I teach blues piano using my first Schott publication Improvising Blues Piano, the best-selling blues piano book on the market.

More advanced students often progress to the sequel Blues, Boogie & Gospel Collection, which contains 15 pieces for solo piano in a variety of styles.

ONE-TO-ONE lessons are available ONLINE or in person - find details here.

Weekly group lessons begin in September every year at Morley College (Waterloo, London) for three terms. Students can also learn via online video tutorials that accompany the book – samples of which are on YouTube – but also available to buy as complete courses at MusicGurus.com

NEW! This year I'm also teaching a short Blues Piano Basics course at Benslow Music (Hitchin, Herts) Fri 11 - Sun 13 August 2023.

Find out more

Find out more

Blues Piano Taster

Four evening classes in July - part of the Morley College Summer School. Enrolment usually available in June - see the Morley website here for details.

Something of a 'crash course' that acts as an introduction to the courses below, and provides an overview of the basic priniciples of blues piano in the context of a friendly and informal hands-on class. No tutor signature required.

Blues Piano 1

Tuesdays 6.30-8.00pm (weekly)
The course runs over three terms, normally 10-12 weeks each:

This course is a practical, hands-on introduction for competent pianists to learn the basics of blues piano, focusing mainly on Chapters 1–3 of the tutor’s book Improvising Blues Piano (Schott Music). It it takes place in a keyboard room with a digital piano for every student, but there are also opportunities to play on acoustic pianos (singly and together).

You will learn a range of blues repertoire in the 'easy' keys of C, F and G, accompaniment skills, bass lines and left-hand patterns, and develop right-hand improvising techiques. The class also acts as an introduction to improvisation and is good preparation for some of the jazz piano classes available at Morley.

Blues Piano 2 (advanced)

Tuesdays 8.00 - 9:30pm (weekly)
The course runs over three terms, normally 10-12 weeks each:

By popular demand, a follow-up to Blues Piano1! Suitable for pianists with previous blues piano experience, good left/right hand coordination and some improvising skills.

A great opportunity to explore a variety of styles from boogie-woogie and New Orleans to jazz and funk. Learn new left-hand techniques, improve your aural skills, transcribe from recordings and develop your soloing ability.

In terms 2 and 3 of this course there's an opportunity to focus on individual pianists for a whole term. In past years the following pianists were chosen for in-depth study: Jimmy Yancey, Otis Spann, Professor Longhair, Pete Johnson, Ray Charles, Albert Ammons, Dr John, etc.

ENROLMENT: BLUES 1 AND 2

Although there are three terms and each term is paid for separately this is a year long course restarting in September. A performance takes place towards the end of the 3rd term, in late June or early July.

A tutor's signature is required to enrol on these courses - attend the Enrolment/Advice session at Morley - usually in the first week of September - where you can find out the best course for you. For precise dates, details of cost and enrolment, click the link below.