The UK's leading Professional Development Course solely for Piano Teachers. The PTC DipABRSM Course also runs annually, and the PTC LRSM Course bi-annually.
The course that inspires professionals - a flexible way to study and move your career forward
Director of The PTC UK and Head of Cert PTC, Masayuki Tayama, Head of the PTC DipABRSM Course and International Director, Lucinda Mackworth-Young, Head of the PTC LRSM Course, Sally Cathcart and Principal Tutors Beate Toyka, Ilga Pitkevica and Graham Fitch are pioneers of a highly successful holistic tea
Operating as usual
20/04/2025
This looks great. A lovely opportunity for anyone in Cambridge.
I am really looking forward to performing with Paula on Wednesday next week. It’s a beautiful programme of Dvorak and Brahms and will be a perfect way to spend your lunch hour!
Downing Place United Reformed Church
4 Downing Place
Cambridge
CB2 3EL
1pm on Wednesday 23rd April
Hope to see you there!
Some of our PTC tutors will be taking part in the Chethams Summer School in August this year. It’s going to be a wonderful opportunity to learn from them in a beautiful location.
15/04/2025
We wholeheartedly agree with this. Lucinda’s wisdom is transforming for piano teachers and pupils.
I was listening to the legendary Lucinda Mackworth-Young give a lecture at The Piano Teachers' Course UK the other day, and I found myself wanted to stand and applaud what she was saying throughout the whole lecture.
I didn’t. That can be off-putting.
But so many of the things that I say to my students Lucinda encapsulated so beautifully.
Especially this:
She spoke of how most people have a tendency to play or practise music way too fast, and so they practise in physical tensions.
She emphasised the importance of slow practice, of enjoying the gorgeous physical feeling and connection with the piano so that the brain learns to associate playing the piano with positive physicality.
The moment we go too quickly, and feel that sense of panic or ‘falling off’, we begin to practise in, and therefore learn, physical tensions.
I loved every word she had to say!
14/04/2025
What an incredible weekend we just had with our wonderful students, tutors and friends of the PTC. It's hard to describe the energy and joy that materialises when so many piano teachers and pianists get together but we've made a little reel of photos to give you a flavour. It was an amazing time and also very significant and poignant, as not only was this the last residential for our current students, but the last year with our lovely tutor Beate Toyka. Beate will sadly be leaving us at the end of this academic year and starting new adventures. However, we are so excited that the legendary Joanna Garcia will be joining our team as a Principal Tutor. She is already very much part of our PTC family and we know she will be brilliant.
12/04/2025
Another busy day the Purcell School of Music in Bushey, including inspiration from jazz musician Richard Michael, a wonderful student concert and great lectures from our tutors. We are looking forward to day visitors arriving tomorrow when Garreth Brooke and Paul Harris will be leading workshops.
✨🎹 BREAKING PEDAGOGY NEWS! 🎹 ✨
Did you know that yodelling while practising dramatically improves sight-reading, finger dexterity and musical expression! 🎶 Scientists believe the vocal resonance helps “tune” the brain to harmonic structures, making complex passages effortless!
We now recommend starting every practice session with a hearty “YODEL-AY-HEE-HOO!” 🏔️🎶
We have the amazing Paul Harris with us on 13th April, at the Purcell School of Music in Bushey leading two workshops Watch Paul's video below in which he explains what he will be doing. You can also find out more and book a place here: https://www.pianoteacherscourse.org/workshop-april2025
We can't wait! Please come and join us in person or online.
✨🎹 Saturday Spotlight: World Piano Day 🎹✨
It’s the 88th day of the year and World Piano Day. Let us know how you’ll be celebrating and we’d love to know what your favourite piano piece is.
We are so excited that Garreth Brooke will be with us on Sunday 13th April at the Purcell School of Music in Bushey to lead a creative workshop for us. Attend online or in person. Watch Garreth's introduction to his workshop below and you can book a place and find out more here: https://www.pianoteacherscourse.org/workshop-april2025
24/03/2025
This is the last opportunity to save £420 in Cert PTC course fees. This offer ends on 31st March. Friends of the PTC please share and help us get the remaining places booked! https://www.pianoteacherscourse.org/cert-ptc-uk
23/03/2025
Two concert opportunities for you with our very own Jill Morton; one in Suffolk and one in Norfolk. The programmes look amazing. The first concert is next Sunday evening, 30th March, with Sudbury Symphony Orchestra at Lavenham Church. Info and Tickets here: http://www.sudburysymphonyorchestra.com
And on 5th April Jill in Norfolk. Details in the image below.
16/03/2025
🎹Workshops for Piano Teachers with Garreth Brooke and Paul Harris🎹
We are delighted to announce our exciting workshops on Sunday 13th April 2025. These will be lead by Paul Harris, who is one of the UK's most influential educationalists, and Garreth Brooke who is a pianist, composer, writer and teacher based in Germany. Join us in person at The Purcell School of Music in Bushey or online. More information and booking here: https://www.pianoteacherscourse.org/workshop-april2025
14/03/2025
✨🎹 Friday Fun 🎹✨
How do you fancy giving one of these a try? We think it would be great for teaching the circle of 5ths but it might be tricky to remember where middle C is!
Free opportunity to talk online to Dr Sally Cathcart and Ilga Pitkevica about our Cert PTC course.
This may be of interest to anyone who would like to find out more about the Cert PTC. Also, please remember Curious Piano Teachers are entitled to 15% off the Course Fees in our early bird offer
Our Course Director Sally Cathcart has a few words to share about an opportunity to join a discussion and ask questions about our Cert PTC course. Please watch the video and see comments for the link to register for the event.
Director Lucinda Mackworth-Young, and principal tutors Sally Cathcart, Ilga Pitkevica, Graham Fitch, Masayuki Tayama and Beate Toyka and are pioneers of a highly successful holistic teaching method. Their vision is for everyone to be taught by a combination of reading notes, listening by ear and improvisation - and so be able to play spontaneously anywhere, at any time.
The Piano Teachers’ Course is suitable for pianists and piano teachers who wish to enhance their professional teaching skills and consists of three residential weekends, three study Sundays and independent study spread over an academic year.
To further develop your teaching skills we are delighted to offer a full course for the practical elements of the Teaching DipABRSM and LRSM, including Grade 6 theory, and the written submission if not a PTC graduate. The dates correspond with the PTC 2018-19 course dates.
