Piano Teacher

Charles Gray

Piano Lessons

Miss Charles Gray has been a self-employed accompanist, composer, jazz and contemporary musician, and teacher for over 15 years.

Her two qualifications in classical music and improvisation—BMus/BA (University of Melbourne), Cert IV Contemporary Music (NRCA)—allow her to provide a highly flexible teaching service that caters to the student’s individual needs and interests. She specialises in helping advanced classical musicians explore the world of improvisation.

Charles believes in a balanced approach to piano, and most of her students opt to study a blend of traditional technique (scales and studies) and repertoire (suitable for exams such as AMEB) with improvisation on the side. All of her beginner to intermediate students study the blues or pop alongside their classical studies which not only gives them aural and theoretical skills but allows them to apply these skills to their classical repertoire. Charles believes that you can’t study piano without studying composition and theory. Her students are producing jazz charts, orchestrations, pop songs, and much more, alongside their piano studies.

Charles has many advanced students who wish to specialise in jazz, classical, or composition. Charles’ students are approximately 50% adults and 50% children; she welcomes students of all ages and levels.

Charles Gray

Ms. Charles Gray aims primarily to make music fun. Her students learn a mixture of styles and methods, keeping the study of piano interesting and inspiring. Her students progress through technical levels consistent with AMEB (Australian Music Examination Board), or equivalent, standards. She does not, however, require students to sit exams. Charles is comfortable working with any examination syllabus, should the student choose to book for an exam with ANZCA, CPM etc. Her students always work on a blues song. Here they develop aural skills through learning the piece by ear. Also, through learning about taking a blues solo, her students explore improvisation. Her students also explore popular music and jazz. Some of her more advanced students choose to focus on improvisation and contemporary music altogether.

Charles advises that the student has reached a technical level equivalent with grade five AMEB before the student switches entirely to improvisation. Half of her students are adults, some are beginners and some are advanced. She has many adults come to her, who have studied to a high level of classical piano, but have not yet explored improvisation. With these students she enjoys helping to dispel the mystery of improvisation, demonstrating that it is a realisable skill for anyone. Charles holds regular student concerts providing a performance opportunity for students and a goal to work towards for students not sitting exams.

Qualifications -

• Cert IV Contemporary Music (NRCA)

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