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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, South Yorkshire, UK. Michael has intentionally recorded music in various styles to suit most musical tastes, interests and persuasions – all of which can be heard in the Cloud on the link below. Michael has also recorded some piano music using the piano in his home teaching studio. Each item digitally recorded, both organ and piano, was done in one ‘take’ without any technological tweaking. Generally speaking, it is good to have a working knowledge of the piano and organ and also the historic fortepiano, harpsichord and clavichord, especially for playing the music of … read more »

Online remote one-to-one tuition by video call is offered for piano and music theory 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. Tuition by online remote connection technology 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.

Please enquire by telephone, text or email using the details on the Contact page if you are interested in receiving piano and/or music theory lessons online. Piano and music theory tuition of all standards are very successfully taught online as the testimonials which have been emailed to me indicate on the ‘Online Testimonials’ page of this website. I enjoy teaching online and this continues to be successful and musically enriching. Students who have lessons by video call have indicated progress, satisfaction and enjoyment. Online tuition is rewarding 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 … read more »

Please enquire by telephone, text or email using the details on the Contact page if you are interested in receiving piano and/or music theory lessons face-to-face in the teaching studio. Students attending in person for piano and/or music theory tuition will be asked to provide and wear a face mask or secure face covering. Students will not be allowed to wash their hands but must use hand sanitiser before entering the property and teaching studio. Students must agree to lessons starting and finishing promptly to avoid crossover between students as gaps will be timetabled between students for safety and the teaching area ventilated. Students are asked not to arrive until the time of their lesson as close proximity between students especially during any crossover between lessons could result in airborne transmission of the virus. Students are asked not to attend … 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 in November 2019 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 in November 2019 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 »