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The Piano Teachers' Course UK

16 years of leading professional development for piano teachers worldwide

The PTC UK is the longest-running course of its kind, and is specifically for pianists and piano teachers who wish to enhance their professional teaching skills, come together for inspiration and become part of a motivated, supportive and co-creative musical network. It is also the ideal pathway to boosting your new career as a piano teacher, equipping you with the skills and confidence to start growing your teaching practice immediately.

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Now in its 15th year, this vibrant and all-encompassing course retains its leading position in the UK’s professional development for piano teachers.

 

Share in the pioneering work of the Principal Tutors and see your teaching and performing skills grow, alongside your pupils’ increased enjoyment, whilst making life-long friends.

 

Whether you are just starting out on your journey as a piano teacher or have been developing your career for many years, we have something to suit your needs, to inspire your teaching and to strengthen your teaching toolkit.

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For a full history of The Piano Teachers' Course UK from its roots in the 1990s when it was quite a different format, click here.

 

All courses and workshops are held at the Purcell School of Music, in Bushey, near London.

For more venue information, click here.

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'I see the results of my PTC training in my teaching all the time now... I wouldn’t be where I am today without the PTC and am so glad I did it!' - Cert PTC Student

Tutors

The Piano Teachers’ Course is led by International Director, Lucinda Mackworth-Young, and Director, Masayuki Tayama, and supported by a team of expert Principal Tutors: Sally Cathcart, Graham Fitch, Ilga Pitkevica, and Beate Toyka. As an ABRSM examiner, Julie Costley-White is the LRSM and DipABRSM course advisor, as well as being a tutor. Other specialist guest tutors are also engaged when required, including Nikki Iles for Jazz piano, Andrew Davidson for Dalcroze and former PTC students, Catherine Cossey, Sarah Salway and Katrina Fox as well as a number of other representatives and guest lecturers.

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LUCINDA MACKWORTH-YOUNG, International Director

Lucinda directed The Piano Teachers' Course UK  2007-2020, and now, as International Director, continues to be closely associated with the UK course while also developing the PTC internationally, arranging and giving PTC lectures, workshops and tutorials to help inspire and develop piano teaching across the globe. Current and future projects include work in India, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Australia.

 

Well-known for her inspiring, refreshing and practical approach, over the past four decades Lucinda has pioneered Practical Psychology for Musicians, Dance for Musicians and a system for learning to Play by Ear and Improvise in Simple Steps. Read more...

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MASAYUKI TAYAMA, Director

Since his London debut in 2002, Masayuki Tayama has maintained a highly active schedule as both an international pianist and piano pedagogue. His teaching incorporates the method taught by Sumiko Mikimoto on muscle relaxation and training for pianists, guiding students to become aware of their bodies whilst playing and avoid unnecessary tension and resultant pain or discomfort. Read more...

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ILGA PITKEVICA, PTC Principal Tutor

Ilga lectures extensively around the UK and Latvia on piano teaching, and on the history and teaching methods of the Russian Piano School, on which her own rigourous training was based. She also often organises masterclasses and concerts in Cambridge.  These have included the annual Cambridge Piano Weekends, organised jointly with Gonville and Caius College for several years. Read more...

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BEATE TOYKA, PTC Principal Tutor

‘Getting to the heart of music’ is Beate’s teaching philosophy. Exploring a beautiful tone and the shape of a melody right from the early stages is essential, as is the formation of a good technique. Listening to good music is as important as playing it; encouragement at all stages is the key, and she is a devoted teacher from beginners to diploma levels. Read more...

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GRAHAM FITCH, PTC Principal Tutor

Based in SW London, Graham maintains an international career not only as a pianist, but also as a teacher, adjudicator and writer. His workshops and classes, which he gives all over the world, have received high praise for their creative and illuminating approach to the subject.  He is the author of the successful blog, www.practisingthepiano.com, which has led to the publication of the Ebook series, Practising the Piano, and his online subscription site, the Online Piano Academy, which he founded in 2016. Read more...

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SALLY CATHCART, PTC LRSM Course Tutor

Sally is a musician who just happens to be fascinated by the piano and all things to do with piano teaching. She runs a teaching studio and teaching the piano is still her greatest joy. In 2015 she formed a partnership with Sharon Mark-Teggart and founded The Curious Piano Teachers. Read more...

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