Professionally, I have spent my 25 years of teaching in primary and middle schools as a specialist music teacher. I have been privately teaching piano throughout my teaching career. I consider it to be very rewarding and feel that each pupil offers another opportunity to share a teaching and learning experience in a subject I am passionate about. I have a current enhanced CRB and lessons are provided in a dedicated piano teaching room with waiting facilities for parents if required.
Piano Lessons
To ensure the best learning experience and progress, I tailor each lesson to individual students' needs.
- Piano lessons for children and adults.
- Piano lessons beginners to advanced.
- Piano accompanying for exams.
- Piano tuition.
Music Theory
I teach music theory alongside piano and singing lessons or separately. I provide theory tutoring for passing Grade 5 Theory and GCSE Music tutoring.
Voice Coaching
I have been teaching singing to children as a specialist Music Teacher in schools for 20+ years. I have been leading choirs and chamber choirs during that time; singing in events at the Birmingham Symphony Hall, Birmingham Young Voices, and Royal Albert Hall.
I provide singing lessons to develop young voices, vocal coaching for young adults and adults preparing for auditions, learning to read music, harmony parts and main vocal lines in operatic societies.
- Singing lessons.
- Vocal coaching.
- Sight singing.
- Harmony and part singing.
- Preparation for vocal audition.
Pricing & Availability
Price per lesson as given. To be paid half termly in advance.
Full details are in the terms and conditions.
Prices:
1 hour: £35
45 mins: £27
30 mins: £17.50
My Story
Piano Teaching, Vocal Coaching and Theory Lessons for Children and Adults.
I have vast experience in musical styles in both teaching and performing. Whilst my background was in classical musical as a young pianist, I quickly developed by musical range to include jazz, rock, popular and contemporary whilst studying a Music Diploma at Bath College of Higher Education.
I later played in various bands including a performance in the International Gypsy Jazz Festival Gloucester. My performing includes piano and voice main, piano accompanying, keyboard, accordion, bass guitar and vocals.
During the last 5 years, I have continued to perform piano and keyboard in theatre ‘pit bands’, alongside my role as an award winning Musical Director for both Youth and Adult Dramatic Societies. I am currently Musical Director for Banstead and Nork Operatic Society producing the show ‘Bad Girls’ to be stage in May at the NESCOT Theatre, Epsom.
I have numerous piano pupils ranging from beginners to advanced, including pupils taking music theory.
Testimonials
"A fantastic teacher with a high standard making the lesson fun and and enjoyable. Poppy learned so much From Mrs Tolley and progressed in taking Exams." - Kathryn (Parent)
"I had great fun learning piano with Mrs Tolley she is a really nice happy joyful teacher!" - Poppy, Age 9
"My daughter has been having piano lessons with Dawn for three and a half years. Sophie has made amazing progress since meeting Dawn. She is very patient and really helps Sophie understand the pieces, both from the music and technical point of view. The feedback to us is also very important as not only does it help us understand how Sophie is progressing but also where she needs to practice before the next lesson. Dawn also helped our son with his DoE bronze and silver skill and the opportunity to learn the basics of piano playing. Whilst he may not look to play to a higher level Dawn was very flexible in getting him started." - Nat (Parent)