Nicholas Ashton

Additional Info:

I am a highly experienced teacher with over 35 years of professional work in the media of performance, assessment and examination, especially undergraduate, postgraduate and professional performance. As a teacher, coach or in masterclass, I will offer constructive, encouraging and supportive advice and I will always put your needs first. I also have considerable experience as an external examiner and adjudicator (Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, St. Mary's Music School, Dundee High School, Eton College, Windsor).

I currently combine a busy teaching schedule as Senior Tutor in Piano at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) and at the University of Edinburgh. I was also a Specialist External Assessor (SEA) for Keyboard at RCS (2011-2020) and External Examiner for Doctoral Progrmmes in Performance as Research (2020-2023). From 1991-2020 I fulfilled a full-time academic career as Senior Lecturer and Director of Performance Studies for the B Mus Hons degree course at Edinburgh Napier University, also as Director of Quality Assurance for the School of Arts and Creative Industries (2011-2015). I am a Senior Fellow (SFHEA) of the Higher Education Academy/Higher Advance (2018) and I was a Teaching Fellow at Napier from 2018-2020.

I was educated at Chetham’s School, RNCM, on postgraduate scholarships at the Conservatoire de Musique, Geneva and the Musikhochschule Frankfurt-am-Main and Edinburgh University. As a performer, I have an extensive solo and chamber repertoire, developed over a portfolio career in combination with teaching and academic leadership.

I have performed and recorded extensively for the BBC, in Germany, USA and Italy. A highly praised recording of the complete piano works of the Scottish composer Robert Crawford was released by Delphian Records in 2008. I performed over 90 separate solo and chamber programmes at the Hamburg Chamber Arts Association, and many times as soloist and as chamber musician, including with the Edinburgh Quartet and in piano duo with Andrew Wilde, Lauryna Sableviciute and Sasa Gerzelj.

More extensive information about my work can be found at www.nicholasashton.com

Fees

£ 60.00 Pounds Per Hour
I conduct my teaching in a first-rate studio with two new Steinway model B grands.

I currently concentrate on teaching at undergraduate, postgraduate and professional levels. If you would like advice for teaching at beginner and intermediate levels, I am happy to recommend colleagues without charge.

Will Teach:

Advanced Grades, Diploma / Higher Levels