Sharon Harris | David Marsden | Lisanne Otten |Phil Taylor| Graham Caldecott | Patricia Coll | Lesley Gladigau | Lisa Freund | Anna Shears | Diane Drewett

Sharon Harris

I grew up learning the piano from the age of five, then also guitar, oboe and saxophone before taking a music degree at Southampton University. I had particular interests in composition and music recording. My music career began in a London recording studio which produced music for television, films, music libraries and adverts. I then moved into instrumental teaching full time achieving the LRSM Teaching Diploma from The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. Early on I taught piano, oboe and saxophone, but for many years now I have concentrated on just the piano which I have been teaching for over twenty four years to pupils of all ages, including adults, and pupils with special needs and disabilities. My lessons are friendly and fun, so that pupils feel at ease and able to take part in a variety of musical activities such as improvisation, and rhythm and listening games to suit individual pupil’s needs and learning styles. As well as being enjoyable, piano playing improves physical co-ordination, language and listening skills, and it can be incredibly therapeutic. Music is a skill that can last a lifetime and it is wonderful to be able to share it with others. When I do have time for other interests, they include arts and crafts, cooking, walking and gardening.

David Marsden

David has worked for Surrey Arts as a piano and guitar teacher since 1998. He began his music career at the age of 18 and having studied practical piano and theory to grade 8 with the ABRSM went on to work extensively as a professional musician playing Piano, Keyboard and vocals in various live bands and working with a number of well known artists on the Club/ Cabaret circuit. Between 1987 and 1992, David ran his own recording studio working as a recording engineer, arranger and producer and in 2002 he made a number of live appearances on Capital FM with the challenge of talking to listeners and writing a personalised song for them live on air. David has a unique method of teaching children at Surrey Arts; giving them the opportunity to learn Classical, Jazz, Improvisation and Popular styles of playing the piano, keyboard and guitar. He has led many students successfully through the Associated Board and Trinity Classical and Jazz examinations in Piano, Keyboard and Guitar.

Lisanne Otten BA (Hons) Music

Lisanne is a BA (hons) graduate from Paul McCartney’s LIPA in Liverpool. Originally from the Netherlands, she studied classical piano and choir singing to conservatoire standards from the age of 7 up to Grade 8 (in piano and music theory), as well as branching into pop, rock and jazz by taking up the bass guitar from the age of 14 and later at LIPA.

Lisanne has a wealth of experience including touring with various bands and projects around the world, being musical director for cabarets and musicals including London’s West End, Steinway piano competitions (participant), solo pianist for weddings and functions and continues to push her playing with projects including X-Factor contestants and her original band Feral Ghost. 

“I think it’s vital that instrumental teachers inspire students by setting an example as a performer, in order to show them what they can achieve if they stick with lessons! Being an active performer will also enable the teacher to communicate clearly and offer practical advice to support students in their performance goals, particularly when it comes to the details and the use of proper technique in practise.”

Lisanne has a friendly and fun teaching style, is a CTLLS certified music teacher and has over 10 years experience teaching all ages, styles, levels and exam boards from ABRSM and Trinity to Rockschool.

For more info, see www.lisanneotten.com

Phil Taylor

Phil was born in Nottingham and studied piano from the age of 6 and guitar from the age of 12.  He trained as a pianist and guitarist at The Royal College of Music and holds Grade 8 in piano and guitar.  He has 20 years’ experience as a piano, keyboard and guitar teacher, having worked for Surrey Arts since 2000.  He is experienced at teaching students of all ages, levels and abilities.  Phil offers tuition in all different styles and genres.  His specialisms include classical, jazz, pop and rock as well as improvisation/composition.

Phil has a proven track record of success with ABRSM and Trinity College (as well as Rockschool) exams.  He teaches students from Initial/Prep Test level up to Grade 8 and beyond.  He has a great deal of live experience playing the piano professionally both as a solo musician/entertainer and in bands, performing in concerts at venues across London, France, Corsica, Switzerland and Greenland, as well as performing in shows/musical productions and doing session work as a pianist/keyboardist/guitarist for various artists. 

Phil believes that learning should be informative and fun and that each pupil should be treated as an individual.  He strives to bring out the best in all his pupils and help them to reach their full potential.  His attitude towards teaching is very positive, patient and consistently encouraging. Phil’s interests include spending time with family, performing, composing, arranging and listening to music as well as walking, fitness and running.

Graham Caldecott

Graham went to Chethams School of Music from 1969 – 1975. The Royal Northern College of Music 1975 – 1980. The Royal Academy of Music !981-1982 studying with Rosemarie Wright, Una Bradbury, Renna Kellaway and Hamish Milne. Since then he has performed widely as a recitalist, chamber player and accompanist as well as playing lighter music for functions, Bar Mitsvas and weddings.

Graham has also over 40 years teaching experience privately and for Latymer Upper School (1989-present), Enfield Music Service (1992-present) and Surrey (2014-present)

His pupils have won many festival first prizes, music scholarships, places at specialist music schools and 100% pass rate with exams.

Patricia Coll

Patricia began teaching piano for Surrey Arts in 2009. She studied the piano from the age of 7 and gained all the exam grades through to Grade 8. Having completed a Post Graduate Certificate of Education for the Primary years, Patricia taught at several schools as a class teacher and used her piano skills wherever needed. Since teaching for Surrey Arts, Patricia has been tutoring primary-aged children and she particularly likes to be able to start their learning right from the start; setting them off with a good foundation in both correct technique and sound note reading. Patricia aims to make the learning experience fun and achievable and loves to see their sense of accomplishment when they are able to play along musically to an accompaniment or backing track. She feels privileged to be sowing the seeds of a love of all kinds of musical styles and developing the skills which will hopefully lead to a lifetime of enjoyable music playing. Patricia has successfully tutored many children through the grade exams with both Trinity and ABRSM. She is a keen member of a church choir and has enjoyed taking part in performances including accompanying the male group Blake at a local theatre, as well as singing Happy Birthday to the Queen at Epsom Derby. Her other interests include gardening, cooking and countryside family walks with the dog.

Lesley Gladigau

Lesley Gladigau studied singing, clarinet and piano at the Welsh College of Music and Drama, in Cardiff. She gained her Licentiate Diploma and Advanced Certificate of music, with merits in performance. Whilst she was in Wales Lesley sang in the BBC Welsh Chorus and travelled extensively with the choir performing in different countries and venues. Lesley moved to London and continued her singing studies on the Advanced Music Course at the Royal Academy of Music. Whilst studying at the Royal Academy she won the Isabel Jay award for sopranos and mezzo- sopranos. After completing her advanced singing studies at RAM, Lesley started work as a peripatetic music teacher, working for different music services. She gave lessons in singing, clarinet and piano. Lesley continued to develop her music teaching further joining the Surrey Arts Music Service where she worked as a woodwind teacher for the wider opportunities music sessions delivered in primary schools. Lesley has entered many students for musical examinations over the years and works on the musical theory, musicianship, aural and sight reading disciplines that are also important for the graded examinations. Lesley has also worked abroad in Cairns, Australia where she sang with the Cairns Choral society, and performed as a soloist in many of their concerts. Lesley also performed as a soprano soloist working for wedding companies in Cairns and the Northern Beaches. The weddings often took place in wildlife parks and conservation areas of natural beauty. So Lesley has literally been singing with the animals! Usually kangaroos and koalas! Lesley joined Linden Bridge School in Worcester Park, as a specialist music teacher, teaching class music lessons across the whole school in a SEN setting. She enjoyed organising concerts and musical events for the children. She has taken children to perform in the Epsom and Ewell choir festival for the past 2 years-(2018, 2019). Lesley also teaches peripatetic music lessons at Linden Bridge School, giving singing, clarinet, flute, recorder and alto sax lessons. Lesley has recently started teaching for Surrey Arts Music Service again and is enjoying developing her timetable. She is teaching piano, flute and singing lessons.

Lisa Freund

Lisa began learning piano at the age of 6 and flute aged 11. She worked through the ABRSM grades in both instruments up to grade 8. She went on to take the Advanced Certificate in piano and studied music at Goldsmiths College, University of London. She began teaching privately after obtaining her music degree. Lisa has worked for Surrey Arts since 2017 and teaches primary aged children in a variety of schools in Surrey. 

She enjoys being a part of children’s musical journey, from discovering the first notes and sounds on the piano, to playing the first piece of music and beyond. Each lesson is adapted to fit the individual child and to help them progress and learn at a pace that suits them. She has 100% pass rate for exams and takes pupils through both ABRSM and Trinity syllabuses. 

Lisa aims to make lessons fun and enjoys inspiring creativity in her pupils. She teaches a wide variety of styles and is very patient and encouraging.

She enjoys spending time with her family and teaching her 3 children piano at home. She is also a keen runner and loves cooking and baking.

Anna Shears

Anna started piano lessons at the age of 6 with a brilliant (and rather strict) concert pianist, who kept both Anna and her parents on their toes! After completing her music degree at Kingston University, Anna joined the Surrey Arts team (who remembered her from her violin, guitar and flute lessons as a child) and has been teaching with them ever since. Anna has over 20 years of teaching experience in a variety of contexts. She has taught a huge range of ages and abilities, organised numerous concerts and masterclasses for students as well as leading training events and workshops for teachers. Anna loves teaching and passing on her passion and enthusiasm for the fantastic instrument that is the piano! As Curriculum Lead, Anna heads up the piano/keyboard team.

You can see video clips of Anna on the Surrey Arts YouTube channel:

Diane Drewett

It had been one of those uneventful, heavy and overcast days when Diane discovered that the front door was wide open. She wandered out onto the street whereupon she saw her dad and two neighbours pushing a large dark brown piano along the pavement. Somehow it was maneuvered into their front room. What fun! Diane immediately tried picking out tunes on the white keys, bemused as to why they didn’t sound quite right, until a kindly voice behind her said “why don’t you try the black ones” eureka!

Diane really enjoys teaching the piano and has over 30 years experience. She always hopes to pass on her passion for music to everyone, whatever age they are. Her lessons are structured, friendly and above all, fun. ‘I wish to draw out the best in pupils whether they are playing purely for pleasure or wish to pursue music as a career. The door is always open.’