Mindful Piano, is an established piano studio based in Ely and run by myself, Brian Partridge, a local piano teacher in Ely and a Professional Member of the European Piano Teachers Association. I am passionate about music having played both Piano and Tuba since my early years and music has been my lifetime hobby (although I nearly joined the RAF as a bandsman when I was 18). I am now semi retired and wish to share my passion through teaching piano.

First and foremost I consider myself to be a musician. The tuba was my main instrument when I was younger. I played in a number of brass bands, a jazz band, a German Oompah Band and in the Hampshire County Youth Orchestra. I have played at the Albert Hall, in Sydney Opera House with the youth orchestra, Colston Hall in Bristol as well as events such as the Cologne Carnival. I am a member of   Littleport Brass and assist other brass bands such as the Newmarket Town Band, Soham Comrades Band and also play with the Ely Sinfonia and the Sampson Orchestra of Cambridge. I obtained Grade 8 with the distinction on the tuba and, I am still not sure why, turned down an offer of an interview at the Royal Academy of Music.

I have also played piano and organ since my early years. I obtained Grade 7 on the piano in November 2015 and play at Grade 8 level. I am still learning but see this as a great attribute as I can understand problems faced by students and can offer practical solutions. At the moment I only teach beginner and intermediate level pianists but can refer more advanced pianists to other local teachers. I have been taught by Ilga Pitkevica, the UK Regional Organiser for Cambridge and a Committee Member of the European Piano Teachers Association (EPTA) whose purpose is to raise the standard of piano teaching, piano performance and general musicianship in the UK. I am a Professional member of EPTA and benefit from opportunities for professional development, their public liability insurance  and I also am bound by and comply with their code of conduct and guidelines.

I take my own professional development very seriously and update myself through various channels – these include:

• Practising the Piano on-line academy – this features a comprehensive library of lessons, articles and resources, the Practising the Piano Online Academy is the ultimate online resource for pianists, teachers and anyone seeking to master the piano. I use many of these resources in my lessons

• I also keep up to date by reading journals such as the Pianist, Piano Journal and Piano Professional

• The Curious Piano Teachers – I was a member of this community for 4 years which is a community for piano teachers, who want to improve their teaching skills and achieve their full potential and I became a certified curious piano teacher. I still use the many resources from this community in my lessons.

It is my intention to develop my own playing and teaching further and I am looking at various options to do this.

Prior to my semi retirement, I have been a qualified solicitor, a Director of two Local Authorities and have run my own consultancy business. My non music qualifications are a Bachelor of Laws, a Masters in Business Administration and a Diploma in Management Consultancy.

Other hobbies of mine include running (I completed the Race to the King in 2016 – a double marathon over two days along the South Downs Way), cycling (I completed John O’Groats to Lands End in 9 days in 2010), kayaking (Snettisham to Skegness and back over 2 days), walking, as well as listening to music, reading and most racket sports.