For Sarah’s teaching philosophy, please click here:
Please contact me if you would like details about private lessons on Zoom or if you would like to be considered for future online workshops
The challenges of the Lockdown months also brought some upsides, meaning teaching people hundreds of miles away in the UK and indeed students from overseas has become a regular part of the schedule for many of us as musicians. In spite of less than ideal sound quality over the internet, I have found that by requesting audio recordings in advance of sessions, detailed and creative work has been possible via this medium. I look forward to continuing themed Zoom Workshops over the coming months alongside my face to face teaching.
Forthcoming workshops
NEXT WORKSHOP SCHEDULED: December 8th, 2024. ‘Brahms Plus’
Performer spaces full. A limited number of observer places are available for all workshops at £17.50.
Comments from attendees
I met Sarah Beth Briggs in August 2019 at Chetham’s summer school. I found her teaching to be detailed, dedicated and at all times very encouraging. Her more mature adult students receive the same commitment as any young aspiring professional pianist would. She is generous with her time and freely shares her extensive knowledge and experience. I’ve enjoyed her approach as it’s always been about what’s in the score. This distracts me from my occasionally fragile ego back to the composer’s instructions and makes the lessons very productive. She has given me practical solutions to technical challenges and many musical insights on aspects of the music often overlooked whilst sight reading. We stay focused on the instructions in the music, the context and the style relevant to the period when the music was written. Without being overly prescriptive this has allowed me to find my own voice at the piano. As well as a wealth of serious classical piano music we have shared huge amounts of fun with many pianist friends at her Zoom and it has been a privilege to have been part of this initiative.
Marie McKavanagh
Sarah’s lessons are relaxed, fun and very informative based on her deep and wide knowledge about composers and works with her rich experiences as an international concert pianist. Sarah has a lovely and kind personality with wonderful technical skill. As a regular attendee at her online workshops for the last 9 months, I am always impressed with her thorough preparation for each pianist in order to improve their playing and interpretation and enhance their own style, considering carefully each pianist’s ability.
Noriko Moffat
Sarah offered constructive criticism, framed in a positive and encouraging way, offered suggestions for improvement and gave me food for thought to carry forward into future practice sessions, not only for the piece but for my practising in general. I would certainly enjoy participating in another of her online sessions.
Frances Wilson
I’ve played in several of the wonderful workshops run by Sarah Beth Briggs and have found them to be extremely helpful and encouraging. I’ve enjoyed the themed workshops as it helps to hear others playing similar repertoire and to listen to the other participants too and Sarah’s feedback to others as well. Sarah always gets to the heart of the music and the detail on the score. I feel I’ve learned a tremendous amount and there’s always a supportive and encouraging atmosphere in the workshops. I can highly recommend.
Anne Collard
I really liked Sarah’s friendly style of teaching and found it to be of the highest standard – both in themed workshops and individual tuition. Every feedback point was backed up with a comprehensive, logical explanation and often an excellent demonstration at the keyboard.
Robert Gadd
I would best describe Sarah’s teaching as ‘a refreshing oasis of support’. A continuously reassuring, supportive and stretching teacher who tailors her advice to the personality and avowed ambitions of the student concerned. Acutely sensitive to the psychological considerations of the matter involved as well as the music and wishes of the composer.
Douglas Holligan
Not only is Sarah an awe-inspiring pianist, she is also a superb teacher – two things that don’t necessarily go together! The balance she strikes between encouragement and constructive comment (and, where necessary, constructive criticism) is just right. Her meticulous preparation, her astonishing ear for detail and her profound understanding of, and respect for, the intent of the composer are the things that make her workshops and lessons so special. I feel so privileged, as an amateur, to be taught by her.
Linda Walker
Please contact me if you would like details