From July 2015 the Piano Shop Bath will be speaking to a local piano teacher and sharing that conversation here. Each month we will feature a new teacher which will give you the chance to get to know the musicians that live and work across the UK. This month we spoke to Bristol piano teacher Sophia Mckett who very kindly shared with us some of her insights about music and the piano.
Sophia Mckett is a Bristol-based piano teacher who first remembers playing the piano by ear around the age of four. Even though this was only on a toy piano her family recognised her ability and by the age of six Sophia was having piano lessons. Originally from Moscow, Sophia graduated from the prestigious Gnessin Academy of Music and went on to perform in numerous concerts in Russia and Sri Lanka. Sophia has been a piano teacher in Bristol since 2003, as well as teaching piano at Wells Cathedral School, Badminton School and from September at Clifton College.
Sophia very kindly spoke to us about the qualities she felt were important for anyone wanting to start piano lessons. First and foremost she believes one needs to have a love of music and secondly enjoy the creative process of making music. Studying music alongside other academic subjects helps to ‘broaden you as a person’ and we both agreed we could not imagine a life without music. All that is left is to create the right environment to nurture that love of music and support its full expression. Taking children to classical piano music concerts was one way to help inspire young children to develop their piano playing, she encouraged. Like many of the famous classical composers and poets Sophia draws inspiration from nature and the beautiful seasonal transitions we enjoy in this country. When she is not at the piano teaching or walking in nature she also enjoys relaxing with a good classical novel, with the Russian classics being top of her list. In answer to my question did she view the piano as a living instrument she paused and then told me she viewed it as collaboration between the pianist, the composer and the instrument. It is the people that bring the piano to life, she concluded.
If you are a local piano teacher and would like to collaborate with us by featuring in our next monthly profile please do get in touch and don’t forget to register in our free online piano teacher directory. We would love to hear from you. For more information about Bristol piano teacher Sophia Mckett please visit her piano teaching website.
To be featured in our piano teacher profile series, please email hello@thepianoshopbath.co.uk with Piano Teacher Profile in the subject line.
All UK piano teachers can be listed in our Piano Teacher Directory. Add your details now.