If you are looking for experienced professional Piano or Keyboard teaching with a broad base of styles and approaches and you live in Bristol/BANES, this is the website for you. I hope you find the information you are looking for, but please feel free to ask any questions. IMPORTANT NOTICE: DUE TO HIGH DEMAND I HAVE DECIDED TO CLOSE THE WAITING LIST.  THIS WILL BE REVIEWED JANUARY 2025. Kind regards, Martin.  (but here’s a nudge: some people have still contacted me, and I have put them on the waiting list, but they know they will be waiting a Very Long Time!)

Why learn with Ebony and Ivory

WIDE RANGE OF STYLES AND APPROACHES: I am experienced in a wide range of styles and approaches to music making and teaching, and we choose the modules to suit you. Only one, or perhaps two can fit in a half hour lesson, so you will need longer lessons if you want to do more.

These are the approaches I use: Traditional Classical Piano: with exams if that is what is required.
Jazz Piano: which may use the Associated Board of the Royal Colleges of Music (ABRSM) Jazz course.
Keyboards: learn to play with auto-accompaniments, and find out how to use all the different instrumental voices.
Playing in Bands (from chord sheets).
Playing by ear.
Composing.
Improvising.
Theory (this will be necessary for those taking more advanced exams).

EXAM RESULTS: I have very good exam results: distinctions (45%), merits (37%) straight passes (18%).  This is at the last calculation, and will have changed now – I guess slightly less distinctions than stated here.

PROFESSIONAL ORGANISATION/ DBS
I am a member of the Musicians’ Union and I am DBS cleared.

FULL HALF-HOUR LESSONS: The lesson starts with the first scale and ends when we start packing away. I allow extra time between lesson slots so the turn-around time and administration does not interfere.

GOOD RATES: At present my rates are £18.50 per half hour. You are invoiced for 13 lessons at a time divided into two installments. You can pay weekly if you prefer. If you live in specific areas you get a 20% discount.

CONCERTS ARRANGED: I arrange two pupil concerts a year: a Carol evening at Christmas which gives experience in accompanying, so important for Piano/keyboard players; and a pupil concert in the summer term. Sometimes I take pupils into Residential Homes.