Helping all ages (re)discover joy through music (piano, clarinet, sax, creativity and more)

I offer one-to-one tuition from beginner level to advanced. My main instruments are clarinet and piano, and I also offer tuition in saxophone, improvisation, music theory and understanding the background to a wide range of musical genres (including Western classical, jazz, Kletzmer, folk, traditional music from Eastern Europe, the Middle East and India, minimalist music). This may be be of interest and benefit to people learning other instruments.

I teach both adults and children, and I tailor my approach to the individual learner. There are various possibilities including learning from sheet music, developing aural skills by playing by ear, improvising and composing one’s own songs, deepening an understanding and appreciation of musical repertoire, finding approachable and fun ways to delve into music theory.

I believe strongly in making music education an accessible and enjoyable experience. I see music as a holistic activity which brings together in a unique way intuitive, cognitive, embodied and emotional faculties and I am interested in ways to connect the experience of playing an instrument with the listening experience, and to teach tools for students to understand and be able to work with the building blocks of music in a creative way. I love to include improvisation and ear training in the range of skills we can cover as well as playing from sheet music. I cover classical repertoire and grades for students who would like, and I have prepared students for jazz and rock and pop exams as well as classical. as well as other genres.

Above all, I’m keen to share the joy that music has brought me since childhood.

Teaching is available in Stroud (Gloucestershire), in central Bristol (Stoke’s Croft), and online using high quality audio. It may be possible for me to travel to learners’ homes – please enquire. I’m fully insured and DBS/ CRB-checked. Tuition fee for weekly lessons in my main teaching venues is currently £45 for an hour (extra charge for lessons elsewhere depending on distance) – please enquire.

“Thank you so much for being such a fantastic and inspiring teacher for B – he has loved his lessons with you and has built his confidence enormously.”

“I spent a year trying to learn the Saxophone before taking lessons with Matthew. The difference was amazing!" MC