One-to-One Tuition   Christopher Graham specialises in classical, popular, and jazz to develop the student’s ability to play really well, whether sitting exams or not.

Lessons are weekly; for most students each lesson is 45 minutes, and for advanced students 1 hour. Lessons cover pieces of music, technique, the ‘materials’ of music – keys, rhythm, etc., listening skills, playing from memory, accelerated learning strategies, etc. Students are expected to practice every day – what the student needs to practice and focus on is written down during the lesson – both the student and the teacher keep a copy.

New Student Enquiries   New students and parents can contact me to make enquiries with no obligation. Enquire Now about tuition for Term 2 2026.

Student Concerts   There are 12 Student Concerts each year – three per school term. This gives ample opportunities for students to perform! ALL students are invited to perform (it is not compulsory). Most students play three or four Student Concerts each year – on average, students play two or three pieces of music in each Student Concert – this provides a real goal for students to work towards! Students play on a grand piano. All family members and their friends are invited to attend.

Piano Examinations   Piano exam or no piano exam? It’s up to the student and parents. If you wish to sit an exam, the two most popular music examination organisations in New Zealand are The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) and Trinity College London (TCL). Both examining bodies maintain high standards of performance and are very popular internationally. There are two kinds of piano exams – Practical and Digital: Practical is where you play in front of an examiner in the same room; and Digital is video recorded in any venue you like at any time of the year – there is no examiner in the same room. Once recorded, the video recording is uploaded to the examining body.

Piano exams range from ‘Initial’ to Grade 8, as well as Diploma exams. Most students spend three to six months (or longer for high grades) preparing for an exam; during this preparation period, they are expected to practice regularly and encouraged to perform their exam pieces in Student Concerts. The experience of performing in concerts always improves the standard of their performance in the exam! All my students pass examinations with thorough preparation – most achieving Merit or Distinction!

Student Workshops   I present workshops on various topics, such as: practice strategies, memorizing music, accelerated learning techniques, reducing nervousness during performance, etc. Workshops may include a PowerPoint presentation, or a video. Then all students participate in a Team Quiz. The workshop is informative, fun and designed for both students and parents.

My Training   I was trained privately by professional European pianists to play the music of J S Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Debussy, etc. I studied music, languages, and psychology at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand, and at Canberra University, Australia. I have the Bachelor of Music Degree in Music and Languages (B.Mus), the Licentiate Royal Schools of Music Performance Diploma in Piano (LRSM), and the Fellowship Trinity College London Performance Diploma in Piano (FTCL). I specialise in piano performance, teaching, and conducting.

CONTACT

Phone Chris on 027 444 7615

Email Chris on cjgmusic@hotmail.com

OR send Chris a message Here.