Menu
Ian is a versatile and skilled pianist, keyboard player and teacher specialising in Classical, Jazz and improvised music.
Originally from Newcastle Upon Tyne but now based in the North West of England, Ian’s career has taken him all over the world to play in countries such as the USA, France, the Czech Republic and Malta performing as a soloist and with various ensembles and bands.
As well as performing regularly, Ian also works as a piano tutor for Tameside Music Service and as a piano practice assistant at Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester.
He holds an undergraduate degree from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and a Masters of Music from the Royal Northern College of Music.
Ian has been teaching piano now for over 8 years both privately and in schools, as well as in workshops and outreach settings in the UK and overseas.
Many of his pupils have successfully achieved distinctions in their Classical, Jazz, and Music Theory graded exams, though his aim is primarily tailored according to each individual’s needs, either by helping them to prepare for concerts and exams; or by helping the pupil to reach personal goals in their playing.
Ian holds an enhanced DBS check certificate and he is subscribed to the update service.
His work also extends to tutoring with Tameside Music Service and accompanying the MAPAS Community Choir for Music and Performing Arts Salford.
If you are interested in taking piano lessons with me, please get in touch below and he’ll do his best to get back to you as quickly as possible! Online lessons are also available if you are not from the Manchester area.
Ian has worked as a freelance performer and session musician for many years specialising in Classical and Jazz piano.
Before studying for a bachelor’s degree in piano performance at Birmingham Conservatoire, he was sponsored by the Ken Colyer trust to spend time in New Orleans, playing with musicians there and performing at some of the city’s prestigious venues such as Preservation Hall.
Since then, Ian has continued to nurture a love of Jazz and Classical piano, going on to study for a master’s degree at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and achieving a distinction in Jazz performance.
Other performance highlights have been playing in the UK premiere of Charles Shapiro’s score for the film 1931 film Frankenstein with the Northern Film Orchestra at the Tung Auditorium in Liverpool and the Stoller Hall in Manchester; Ravel’s concerto in G major at the Adrian Boult Hall Birmingham; and also Milhaud’s la Création du Monde at Town Hall Birmingham with the CBSO Youth Orchestra.
From 2016 to 2018, he spent time living in Paris, France, studying Jazz piano and Harmony with Jean-Marie Averseng at le Centre d’Informations Musicales, and performing at many of the city’s venues such as the Théâtre Rutebeuf, le Caveau de la Huchette and le Caveau des Oubliettes.
