Teaching
Simon has many years experience as a piano teacher. He is equally at home teaching beginners as he is pupils of Grade 8 standard and beyond. Simon will teach you on your own piano, in your own home. He gives piano lessons in Guildford and Virginia Water. If you wish to sit Associated Board exams Simon can prepare you for these and enter you for the examination. Equally, you may wish to learn purely for your own enjoyment. Simon also prepares students for Grade 5 Music Theory exams.
In the meantime, here are some of the comments people have made about his teaching...
Comments from children
"Simon has taught me how to read music. Now if I like a song on the ipod I copy it on the piano and make up my own notes." (Rohit)
"Simon explains things very well so you understand. He also gives you a variety of pieces, not just exam pieces and he is understanding and not bossy." (Imogen)
"He perseveres with the piece until it is perfect and makes lessons fun by doing lots of different things." (Hannah)
"Simon is a very patient teacher; always open to going over something until you've nailed it; also he is a lovely teacher!" (Isla - 15 year old music theory student)
Comments from parents
"Simon, as a piano teacher has unleashed musical talent in our family that we never knew existed. The music that comes out of the keyboard when my son plays is like magic. To get to the standard he is at now and to play so beautifully he must have had a good teacher... and that is Simon Clark." (Anjali)
"Simon taught both my teenagers for a couple of years and I would highly recommend him as a teacher. He was always on time and came very well prepared. I always felt that Simon took a genuine interest in my children's musical development and tailor made their lessons in accordance to their own particular needs. As a music theory teacher he has a real enthusiasm for the subject and on a practical level he is a very skilled musician and composer. My son was post Grade 8 and he continued to inspire and motivate him with his continued musical studies." (Shauna)
Comments from adult pupils
"As an adult learner, I appreciate how Simon finds the perfect balance between working with my requirements and at my pace, and yet challenging me. This means I can enjoy myself and improve at the same time!" (K.C.)
"Simon is rare among piano teachers because of his highly successful background in composing music. I am an adult student who has had lessons as a child and an adult, and I find Simon very skilled in meeting my exacting demands of wanting to learn classical and popular music, as well as requiring him to arrange music scores to my personal preference and satisfaction. On the other hand, Simon's insistence that I play to a high standard has substantial rewards for me. Simon's personable character with great patience, gentleness and enthusiasm to instil the love of playing the piano on his students, has made learning to play the piano a tremendous joy for me. It is without hesitation that I recommend him to others as an excellent piano teacher." (Dr. D.H.)
"As an adult learner who had not played for many years I was unsure how to approach the piano again, and had subsequently avoided organising lessons. Simon's flyer advertising "Piano Lessons in Your Own Home" provided the necessary incentive. He quickly established that music I had played before was very frustrating for me after such a long break, and thus probably not the best ways forward. Simon understood that continued improvement needed to be balanced against rediscovering the joy of playing, and I think he has established just the right balance for me. I also wanted to be able to memorise some of my pieces and gain confidence in playing for family and friends. Simon has been pivotal in enabling me to cross this hurdle by introducing me to composers such as Erik Satie, Ludovico Einaudi and Philip Glass, and teaching me the necessary skills to succeed. Simon's enthusiasm for music has translated into excellent teaching skills and I can highly recommend him." ( I.T.)