Piano & Keyboard

Kevin Miller

BMus (Hons) (Classical & Jazz Piano and Theory)

Kevin received lessons on piano, pipe organ and flute before reading music at Birmingham University and graduating in 1982 with an honours degree. On returning to the North-East he continued to teach piano whilst running a dinner-dance band. His other musical activities have been varied – a church organist; principal pianist in the area for the Royal Academy of Dancing; rehearsal pianist for amateur operatic societies; resident pianist at Linden Hall Hotel; and accompanist for many soloists working in the area. He owns and runs the Northern Music Centre and continues to teach students up to diploma level. Kevin is also a keen photographer – www.kevinmillerphotography.co.uk.

Emma Temporal

BAMus MMus (Piano and Keyboard)

Emma Temporal started piano and keyboard lessons at the age of nine. She is an experienced accompanist and ensemble player in a wide range of styles from classical repertoire to jazz, performing in numerous jazz and singing workshops. Throughout her music degree, Emma assisted the music lessons at Byker Primary School. After graduating from the University of Newcastle, Emma became a freelance music teacher and accompanist and gained a Masters in Popular Music Studies. She has taught at the NMC since July 2000. In June 2007, Emma completed a professional development teaching qualification with the ABRSM at the Royal Northern College of Music and completed a PGCE from the University of Sunderland in 2010.

David Jobson

(Jazz Piano & Keyboard)

David first became interested in the piano at the age of 11 when he had private piano lessons. He then later studied classical organ, piano and tenor saxophone at Newcastle College of Arts and Technology. His career has spanned nearly three decades both as a professional musician and then later in teaching organ, piano and keyboard. David made his name playing keyboard in venues from the Isle of Man to Jersey and most places in-between before venturing further afield on the cruise liners for a couple of years sailing all over the world – taking in the Amazon and Rio (to name a few places). Whilst on the ships his interest in jazz was heightened as he then had the opportunity to play jazz more regularly. David’s feet are now firmly back on dry land and he continues teaching during the day and still finds time to play keyboards and sing in his four-piece band.

Lewis Weston

JP MMus (Newcastle) DipRCMPerf ARCMTD (Piano)

Lewis Weston has been playing the piano since he was five and by fourteen made his debut with orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall Schools’ Prom. Whilst still at school, he gained his performer’s diploma and won a scholarship to study with John Barstow at the Royal College of Music, London, where he won numerous awards and performed concertos by Liszt and Grieg. Having graduated as a recitalist and teacher, Lewis led a varied career from entertainment promoter to bar owner, with serious music taking a back seat for some time. But in 2003, he recommenced his studies with David Murray, under whom he completed a master’s degree in performance at the University of Newcastle, giving back to back performances of Schumann’s piano concerto with the symphony orchestra. Lewis teaches piano to diploma level, both privately and at the Northern Music Centre, and is in increasing demand as a tutor, soloist, accompanist and chamber musician. He is artistic director and resident pianist of the Concert Pitch series, showcasing the region’s finest graduate musicians; concerts have taken place at Newcastle Lit & Phil and the Royal Grammar School. In 2010, Lewis completed training for the ABRSM examiner panel. Last year he was awarded the Fellowship of the Guild of Musicians & Singers, in recognition of his achievements.

Ian Elliott

BA (Hons) (Piano)

Ian began piano lessons at an early age with Kevin Miller, achieving a Grade 8 distinction by the age of 17. As a youngster Ian was Assistant Pianist for the Consett Theatre Workshop Junior Group. Through college and university, he worked as a rehearsal pianist for various amateur dramatics groups in his local area and taught the piano part-time. Ian returned to the north east in early 2007 to begin a career in piano teaching. He has worked as pianist for the Consett, Blackhill & Shotley Bridge Amateur Dramatics Societies’ musical theatre productions, the Derwentside Pantomime Group and is now the pianist for the Glendale Choir. As well as his teaching at the Northern Music Centre, Ian runs Consett Music Tuition in Consett.

Iolanta White

Iolanta comes from an artistic family in Georgia, where she began music lessons at an early age. After receiving her diploma in piano and music theory at the Sukhumi College of Music named after Dimitri Arakishvili, Iolanta went on to teach music and piano in schools and privately in Georgia and St. Petersburg, Russia. Upon moving to England in 2003, Iolanta has continued teaching and has also enjoyed accompanying students for exams and performances.

Kevin Holland

PG dip. (Perf) RNCM, PGCE, GLCM, LLCM (TD), ALCM, A.mus. LCM (Piano)

Kevin started to play the piano at the age of 6 and the flute when he was 11.He later studied piano, flute and theory at the London College of Music, where his piano Professor was Peter Jacobs and flute Professor Simon Hunt. He qualified as a teacher in 1991 and started his teaching career in London. Since then he has taught in the Falkland Islands, Lancashire, Guernsey and finally in the North east. He bought a harpsichord in 2001. In 2003, he decided to follow his interest in Early music so studied at the Royal Northern College of Music and gained his Postgraduate Diploma in early music performance (Harpsichord). He was taught by Gary Cooper, Sharon Gould and Robert Woolley. His career has spanned over three decades as a teacher. He has marked for both AQA (GCSE) and NCFE (Music Technology) examination boards. He has a variety compositions and arrangements published in Australia, Germany, UK and the USA. He is an active musician, church organist and continues to perform in Baroque ensembles.

Ross Morton

Ross first took keyboard lessons at the age of 7 before moving to piano lessons the year after. While studying at Newcastle University he majored in classical piano performance. When Ross is not teaching, he can be found giving solo classical recitals, as well as being an accompanist for solo singers. He is also often found in Musical Theatre pit bands across the north east, tackling almost any style of music from classical to jazz, ballet to rock and more!