my students and use my own approaches and methods, yet be a part of a wonderful team.

From then until now, I have taught in a variety of platforms and places – online via Skype/Zoom/FaceTime, in person, at my home, at students’ homes, in a music school/college of music, in primary/secondary schools, outside in the fresh air. I have taught children as young as 3 and my eldest pupil was 91. I am passionate about it, have always come back to it and I love to adapt, overcome and improve, constantly expanding my own learning, my own education. You can never know everything about anything and therefore you can never run out of fun things to learn.

Music Qualifications & Achievements:

I have a Diploma in Piano and Grade 8 in Violin, Voice and Music Theory.

I have participated in various competitions and performances and have been featured in CDs and recordings both personally in my musical journey and professionally in my music/teaching career.

If you know me, or if you have read my biography above, you’ll know that I pride myself on working with all kinds of people, all ages, all abilities – on working with those who have to face extremely difficult and challenging things in their life, with those who have SEN (special educational needs) and individuals with developmental disabilities such as Autism. I have taught non-verbal children and adults and those with various different physical and/or emotional abilities.

But really, it all just comes down to my love for teaching and my emphasis on the fact that everyone has the ability to learn. Music, and learning a musical instrument, can open up so many doors for people, can improve their lives in countless ways and can aid recovery, development and growth. It can bring people together.

Put simply, it can bring you joy. And it brings me joy to share it with others.

Location

County Down, UK

Geolocation

54.3288946,-5.7159095

Instrument(s) Taught

Music Theory, Piano, Singing, Violin

Where do lessons take place?

Teacher's Location, Student's House, Online

Prices

30 minutes

£25.00

45 minutes

£40.00

60 minutes

£50.00

90 minutes

£70.00

Discounted Introductory Lesson

Yes

Preferred Payment Currency

🇬🇧 Pound sterling (£ GBP)

Lessons Frequency

Daily, Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly, Flexible Schedule

Payment Plans

Pay-As-You-Go, Block Bookings, Monthly, Termly, Lesson Vouchers

Payment Methods

Cash, Check / Cheque, Online Bank Transfer, PayPal, Google Pay, Samsung Pay

Contact

Get in Touch

Teacher Profile Enquiry

Lessons

Level(s) Taught

Beginner (up to Grade 5), Intermediate (Grades 5-8), Advanced (Grade 8 and above)

Youngest Age Taught

11

Class Sizes

One-to-One (Individual), Group (Four students+)

Graded Exam Preparation

ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music), RCM (Royal College of Music), Trinity College London

Genres

Genres Taught

Blues, Christian Music, Classical Music, Country, Music for Children, New-Age Music, Pop, Rock, Soul music, Traditional Music

Sub-Genres Taught

Calypso, Celtic, Opera, Orchestral, Singer-Songwriter

Reviews

Reviews

August 3, 2021

Laura has taught my son for 3/4 years. He is very excited to go to his lesson every week and if he can’t go one week he is disappointed and asks if he can go. With Covid things have been difficult but going to his piano lesson has helped him so much. He had a wonderful start with Laura and it continues to be a therapy for him and we and his teachers at school are amazed at how he plays and practices for his age…

Parent
Verified
August 3, 2021

I had been trying to get lessons sorted for (student name, aged 4). We tried ZOOM with another teacher but it didn’t work out with time commitments on both sides but we started with Laura face to face to establish connections etc. I expected (name) to need someone to go in with her for the first while but after the first lesson she wants to go by herself each time. She was very excited to tell (dad) about it and says she would love to see Laura every day. She was able to stay with her childminder alone after being at a lesson as she felt so confident in herself and more relaxed. She is getting on very well and was able to count to 10 in school and said she remembered it from her music lesson.

Parent
Verified
August 3, 2021

Fantastic tutor. Friendly and great with our girls 7 and 9 who are very different and one not good at concentrating!!!. Booked in for a few lessons myself and thought I would feel silly and childish but Laura really adapted her attitude to her (much!!) older pupil!. Most tutors can only either teach children or adults but I was really impressed

Parent
Verified

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Supported Access Requirements

I support students with these SEN / Additional Access Requirements:

Multi-Sensory Needs, Limb Loss / Difference Related Access Requirements, Autistic Spectrum / Neurodiverse, Speech, Language or Communication Needs, Moderate Learning Needs, Severe Learning Needs, Profound & Multiple Learning Needs, Social, Emotional or Mental Health Related Requirements

Experience Supporting Access Requirements

Area of Support

Teaching Blind or Partially Sighted Students

Experience

Limited Experience

Area of Support

Deaf or Hard of Hearing

Experience

No Previous Experience

Area of Support

Multi-Sensory Needs

Experience

Extensive Experience

Area of Support

Wheelchair Access Requirements

Experience

Limited Experience

Area of Support

Limb Loss / Difference Related Access Requirements

Experience

No Previous Experience

Area of Support

Autistic Spectrum / Neurodiverse

Experience

Extensive Experience

Area of Support

Speech, Language or Communication Needs

Experience

Extensive Experience

Area of Support

Moderate Learning Needs

Experience

Extensive Experience

Area of Support

Severe Learning Needs

Experience

Extensive Experience

Area of Support

Profound & Multiple Learning Needs

Experience

Extensive Experience

Area of Support

Social, Emotional or Mental Health Related Requirements

Experience

Extensive Experience

Professionalism

Safeguarding Certificate

DBS Check (Disclosure and Barring Service) – United Kingdom

Liability Insurance

Yes, I have public / general liability insurance

Professional Affiliations

British Academy of Songwriters, Composers & Authors, European Piano Teachers Association (EPTA), Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), Music Teachers' Association (MTA)

Please Note

Disclaimer and Feedback

MusicTeacher.com is not affiliated, nor endorses, any of the teachers listed on this page. Studying with a registered MusicTeacher.com teacher does not give a candidate any advantage or guarantee a better result in an examination.

If you have any feedback regarding any information provided then please feel free to contact us.

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Profile Details

First Name

Laura

Last Name

Chestnutt

Username

laura-chestnutt