INTRODUCTION
I teach piano to students of all ages, offering flexibility according to needs and interests. I have 15 years of experience. Previously, I achieved distinction in Grade 8 by the age of 14, and taught myself to play by ear in a range of styles.
I travel to my students for lessons, and teach mainly within 3 miles of my house in Marlbrook – i.e. around Barnt Green, Catshill, Lickey, Rubery and Cofton.
Besides teaching, I make videos and record my own music. I’ve had particular success with original piano samples – for example, featuring on a Wiz Khalifa song in 2023.
My other work is as a personal trainer.
THE TRADITIONAL APPROACH
Traditional note reading is still a very beneficial skill. If a student takes to sheet music, then this will usually form the basis of most lessons. The student will learn progressively more complex pieces from books and printouts. When I include other approaches, it will be mainly to offer variety, and a broader understanding of music theory.
THE NON-TRADITIONAL APPROACH
Learning piano is hard work whatever the approach. If a student does not take to sheet music, then they will need to be extra motivated and enthusiastic, for lessons to be worthwhile in the longer term. Typically I will then encourage the student to use video tutorials as a substitute resource – mainly from youtube, but also as recorded by me during lessons.
CONTACTING ME / FURTHER DETAILS
If you’d like to discuss the possibility of lessons, you’re welcome to email me at chrisgibbspt@gmail.com with the following details:
– age
– previous musical experience
– details of your child’s interest in piano, or your goals as an adult learner
– confirmation that you have a piano or keyboard
– preferred lesson length (prices listed below)
– preferred days/times for lessons
– location
These are my lesson prices from January 2026, based on Musicians’ Union rates:
30 mins – £26 plus travel
45 mins – £35 plus travel
60 mins – £44 plus travel
Travel = total mileage x £0.50 (e.g. if you live 3 miles from me, it’s 6 x £0.50 = £3)
Most students pay online, either weekly, monthly, or for sets of lessons e.g. 4.
I have an up-to-date DBS certificate.
The piano is a difficult instrument to learn, and making the most of lessons ideally requires focused practice most days of the week. This means that for children up to at least 11 years old, it is essential that parents take an active part in supervising.
MORE ABOUT ME
I learned piano from the age of 6 with Paul Lindley, who was a parent at my primary school, and taught a few local children in his spare time. His methodical and gentle approach suited me, and I ended up doing most of the grades with him – even though he had only reached about grade 4 level himself. It also helped that I was a very self-motivated learner, and that one of my sisters already played piano at Grade 5+ level when I started.
Eventually with Paul’s encouragement I moved on to lessons at Birmingham Conservatoire with Philip Martin, achieving a distinction in Grade 8 and passing the Advanced Certificate. I also taught myself to play by ear and improvise jazz, and developed my composing skills while studying GCSE and A-Level music.
After school I took an extended break from piano. I pursued various studies to MSc level, and tried different jobs before realising that I wanted to work for myself. Then in 2011, while working as a personal trainer and developing my freelance work, I found myself teaching piano by chance. A friend had seen some piano covers I’d posted on YouTube just for fun, and asked for lessons. This led to the neighbours asking if I could teach their son… they told another mum… and before I knew it the piano teaching had overtaken my personal training!
Fast forward to now and I can’t quite believe that I’ve been teaching piano for well over a decade. It’s been rewarding to see such a variety of students progressing over time – from kids and teens to students in their 70s, and from a plumber and a motorbike instructor to a barrister and a doctor. There have been successes with school concerts, GCSE work and graded exams, but the biggest success for me is quite simply when a student intrinsically enjoys learning and playing piano.
The variety has also kept life interesting for me in unexpected ways, as I’ve got to co-write dance tracks with a local teen DJ/producer, play with a student’s rock band, and teach a comedian who invited me to his gigs. I’ve taught fellow runners and martial artists who I’ve helped with their training, and one of my most regular students is a yoga instructor whose love of coffee and chat helps make up for her early lesson time!
Despite the successes, I actually still find piano teaching to be challenging work at times. I’ll keep striving for a magic formula to make it easy, but for now it seems there’s no substitute for both student and teacher putting in consistent hard work over time, in order to get results. I try to stay flexible, and appreciate feedback from students and parents so that I can keep trying to refine my approach.
PREVIOUS TESTIMONIALS
As well as the reviews on my Google profile, you can see testimonials copied from my previous website below:
After a year of lessons with Chris my music theory knowledge and piano playing have vastly improved. I had been producing house music a year before I started having lessons, a year on I have now been played on radio, been featured on several blogs and gained several DJ bookings from my productions all thanks to Chris’s help. Even though he has slightly different musical tastes, Chris has gone out of his way to listen to my favourite artists in order to help me, as well as getting me started with sheet music.
Piers – Barnt Green
I am delighted with my progress after a year of piano lessons with Chris. He has been enthusiastic about helping me to play the songs I like by adapting them to my ability, and now I can really enjoy playing music that would once have seemed impossible. Overall, he is an excellent teacher and musician who works hard to do the best for you as an individual.
Christine – Barnt Green
Chris taught piano to my two children (11 and 9) for a year during our stay in the UK. Having had experience with at least 4 other teachers over 5 years, without any doubt, Chris was the only one who used an individualized approach, tailoring his teaching style to the two very different personalities. We have seen significant progress in piano skills and, what is more importantly at this age, consistent interest in practising and never-swaying excitement about music. I know now what kind of teacher we’ll be looking for back in the US.
Irina – Lickey (now Rochester, Minnesota)
I got a piano from freecycle last May because I always wanted to learn the piano. I can play the violin and can read music but I couldn’t read the bass key and coming from Germany, I didn’t know much musical vocabulary.
Chris agreed to give me regular lessons to start me off on my journey. He recommended to follow the Schaum books. We started with book A and got through it pretty quickly. Book B was finished within 6 months from my first lesson. Chris was very helpful answering my many questions and gave advice how to improve my play.
Chris is a great teacher and has a depth of knowledge about music and pianos. He is happy to follow the students lead with what they want to get out of the lessons.
Thanks Chris 🙂
Simone – Rednal
Chris has a very enthusiastic, personalized approach which has inspired our son Alex to develop his love of music into playing the piano. By harnessing Alex’s interest Chris has taught him to play pieces Alex longed to play, alongside beginners skills. This has not only motivated Alex but even given him the confidence to perform to others.
Louise – Lickey
Chris has a remarkable natural ability in terms of his musicality, but also as a teacher, particularly with children. He has been teaching our son for a couple of years and has been very resourceful in maintaining the interest of a sometimes distracted 6-8 year old. He always spends time preparing for lessons and providing new challenges, and has taught both piano and composition. The children love their time with him; I wish I had been lucky enough to meet a teacher like him when I was younger.
Andrew – Cofton Hackett
I would thoroughly recommend Chris, who does an excellent job of teaching our daughter piano. He is obviously an extremely capable and enthusiastic musician and teacher, choosing pieces which she enjoys learning, providing patient encouragement.
Stuart – Barnt Green
I have been doing this for six months now, from no musical background at all. To learning to play and read musical notes from books. Never thought possible being 36. Really glad I found Chris, I cannot fault his up to date 21st century way of teaching. What ever your taste of music is, he will definitely guide you well. As he has done for me. Even when I watch him play pieces of music I yearn to play one day. He inspires me more and more to keep this as a life time hobby.
Dave – Rubery
Thank you Chris for another fabulous year teaching Niamh. You have helped her sail through her Grade 3 keyboard exam!! She continues to enjoy her lessons and her music. So much so we are graduating to an electric baby grand piano for 2013. Its a pleasure to hear her play and also nice that I don’t have to nag her to practice! Long may it continue! You have done wonders :0)
Rachel – Dodford
Chris has been teaching our 3 boys for about the last year now – Josh is 14, Zak is 13 and Finn is 9. Chris is great at being able to engage with all of them, choosing music that they like and are familiar with. Through this he not only teaches them how to play the song but also explains the theory behind the music. He has also worked with Josh and Zak to produce credible performances they can upload to YouTube and share with their friends. Zak had previously given up piano having acheived Grade 2, and Chris has given his piano playing a new lease of life. All three of them practise for fun because they derive so much pleasure from being able to play songs that they hear on the radio or on their iPods. Josh’s main instrument is the guitar, and although Chris is not a guitar teacher he is also able to guide Josh’s guitar playing through his extensive knowledge of music and through working on duets where Chris plays the piano, challenging Josh to extend his capabilities. If you are looking for someone to inspire your child (or you for that matter!) rather than just to teach them how to play the piano, then you would have to go a long way to find someone better than Chris.
Kevin – Lickey
I am 68 years old and only recently retired. I have been taking piano and keyboard lessons from Chris since June 2011 and have thoroughly enjoyed the experience. He quickly assesses your ability and experience (in my case, almost zero), recommends and obtains the appropriate books and fires you with enthusiasm to learn more and practice. Practice never seems a chore.
As I am keen to learn both piano and keyboard, Chris gives me separate lessons for each, typically on an alternate weeks or depending on my preferences. He is happy to let me choose the type of music that I wish to play, and structures the lesson so that I get the maximum benefit from my choice. His friendliness and encouragement have caused me to be more proficient than I ever dreamed possible at this stage. I really look forward to my lessons.
His own technical ability is outstanding and it is a joy to listen to his playing. It is a classical case of learning by example and sets the pupil a target to aim at. My only criticism is that he has such an amazing ear for music that he can spot the smallest mistake in your recital – however, he points it out in such a pleasant way that it makes you even more determined to get it completely right next time!
Whatever be your age or ability, you could not get a better teacher than Chris.
David – Barnt Green
In January 2011, when my teenage son first expressed an interest in learning the piano, I was both pleased that he was keen, but apprehensive, as it has been a struggle to get him to practise in the past. He said he wanted more informal teaching – not going through the grades as with previous instruments and teachers – and he was more interested in modern music than classical.
Well, thank goodness we found Chris. Chris has been very flexible and pleased to teach my son as he wishes, so that very soon he was playing chords and tunes that even I recognise. He is improving fast, and keen for his lessons. He even practises without being prompted. I would recommend Chris as a teacher not only if your child wants the formal route through music grading etc but also if they wish to enjoy playing for the sake of it.
Sue – Waseley
Chris has only been teaching my daughter a short while but she has progressed very quickly, she enjoys the relaxed and fun teaching style and the varied music pieces they learn. Chris has been very helpful in finding out about working towards music exams and actively helping her work towards achieving goals. She looks forward to her lessons every week, Chris has been a very motivating influence.
Rachel – Dodford
Chris has a very pleasant teaching style, complimentary and patient. And of course, the most important thing that any teacher can offer is the ability to create a feeling in the students, that they want to learn, and Chris has that in abundance.
James – Rubery
Chris Gibbs - Piano Teacher 