Mark Tanner PhD MA FTCL FRSA
Please feel free to email me if you are interested in lessons or a consultation.
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- Diplomas (including support for the Viva Voce and Quick Study elements)
- Mature students
- Recital preparation
- Jazz, Composition
- Sessions tailored to meet individual demands
Mark Tanner teaches advanced pianists at his Tudor cottage in Taunton, Somerset. He is one of the West Country's most revered teachers. Students wishing to take diploma or higher-grade examinations, or perhaps prepare for a recital etc., benefit from highly convivial surroundings in this peaceful rural location (just 3 minutes from the M5, J.25). A number of established piano teachers in the region have benefited from consultation sessions with Mark. Moreover, his regular students travel from beyond Taunton, some from as far as Poole, Bristol, Bath, Southamtpon, Bridgwater and Chard.
Students play on an exquisite Steinway Model B piano (ex Q.E.2 concert grand), which has been completely renovated to the highest standards by the Bristol Piano Company. Lessons are tailored to suit the particular student's aspirations (ages ranging from 14 to 64) and can accommodate jazz, or teaching techniques. Students sometimes elect to attend fortnightly, or even monthly, since the repertoire undergoing study will benefit from considerable thoughtful practice.
In recent times Mark's students have gained first and second prizes in national competitions, including the 2001 EPTA U18 piano and composition competitions and the 2002 Poole Arts Centre Piano Competition, adjudicated by Philip Fowke. Several have gained their DipABRSM, LRSM, LTCL and LLCM diplomas (indeed Mark is an international examiner of these diplomas for the ABRSM) and have progressed to study at conservatoires and universities at home and abroad.
Mark Tanner also has considerable experience of teaching school age students, having relinquished the post of Assistant Director of Music at Taunton School, Somerset in 2003, where he worked for some sixteen years. During this time he taught the lead singer from the Grammy Award winning group Coldplay, Chris Martin, who fondly recalls his formative period with Mark in a recently published biography:
"His teacher, Mark Tanner, held progressive views; he wholly approved of pop music, and his doing so changed Chris's life. He dismissed the idea that you had to be some kind of miniature Mozart to enjoy Music. 'He bought these Yamaha keyboards for the school,' recalled Chris. 'They were very easy to work with; everyone could have a go. You could play with one finger and have a tune, so we did.'"
Mark Tanner gives masterclass in China, 2006
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