Welcome

Welcome to michaelbarkerpiano.com – thanks for stopping by my site.

I’m a pianist, composer, piano and music theory teacher and accompanist. If that is what you’re looking for I hope you’ll find the right information here.  I work from my purpose built studio near the middle of Leamington Spa in Warwickshire.

If you’d like to get in touch with any further queries, please drop me a note or give me a call.

Teaching

I teach piano to children and adults of all abilities from complete beginners through to diploma and undergraduate level.  As part of the process of becoming well-rounded and confident musicians, my students also learn some music theory (especially harmony), some history, performance practise and even some counterpoint.  Please note that at the moment I am rather over-subscribed and not in a position to take on new beginner students.

More about teaching here or get in touch …

Accompanist

I’m an experienced accompanist and production repetiteur – I’ve worked with many different types of ensemble, both professional and amateur, and many vocal and instrumental soloists.

I regularly accompany students for ABRSM and Trinity College solo instrument exams.

Concerts

In 2022 I returned to playing live concerts after a few years break.  I played in Brighton and Scotland this year, as well as performing a virtuoso piano recital at the Royal Pump Rooms in Leamington Spa in June 2022, including great works by Beethoven, Liszt and Chopin as well as the world premiére of my own piano cycle, La Settimana.  

In 2023 I again performed in Scotland (at the Steinway academy in Plockton) and in Leamington. I’m in the process of completing a new piano cycle The Gerstls, which will premiére at Warwick Hall on 19th July  2024. This is a “semi-immersive” piece, including an ambient soundtrack and 5 metre visual display in addition to the solo piano.  Tickets available here:

Piano Concert

More information here.

I am an award-winning composer.  These days I write almost exclusively for piano in a modern Classical style. To buy copies of my piano pieces please visit the publications page. Recordings of La settimana are available on Youtube and Spotify please do give them a listen!

MY PIANO STUDENTS WIN INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION!

Several of my students entered the Trinity College London international young composers competition, in which there was not only a large cash prize, but also the promise of international publication in Trinity’s latest piano syllabus for the winners.

Many 1,000s of budding young composers entered the competition from all around the world – with an age limit of 30, the competition was open to young adults as well as children.  I’m delighted (and not a little amazed) that my students won first place in 2 categories (grade 1 and grade 5).  The pieces the two young composers wrote are now published internationally in the current Trinity College London piano syllabus; Grade 1 “Viking Village” and Grade 5 “A Walk in the Park” (which is about a stroll through Jephson Gardens in Leamington.  For more information click here:

https://www.trinitycollege.com/news/viewarticle/young-composers-competition-piano-syllabus-2021-2023

Get in touch

Contact details are below or you can use the short contact form at the bottom of this page.

Tel: 07703 371164
Email: michael.barker@live.com

My music studio at Trevor House is near the middle of town, about 200 yards south of Jephson Gardens.  There’s off-road parking alongside the building, or it’s usually possible to park either right outside or round the corner in Leam Terrace.

Contact form