My Story
I’m a mum of two and a piano teacher with a passion for helping people of all ages step with confidence outside of the comfort zone.
Performance anxiety affects over 80% of musicians.*
As a pianist, I used to suffer terribly from performance anxiety myself - shaky, cold, clammy hands, racing heartbeat, breathlessness, feelings of inadequacy, low self-confidence…the list goes on. The frustration of being in a pressured situation, like an exam or performance, and being unable to replicate what happens in the practice room.
After retraining, I found myself able to enjoy performance and able to handle the adrenaline with calm confidence. Instead of feeling frustrated with my performances, these days I feel in control and ready to handle anything.
With the right guidance and support, you too can develop the skills and tools to overcome performance anxiety and achieve whatever goal you’ve set yourself. After all, these are life skills.
*According to The Musicians’ Union.
How did I get here?
Having taken the ABRSM route as a teen, I then had a break from “serious” music whilst at uni studying Chinese at Durham and then raising my kids. I did a PGCE and taught in primary schools in the NE of England.
My piano teaching began alongside my classroom teaching career, when I started offering lessons privately. Over time, this grew organically, and I soon realised that this was where my passion lay.
I am a dedicated piano teacher to over 50 students in schools in the North East of England. My teaching philosophy is holistic and student-centred. I believe in nurturing confident, well-rounded musicians by supporting both their technical development and psychological resilience.
Specialising in the management of performance anxiety means that I can give my students lifelong tools for resilience and self-belief. My students have reached the regional and national finals in the EPTA piano competition, performing in Birmingham, Manchester and London.
As the regional organiser for the European Piano Teachers’ Association, continual CPD is central to my teaching. I gained distinctions in ARSM and LTCL performance diplomas, completed the DipABRSM in piano teaching during lockdown, and am currently working towards the FTCL diploma in piano performance, the highest diploma offered by Trinity College London. I have also completed level 3 training at the Helen Aun Institute for Pianists.