Piano Professors of RCM

[A.C.]

Hi everyone! I'm going to the Royal College of Music in London for my undergraduate degree this coming September. My current piano teacher in Sydney advised me making sure that I get a very good piano professor in RCM, so that I would be well supervised. However, I've never been to UK to study and do not know about any RCM professors. Could anyone please give me some suggestions about which professors are very good, both as a musician and piano pedagogue, so that I can consult for whoever best?

[JK]

Hey A.C. how's it going?

As you know I was going to go to the Royal College, my teacher therefore reccommended me 3/4 teachers that I could talk to:

Andrew Ball (head of piano, unlikely that you could get him in the first year),
John Blakely,
Ruth Nye,
Julian Jacobson.

All of these teachers are really good, I would try and get in touch with Andrew Ball, he should be able to help some more. He's very busy usually but very helpful and a really nice guy if you can get hold of him!

[A.C.]

Hi JK I'm fine thx, how r u?

Oo...u decided to go to RCM now? I dunno about that! I thought u told me last time u'r going to GSM, coz it's cheaper and nearer to ur home? If u'r coming, aren't we classmates? LOL

Yea...Andrew Ball is very nice and kind person and head of department, I know him only coz he's in the jury of my audition and interview. But I do not really like the head of piano of Sydney Conservatorium (SCM)! Ms. Powell is so arrogant, though I know she is a very fine musician as well.

Mm...regarding to the other professors...I think I have to put some time on researching, making sure I'll choose the best.

[JK]

I'm fine, and I'm still going to GSMD! It's just that at first I wasn't going to GSMD (I was originally going to go to RCM!) so my teacher gave me the names of the teachers he would reccomend there, then I changed my mind etc. etc.!

I don't know if this is possible but you could try to have some consultation lessons with some the teachers, this is the best way to discover their teaching styles and methods. You're definately right to think about this one, getting the right teacher is the most important thing!

[A.C.]

Yea...it's very important...so have u got an idea yet who ur teacher will be?

I'm reading the professors' biographies and their critics now...found out there are a lot more good pianists...

[JK]

Yeah, I've been real lucky cos I'm gonna stay with the teacher that I've had for the last 3-4 years, John York. This has been possible because I've been at the junior school of the GSMD for 2 years now.

I was amazed at the number of piano teachers at RCM, it's a huge department!!

[Eusebius_dk]

Hi A.C.,

Just like you I'm going to start at the RCM after the summer! Sure, there are many teachers there, and if you don't anyone it can be hard to decide! Personally I'm going to study with Yonty Solomon. I knew him before I applied, and he's actually the main reason why I'm going to study there. Of course, it's always important to find a good school in a city that you like, but firstly I think you should always go for the teacher.

Anyway, in my opinion Yonty is an amazing teacher, and to be honest, after meeting him I can't imagine that I want to study with anybody else.

Also, I know Kevin Kenners from masterclasses some years ago, and he's a very nice man, enthisiastic and inspiring. But he is, like Yonty, very busy, and he's away much of the time.

My best advice is to contact Andrew Ball (you can find his email address at the RCM webste: www.rcm.ac.uk), and I'm sure he will do everything he can helping you to find a teacher. He's very kind, and he has helped me a lot.

Looking forward to meeting you in London!

[A.C.]

lol, so we gonna be classmate next month, dun we?
I chose John Barstow for my first choice, and then Yonty Solomon for the second. Anyway, looking forward to meeting u in Sept!

[Eusebius_dk]

Sounds great! I have never met Jon Barstow, but I have a couple of friends who has studied with him, and they were all very delighted about his teaching.

We're not excatly going to be classmates, since I'm transferring to the 3rd year of the Undergrad, since I've already done 4 years of study in Copenhagen, but College will be just as new to me as it will be to you!

[IgnazPaderewski]

whatever you do, dont go near ruth nye. I was taught by her for 4 years and she is TERRIBLE.

[A.C.]

omg...my third choice is Ruth Nye...lol