Bozhidar Chapkanov

I'm a pianist, musicologist and composer, holding a PhD in Music Theory and a Master's in Composition.
I have been playing the piano since the age of six and have taken part in hundreds of concerts with the instrument. I hold an ABRSM Grade 8 in piano. I also have experience with playing popular songs, evergreens and classical pieces in restaurants and bars, which has developed my sight reading and improvisatory skills.
In 2013 I completed a BMus course at the University of Huddersfield and in June 2017 I completed a Master's in Composition from the National Music Academy in Sofia, Bulgaria. My compositions include a piano concerto, numerous chamber and solo pieces and songs.
I have been taught composition by three different tutors in three different countries: Aaron Cassidy during my Bachelor's in Huddersfiled, UK; Detlev Mueller-Siemens during my exchange period in Vienna and Filip Pavlov during my Master's in Bulgaria. This enabled me to see the creation of music from three different perspectives, which was an invaluable experience and helped me develop my own compositional voice.
For me the individual approach to each and every student is of primary importance. I understand that the needs, learning pace and levels of understanding music are different for younger children and adults, but I would still encourage the development of artistic skills, not just technique, from an earlier age.
Preparation for ABRSM Grades to a higher standard is possible with me, considering that I myself have been through the system as a pupil not far ago, and I have students in London progressing through the grades since 2017.
I'm also open for more casual lessons, including learning of popular songs and whatever anyone would be interested to learn to play.
The composition tuition I'm offering would enable pupils to learn the main classical forms (binary, ternary, rondo, sonata among others), learn how to write and develop thematic material for variety of instruments and encourage the search of individuality in their approach.