Karin Miura
About
I have 10 years of teaching experience in Tokyo and London, working with students from young children to diploma-level pianists and adult musicians.
Whether you are discovering the piano, returning to it as an adult, preparing for an exam or audition, or looking to deepen your interpretation, I tailor each lesson to your individual goals and level.
We explore the musical context of the repertoire, exchange ideas about interpretation, and develop the technical and musical tools needed to express your own ideas. My lessons are a space to explore repertoire, develop musical understanding, and find your own musical voice.
I also prepare students for ABRSM examinations from Grade 1 through Diploma level, as well as auditions and performances.
Lessons are available in both English and Japanese.
Teaching Style
I believe that learning a piece is not only about playing the notes correctly, but about understanding the music and developing your own ideas as a performer.
I encourage students to ask questions, experiment with different possibilities, and discover an interpretation that feels natural to them. We may explore the musical context, structure, harmony, character and style of the repertoire, while addressing the technical aspects needed to express the music freely.
My approach is flexible and adapted to each student. We may focus on building a strong technical foundation, or we may work in greater depth on interpretation, performance preparation or audition repertoire.
My aim is to help students become increasingly confident and independent musicians.
Curriculum
My approach combines technical training, musicianship and classical repertoire, adapted to each student’s age, level, experience and goals.
For younger students and beginners, I often combine Bartók’s Mikrokosmos to develop reading, rhythm and coordination, with technical work such as scales and arpeggios, or an appropriate etude collection, as well as a selection of classical repertoire. I may also introduce pieces by Bach.
Depending on the student’s needs and interests, I may also use music theory materials, sight-reading books, or incorporate improvisation into lessons. With intermediate and advanced students, lessons are often centred around repertoire, with technical and theoretical work integrated into the pieces they are studying.
I am also happy to work with pieces that students already have or would particularly like to learn.
Where helpful, I provide annotated sheet music after lessons, with notes and comments for practice, as well as demonstration videos.
Credentials & Affiliations
Artist Diploma — Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Master of Music in Performance — Royal College of Music
Master & Bachelor of Music — Tokyo College of Music
Educational projects and lecture concerts in schools