Teaching with care, confidence and creativity
Tailored music lessons for all
I provide a popular music service for children aged 4–18 and adults of all ages with face-to-face, online, and hybrid lessons shaped around well-being and long-term musical growth.
The service
All lessons are shaped around the individual, encouraging confidence, enjoyment, and well-being throughout the musical journey.
Approach
I quickly discovered in my early years of teaching that confident pupils were motivated to enjoy their music more deeply, often leading to truly amazing progress. I promote well-being in all our lessons, encouraging adults and children to relax and explore the elements of music with real confidence.
I support the pupil's core activity, such as piano, with related musical work such as music theory, composing, or singing. This holistic approach enables pupils of all ages to gain valuable lifelong skills and knowledge.
The success we build in lessons often cascades into other areas of life: success breeds success. Many pupils have been learning with me for more than 10 years, with lessons supporting their journey through school, university, and into professional life.
Background
My passion for teaching began when I taught my first piano pupil at the age of 14. I enjoyed it so much that I went on to develop a Saturday morning music school for adults and children. In those early days, ABRSM music exams were an important part of our lessons, and I established a 100% pattern of merits and distinctions that continues to this day across grades 1 to 8.
Over the years, I have worked full-time in many schools in the south of England and in Switzerland, teaching music to a wide variety of pupils. As my career developed, I accepted posts as Director of Music, but those roles gradually brought far more administration and planning with far less teaching. In 2013, I left my last Director of Music post to focus on my two passions: writing music for film and teaching.
I'm married with two children, and I enjoy regular exercise, football, movies, and exploring Alpine trails.
Weekly digital lesson reports
Our aims are planned in advance and continue to evolve to suit the pupil's needs, often in close partnership with parents and guardians. Each week, the lesson report is updated to chart progress and record new aims, then delivered electronically straight after the lesson.
Unique resources
Every pupil follows an evolving, individually tailored music course designed around their needs. I support this with my own crafted teaching resources — more than 400 of them — which are regularly adapted to suit each learner.
We sometimes do exams, but they are a by-product of a confident and productive musical journey. The success we enjoy in lessons enhances well-being, and that confidence often spreads into many other areas of a pupil's life.
Consultation and availability
If you'd like to learn more, do get in touch. A consultation session may follow where we can discuss common questions and talk through the best route forward. I hold ISM Registered Private Teacher status and an up-to-date enhanced DBS.
“If something is worth doing, it's worth doing properly, in a culture of kindness and enhanced well-being.”
Neil Cartwright MISM LTCL BA (Hons) MA(Ed)
