Teaching

David’s academic teaching specialisms are Composition, Arrangement, Harmony and Jazz, and he has taught and lectured at both undergraduate and postgraduate level in Music at the University of Birmingham and the University of Manchester, as well as at the Junior RNCM and the RNCM’s Pathfinder programme – a clear indication of his passion for the development and advancement of young musicians.  His Composition and Jazz students have been accepted to study at the Royal Academy of Music, the Royal Northern College of Music, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Oxbridge, and The University of Manchester.

David is in demand as a composer and arranger, as shown by recent commissions to write and arrange works for the ABRSM’s 2023-24 piano syllabus (e.g. the Grade 5 piece ‘A Distant Star in the Stillness’) as well as their new Pop Performer piano pathway, and also has c.20 years’ experience in private and peripatetic teaching at all levels.  He therefore has an in-depth understanding of the technical parameters of ABRSM piano syllabuses, and his students have a high success rate in ABRSM exams.  As a piano teacher, David gives comprehensive piano lessons which are tailored to the student, helping them understand a piece’s musical context, which prepares students thoroughly for performances and exams, and which can accommodate a variety of specialisms and styles.  His significant academic experience means students receive excellent support when preparing for Music Theory exams, and when preparing applications to study Music at university (including Oxbridge).  David’s current cohort of Piano students study at all levels from complete beginner to diploma level, and in a variety of styles.

References

David's patience and teaching approach is absolutely outstanding. He ensures that all students understand before moving on to the next topic even if this means repeating himself in several different ways. His knowledge and passion of the subject is clear to see and his enthusiasm is infectious. You never feel nervous asking a question in his seminar and know that you will be supported through any difficult topics that arise…”

— Module Evaluation Questionnaire, Student Feedback, Tonal Harmony & Counterpoint