Welcome
Welcome to michaelbarkerpiano.com – thanks for stopping by my site.
I’m a pianist, accompanist and composer. I perform from time to time, teach piano & music theory, and play piano for weddings and wedding receptions. 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 fully booked 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.
Weddings
I’m often asked if I play weddings and wedding receptions. Yes if they’re reasonably local to me! Please look at the weddings page for more info.
Performances
In 2022 I returned to playing live concerts after a few years break, playing concerts in Brighton and at the Steinway academy in Scotland as well as giving the world premiére of my piano cycle, La Settimana here in Leamington.
I gave various further performances in 2023, then in 2024 I completed a substantial new “semi-immersive” piano cycle The Gerstls, which premiered at the fabulous Warwick Hall on 19th July 2024. This 40 minute work takes its inspiration from 10 paintings from the 1920s and 1930s by the German expressionist artist Arnold Gerstl. The virtuosic piano part is supported by an ambient and occasionally disturbing soundscape, together with a piece of video-art design (created with the help of Leamington based videographer Huw Bowen) which played on a 5 metre screen suspended above the piano, a modern take on the piano concerto form.
I will return to performing again in summer 2026, details to be posted here in January.
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!
Two of my students have won first places in the Trinity College London international young composers competitions, winning cash prizes, and publication in Trinity’s piano syllabus in perpetuity. Grade 1 “Viking Village” and Grade 5 “A Walk in the Park” (which is about a stroll through Jephson Gardens in Leamington Spa).
Many 1,000s of young composers under the age of 30 entered these 8 competitions from all around the world. Winning two first places from my small studio in Leamington out of the 8 available globally is quite extraordinary 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.
Leamington Spa Piano Teacher - Michael Barker 