Teaching
Organ, piano, theory and academic music — from first lesson to diploma
I've been teaching music for over twenty-five years, sixteen of those as a Director of Music running large independent-school music departments. That means I've taught — and prepared candidates for — pretty much every level and exam you can think of, from a seven-year-old's first piano lesson to A Level set works to the ARCO diploma. I now teach freelance from Taunton, in person and online, and take on a small number of pupils at a time so that each gets proper attention.
Organ lessons
The organ is the most rewarding instrument I know, and the most patient — it doesn't mind how long you take to get good at it. I teach from absolute beginner through to diploma level (ARCO, ABRSM and Trinity), covering manual and pedal technique, registration, hymn-playing, accompanying a choir, sight-reading, and the repertoire from Bach and Buxtehude through to Howells, Vierne and beyond.
A few common situations:
Pianists thinking about taking it up. The transition is more interesting than people expect — different touch, different listening, and the pedals. I'll show you what's involved before you commit to anything.
Church musicians who'd like to play services properly. Hymn-playing well is a skill in itself, and accompanying a congregation is different again. We can focus on exactly the repertoire your church uses.
Returners. Adults who played as students and want to come back to it. Common, welcome, and usually a real pleasure to teach.
Diploma candidates. ARCO and the equivalent ABRSM and Trinity diplomas — performance preparation, harmonisation, transposition and the rest.
No instrument at home? This is the question that puts most prospective organists off, and it shouldn't. I have connections with churches across Somerset and can usually arrange access to an instrument to practise on. A piano or weighted-keyboard at home is enough to make real progress on the manuals — and a surprising amount of organ repertoire is written for manuals alone.
Piano lessons
Piano from absolute beginner through to diploma, covering classical repertoire across the periods, with ABRSM, Trinity and Rock School exams along the way for those who want them. I'm equally happy teaching pupils who never want to take an exam in their lives.
I lean toward a thorough technical foundation early — hand position, listening, careful practice habits — because the pupils who never have it are the ones who hit a ceiling at Grade 5 or 6. With that in place, everything later is more enjoyable for everyone.
Theory
Music theory from beginner to Grade 8, including the jump from Grade 5 to 8 that catches a lot of pupils out. I'll happily teach theory as standalone weekly lessons, or as occasional intensives in the run-up to an exam.
GCSE and A Level Music tutoring
This is where my classroom years earn their keep. I've taught Edexcel GCSE and A Level Music throughout my career, marked countless mock papers, run hundreds of listening exercises, and supervised composition and performance coursework from first sketch to recorded submission.
I can help with:
The whole course, alongside school teaching, for pupils who'd benefit from a second voice
Listening and set works — analysis, context, exam technique, the questions students consistently lose marks on
Harmony and composition — pastiche writing, free composition, getting unstuck on a coursework piece that's drifted
Performance preparation — repertoire choice, recording, the practicalities of the recital submission
Exam technique and revision — closer to the date, when most help is needed
I tutor the Edexcel specification in full and am happy to support candidates any other specification. too — let me know which board your school uses and we'll work from there.
Lessons Online
All of the above is available online as well as in person. For organ lessons, that means working directly from your console at home or church, with the camera on the manuals and pedals — a setup that works better than it sounds. For piano, theory and academic tutoring, online lessons are essentially as effective as in-person ones, and they open up evenings and travel-time that would otherwise be lost. Many pupils mix the two — fortnightly in person, fortnightly online, or in-person in term time and online in the holidays.
A few practical questions...
How long are lessons, and how often?
Usually thirty, forty-five or sixty minutes, weekly during term. Some adult pupils prefer fortnightly hour-long lessons. We'll work out what suits.
Do you take adult beginners?
Yes — adults make excellent pupils, and I particularly enjoy teaching organ to adults coming from a piano background. There's no upper age limit and no expectation that you'll take an exam unless you want to.
Do you take very young beginners?
For piano, from around seven. For organ, when the pupil is physically big enough to reach the pedals comfortably — usually eleven or twelve, sometimes earlier.
Where do lessons happen?
In person in Taunton and the immediate area, or online to anywhere. Organ lessons in person are at a church organ we agree on — I'll help arrange that.
How do I get started?
Drop me a line with a bit about yourself or your child, what level you're at (roughly), and what you'd like to work on. I'll come back with thoughts on whether I'm the right teacher for you and what a trial lesson would look like.
Thinking about lessons
A trial lesson is the best way to find out whether we'll work well together. Tell me a bit about what you have in mind.
Prefer to talk?
Call or text: 07974 206960
Email: edwardowenjenkins@gmail.com
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