Teachers

Caroline Gowers

Caroline has been teaching for many years and continues to find it as rewarding as ever. After completing her Suzuki training in 1986 she went on to study with Mrs Kataoka at the Talent Education Institute in Matsumoto, Japan. While there she also had the privilege of observing Dr Suzuki. After her return to England she became a teacher trainer and subsequently directed the BSI piano course for several years. She continues to be involved with teacher training to this day. Over the years she has taught in countless workshops, and examined, in most European countries and in the USA and Canada. She has her own teaching practice at home in Brixton.

Sue Bird

Having graduated with Honours from the Royal Northern College of Music, studying with Ryszard Bakst, Sue went on to further her studies with Peter Katin, John Lill and Zibgniev Grzybowski. Sue has performed at home and abroad in major concert halls as well as smaller venues, as soloist and chamber musician. She is a Suzuki BSMA-qualified Level 5 teacher, Teacher Trainer and Examiner. She has taught extensively abroad at workshops with children and Trainee teachers.

Sue enjoys sharing her passion for performing through (and outside of) the Suzuki repertoire. She believes that everyone possesses Chi (a ‘life force’) in their playing: “Strive hard to find it, as once it’s found it will serve you well”.

Shih Ching Wei-Pritchard

Shih-Ching is a Suzuki piano teacher with over 20 years’ experience. She is passionate about inspiring children via music education. 

Originally from Taiwan, Shih-Ching runs a successful studio in London. She trained with Taiwanese and Austrian pianist Christiana Lin and Grant Mead. She holds BA in Music Education from National Taipei Education University and MA in Community Music from University of York, UK.

She has been invited to teach in many Suzuki workshops include BSMA National Suzuki Workshops, LSG Branyston Summer School, Temple Dinsley and many more in Europe.

Shih-Ching recently become certified Personal Development Coach which she believes will make her a well-round Suzuki teacher.

Richard Michael is recognized as one of the UK’s leading educators in the field of jazz improvisation, a pianist who can improvise a fugue as easily as he can play be-bop, and a composer who has written for orchestras, chamber groups and big bands.

His presentation skills have been recognized through many years as BBC Radio Scotland’s “Jazz Jargonbuster”, analysing instrumental solos and songs to audiences on “Jazz Nights” and also “Classics Unwrapped”.

He was awarded the BEM for services to music in the Queen’s Birthday Honors list in 2012, and given a lifetime achievement award from Jazz Scotland in 2021.

He is the author of “Jazz Piano for Kids” (published by Hal Leonard in 2022) “Creative Jazz Education” (Stainer and Bell) and many instrumental pieces for the ABRSM.
Through his work as Honorary Professor of Jazz Piano at St Andrews University, Richard has led both Jazz and Baroque workshops and improvised on the theme of Bach’s Goldberg Variations in a concert in the Laidlaw Centre in April 2023 with Claire Innes-Hopkin.

He has been a member of the Benedetti Foundation since it began before lockdown, teaching improvisation in all styles to hundreds of youngsters and teachers in person and through Zoom.

Richard has led Fife Youth Jazz Orchestra since its inception in 1976, and many leading jazz musicians of today speak highly of his ability to engage, instruct and motivate players of all ages and abilities.