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The link at the foot of this page will take you to the SoundCloud page of Michael Spacie. Michael has recorded some music on the organ using the Rodgers 928 Trillium Masterpiece 3-Manual Digital Organ which is installed in the liturgical south choir of Rotherham Minster. Michael is a long-standing ‘Associate Organist’ of Rotherham Minster but not the Organist-in-Residence/Director of Music. He has played the organ at the Minster for his own amusement over many years as well as for the occasional service including a major festival service where his playing was enjoyed, the organ being used to its full capacity with a large congregation present. An ‘Associate Organist’ can be thought of in terms of enhancing people’s lives through music whether through playing the organ for an occasional service at the Minster, or members of the public who by … read more »

Online remote one-to-one tuition by video call is offered for piano and music theory or singing which presents a different way of teaching lessons which can be rewarding and helpful in learning music. The tutor is well able in teaching remotely both with practical piano work and theoretical study through the use of music theory charts and presentations. Singing tuition is also offered. Online remote tuition is delivered from the teaching studio and can be arranged for adult students or with a parent or guardian in respect of a minor. Please enquire for details of the tuition fee.

Piano and Music Theory tuition are successfully taught online as the testimonials which have been emailed to me indicate on the ‘Online Testimonials’ page of this website. Online tuition is rewarding, satisfying and allows the student and tutor to work together towards pianistic, musical and technical progress and awareness. Many aspects are covered such as interpretation; technique; musicianship; musicality; communication; structure; phrase shaping; harmony; voicing; pedalling; rhythm; timing and related issues; expression; musical literacy; artistry; all aspects of the written score; the syle, background and context of the music; how best to prepare and perform pieces; the interrelationship between musical ideas and musical phrases; the impact of the music; the essentials of good practice with regard to instrumental technique and its application in music; the student’s approach to the instrument and musical development. Also, music theory is presented with thorough … read more »

There is a distinct reward that comes from watching your students fulfil their potential. It can help to give a person strength and joy that in turn helps to overcome any lack of confidence they may have. I always encourage students to play or sing in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere where they can have fun whilst learning. I use my own musical skills to get the best out of the learner whilst not encouraging emulation but development of individualism. I understand the fear of ‘getting it wrong’ and often will use humour and different styles of music to help find the answer to unlock a student’s piano or singing technique. My teaching practice aims to give students a positive musical role model and teaches confidence through music. Encouraging results are always achieved, as indicated in the various student testimonials … read more »

This idea takes the repertoire chosen as a starting point. The score, in essence, can be the starting point for the ability to learn to paraphrase it, to be able to reduce it and transform it to something else, to transpose it, to be able to embellish when necessary or even to recompose it. This is a useful skill to have in addition to the very important skill of being able to read and perform music notation exact, accurate and precise from a music score as the composer intended. Following a lead sheet, original score or similar, facilitating an ‘own interpretation’ giving rise to a personalised arrangement by changing melody, harmony, rhythm, styles, voicing and registration. This maximises the use of musical imagination rather than simply reproducing music exactly as the composer intended. The whole point is to train the … read more »

Many Congratulations to Rachel Perkins in achieving the ARSM (Associate of The Royal Schools of Music) Piano Performance Diploma under the tuition of Dr Michael Spacie.

Many congratulations to Helen Wright in achieving the ARSM (Associate of The Royal Schools of Music) Piano Performance Diploma under the tuition of Dr Michael Spacie.

I used to have a different piano teacher that wasn’t very good as he never explained anything to me and didn’t teach me how to read the notes. Because of this we decided to try piano lessons with Michael Spacie and I noticed how much better he was than my other one as he explains everything and taught me to read the notes and music. Now I really enjoy my piano lessons and always look forward to them. Alexander Teufel (Student) Susanne Teufel writes: Before Alexander started piano lessons with Michael, he used to go somewhere else. But after 6 months of music lessons he still couldn’t read the music properly and I often had to help Alexander with practising, because he didn’t know how to tackle a piece of music. He got every lesson a new piece for homework, … read more »

“I first started having lessons with Mike when I was 7 years old. I am now 15 (at the time of writing this testimonial) and have taken 7 practical exams passing with merit or distinction and 5 theory exams passing with merit or distinction. Mike’s way of teaching has given me a passion for much which I now would like to take into a career. He has encouraged me to become more confident in music and as a person in general. Through Mike’s tuition I have become a pianist at the age of 15 who has had the honour of performing at the Lyceum, the Crucible, various music festivals, live BBC radio performances and composing my own music, and without Mike, none of which would have been possible. I am about to go on to study music at college and … read more »

It is a huge joy to pick out a tune and harmonise it using an array of keys and chord patterns and playing it in a range of styles and understanding how the music works from the inside out. Playing tunes that people enjoy but in one’s own style, putting an organ twist on each tune showing the versatility of the player with a bit of humour and fun involved is a good test of musicianship and a connection with the music. It is not about playing every note that may possibly be on a page of music, but sometimes adding or subtracting notes to create the effect that the music will have in performance. Improvisations can include changes in register, changes of mode and key, unpredictable modulations, additions of accompaniment patterns, modifying a left hand passage and composing a … read more »