Daniel Swain - Piano Teacher

DANIEL SWAIN, BA (Oxon.), DipRAM, LRAM

Piano tuition from beginner to advanced level

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Q: Where do you teach?

A: At present, all my teaching takes place at my home in Chesham, Buckinghamshire. (See the map on the contact page for the location). Here my students have the opportunity to learn in a relaxed and comfortable surroundings and develop their musical skills on my beautiful Boston Steinway Grand Piano. If you're interested in lessons here, please drop me a line and I'll let you know my current availability and rates. >contact

Q: When will I have my lessons and how long will they last?

A: Most of my teaching takes place on weekday afternoons/evenings. Most pupils (except the most advanced) have a weekly lesson which is recommended to keep a steady flow of development. These lessons usually last between thirty minutes and one hour, the shorter lessons being recommended for younger pupils and beginners.

Q: I am interested in lessons for my children. Are they too young to learn?

A: My youngest current student is seven years old. I would not normally agree to teach a child under the age of five, but every child is different of course, and if you believe you are the parent of a budding young Mozart, I would be delighted to hear from you.

Q: Are you a qualified music teacher and are you CRB checked?

A: I am an experienced teacher with a teaching qualification (licenciate) from the Royal Academy of Music (LRAM). I graduated with the highest honours as a pianist at the Royal Academy of Music and was awarded my BA degree in Music from Oxford University. Because I am regularly in contact with children through work I do for education organisations (such as Live Music Now and the London Conservatoire Junior departments), I am also fully CRB checked (last certificate 07/2008). If you would like to see these certificates, just ask at the first lesson.

Q: Do you expect your students to take exams?

A: This is completely dependent on the individual. Exams can be useful motivational goals for students of all ages. Some exams even count towards the UCAS scoring system, so this can be helpful for any students considering an undergraduate degree. I have a wide experience of successfully preparing students for the Associated Board (ABRSM) in particular, including the sight-reading, scales, and aural tests. If you are interested in taking an exams, I nevertheless encourage students to explore as wide a variety of music between grades as possible. If exams are not for you, this is absolutely fine!

Q: Will I need to buy music?

A: Yes. The teaching books/repertoire are carefully considered for each individual, and in almost every case, the books will contain much more than one useful piece. It's likely that you might have to purchase one or two books a term, but think of it as gradually building up your library!

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me >>contact