Frances Wilson

FRANCES WILSON

Frances Wilson is a pianist, piano teacher, concert reviewer, writer and blogger on music and pianism

Frances is now based in Portland, Dorset, after 12 years running a successful and popular private piano teaching practice in SW London.

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Current lesson availability for teenagers and adults post-Grade 4, and adult returners.

“Frances is the ideal teacher for an adult learner…..I feel that my playing came on in leaps and bounds under her guidance.”

“An excellent teacher, with an undoubted gift for communicating the techniques and the joys of piano playing”

“A confident and fluent pianist with an authoritative interpretative standpoint”

“a pianist who actually writes and talks openly about being a pianist”

PIANO TEACHING

Recently relocated from London to Dorset

A classically-trained pianist with over 40 years of playing experience, I hold Licentiate and Associate Diplomas (both with Distinction) in Performance, and teach intermediate (cGrade 4) to advanced students (Grade 8).

A teacher who has a firm knowledge of the matter in hand and who combines this with charisma and fun to ensure that students of all ages gain confidence and pleasure

Through tuition tailored to the individual’s needs, my aim is to encourage students to develop at their own pace to play with confidence, musicality, and expression, and to become independent learners. I offer all students a solid grounding in the technical and stylistic aspects of piano playing, together with an understanding of cultural and historical contexts, and general musicianship. Lessons take place in my home where I have a beautiful 1913 Bechstein grand piano. My students have enjoyed a 100% pass rate in graded music exams, with most achieving a Merit or Distinction.

Frances is an ideal teacher for an adult learner returning to the piano: flexible in approach, thoughtful and able to offer suggestions for improvement without being directive. I feel that my playing came on in leaps and bounds under her guidance, and would recommend her without hesitation

My primary concern is to make lessons as enjoyable as possible, as I feel this stimulates learning, and my teaching style is relaxed and flexible. Students may opt to work towards graded exams, but this is not obligatory. However, I am a firm believer in the premise “practise makes perfect” – and permanent – and I encourage all my pupils to develop good habits and to practise regularly.

Learning to play the piano has many benefits: it can improve concentration, develop and strengthen memory, and improve mental and physical co-ordination. It also offers a deep sense of personal achievement, enjoyment and self-fulfilment.

a natural communicator with both children and adults

Full professional member of the Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM), and an ISM registered private piano teacher. Fully CRB checked (DBS Enhanced Certificate). References available on request.

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From 2008 to 2014 I studied privately with Penelope Roskell, Professor of Piano and Piano Pedagogy at Trinity-Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance, achieving Distinctions in Licentiate and Associate level performance diplomas. I now study with acclaimed teacher, pianist and writer Graham Fitch. In addition, I have had coaching and mentoring with Canadian pianist and teacher Alan Fraser and concert pianist James Lisney, and have participated in masterclasses with Murray McLachlan, Stephen Savage and Charlotte Tomlinson. I attend courses and seminars for advanced pianists and regularly engage in continuing professional development to enhance both my teaching and performing skills.

In addition to my regular teaching, I also run workshops for adult students on preparing for performance diplomas, performing with confidence and understanding performance anxiety, and am co-founder of the London Piano Meetup Group. I have acted as a syllabus consultant for the London College of Music and contributed teaching notes to the new ABRSM piano syllabus (published June 2018).

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WRITING

Frances Wilson is the author of The Cross-Eyed Pianist, a blog on music and pianism with regular posts on repertoire, technique and composers, concert reviews, guest articles and the popular weekly interview series ‘Meet the Artist’ in which musicians, composers and conductors discuss aspects such as influences and inspirations, performing, recording, significant teachers and more. Featured artists include pianists Ivo Pogorelich, Tamara Stefanovich, Joanna Macgregor, Peter Donohoe, Nicholas McCarthy, Stephen Hough, Leon McCawley, Janina Fialkowska, and Pascal Rogé, composer/conductor James MacMillan, violinist Rachel Podger, and many more, both well-established and young and emerging artists.

“an important voice in the piano world” – Peter Donohoe, concert pianist

Frances reviews concerts for her blog and has also reviewed for international concert and opera listings site Bachtrack.com (read her articles and reviews here) and US-based arts and culture website CultureVulture.net. In addition to reviewing, Frances has been a regular contributor to ‘Pianist’ magazine’s online content, and is a guest writer for Hong Kong based classical music website InterludeHK. She also compiles playlists with accompanying articles for Berlin-based music streaming service IDAGIO. In 2017 she acted as a syllabus consultant for the London College of Music and has written teaching notes for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music graded piano exam syllabus (2019-21).

“a must-read for the keyboard-inclined” – Jessica Duchen, author and music journalist

Frances has also appeared on BBC Radio Three’s Music Matters programme, hosted by Tom Service, to discuss music criticism and the impact of the internet on writing about classical music today.

“….her level of music writing is eons beyond most professional critique…” – Mahan Esfahani, harpsichordist

Around the web

Articles for InterludeHK

On Audiences (HelloStage, August 2015)

Quiet in the Stalls Please! (HelloStage, June 2015)

The Power of the Programme (Music Haven, June 2015)

Classical Musicians and Social Media (HelloStage, April 2015)

A Musician in the Blogosphere (HelloStage, February 2015)

Where has all the (new) music gone? (guest post for The Sampler, blog of Sound and Music, September 2014)