TESTIMONIALS

On this page you’ll find a selection of testimonials from students and colleagues past and present. Several are happy to be contacted if you want further information. I hope they give you a better idea of the way I work. 

Jonathan (Mature student – piano):

Paul was recommended to my wife by our neighbour as she wanted to buy me some piano lessons and they turned out to be one of the best presents I have ever received! My daughter’s keyboard had been sitting at home doing very little and never having had a lesson before, I was a little concerned about how my first lesson might go.

I needn’t have worried, right from the outset it became obvious that Paul is a great teacher – kind, patient and made the whole experience a lot of fun and really interesting. Was never planning to hire the Albert Hall for a concert, just wanted to see if I would enjoy playing the piano and I really do, to the extent I will carry on, hopefully improving.

Whatever standard you are I would thoroughly recommend using Paul as your teacher.

Donna (Mature student – piano):

Paul is a talented piano teacher on so many levels — but his background in performance and voice makes him particularly adept at explaining and demonstrating harmonies and rhythms, both simple and difficult.

While Paul clearly enjoys teaching all ages, I was most grateful in his interest in mature students. I was 57 when he took me on, seven years after I’d passed my Grade 8 piano exams, and suffering from performance anxiety. In just under four months, with his sensitive guidance, infectious encouragement, enormous patience and wonderful humour, I learned and performed Mozart’s Fantasia in C minor in a small, mixed recital setting, the first time I’d played in a recital since my teens, which greatly boosted my sense of musicianship. We finished the recital by performing together one of Dvorak’s Slavonic Dance arrangements for four hands — great fun all around.

In the two years since then Paul has encouraged me to play not just more difficult pieces, but interesting music too, by unfamiliar or more obscure composers, alongside the greats — that is, the ‘bibles’ of Beethoven’s 32 piano sonatas and Bach’s 24 preludes and fugues.

While I’m happy for him to be moving on to a new chapter in his young life, I shall sorely miss his unique talents, musical insights and delicious sense of humour. In short, I can’t recommend Paul highly enough as a professional piano teacher.

Pete (Parent of teenage student – musical theatre vocals):

Paul has taught my teenage daughter Lisa* for 5 years in the area of musical theatre singing. His extremely broad knowledge of the genre has helped him tailor the lessons and exam repertoire exactly to Lisa’s strengths, but more than that, it is also deeply inspiring. He has a natural affinity with his students, getting to know them so well that he can bring the very best out of each. It has been a pleasure to get to know Paul, and a privilege to have him teach my daughter. We feel lucky to have found him when we did, and cannot recommend him highly enough.

Cantiamo (Choral group):

On behalf of Cantiamo, I cannot speak highly enough about Paul, not only as a very fine and gifted pianist and musician, but as an extremely bright, kin and sensitive, perceptive young man, with a marvellous quick wit and a lovely sense of fun.

Making music with Paul is such a great pleasure: his commitment, musicianship, wonderful support and most helpful and informed input are always much valued and respected by us all.

We have been so fortunate to have him as our accompanist and friend for over a year. He will always be a fantastic asset to anyone lucky enough to work with him.

We wish him every success and happy fulfilment for his future… we will miss him.

Elaine (Student and parent of teenage students – musical theatre vocals):

I have been having singing lessons with Paul Marks Joffe for about 10 years, some of this time along side my daughters, Claire* and Michaela*. In the beginning we were part of his Musical Theatre group, where we performed in shows and took LCM exams in musical theatre and popular music vocals. After the group finished we stayed in regular contact with Paul.

Claire continued private lessons with Paul for several years, attaining Grade 6 in Musical Theatre. She has since gained Distinction in her BTec Musical Theatre. Paul also helped her prepare for her audition for Millenium Performing Arts in London, where she is now studying and has a scholarship. Michaela didn’t have further lessons, but came back to Paul to help prepare for a Britains Got Talent audition. She is now recording and mixing her 3rd solo album, to be released on iTunes and Spotify.

I continue to have weekly singing lessons with Paul to this day. I have achieved my diploma in Musical Theatre with LCM, and now teach Musical Theatre and Drama at a local dance school.

The three of us can honestly say Paul’s guidance and continued support over the years has inspired us to achieve our musical goals. He has been there for us over the years, for technical, educational and emotional support, not to mention his great sense of humour. And for that we will always be grateful. We wish him well in his new ventures, in which I’m sure he will exceed. Although, we will all miss him dreadfully.

Carol (Mature Student -Piano):

We first met at my daughter’s primary school when Paul came along to do some workshops with the children and I was helping out with the school choir, and then our paths crossed again when I joined his local singing group.

That turned out to be one of the best moves I ever made. Now onto Paul’s music teaching. I don’t really know where to start, but all I can say is that he is an amazing talent and an even more amazing teacher. The way he passes on his knowledge is incredible and it stays with you. I took up playing piano with Paul at the age of 60yrs, having never played a note, and I now feel I have a really good knowledge of the piano and can play to a fairly good standard. Paul has built my confidence up (which was very low) to be able to play in front of people and what he teaches you stays with you. His patience knows no bounds and he is always calm when teaching and puts you completely at ease. I would not be able to do what I do now if Paul hadn’t been my teacher. He has given me a life long gift – a love for the piano, and I can’t thank him enough for that.

Kirk (Mature student – piano):

Paul is a fantastic teacher. His attention to detail is enough to keep you on your toes, yet at the same time, subtle enough to not hurt your feelings when told you’re playing it completely wrong! He’s a brilliant mentor and approachable like a friend when needed. Plus he’s a fantastic pianist too…. which helps! If I could do my piano playing time over again, I’d have started playing with Paul as my mentor from the get go! Thoroughly recommended. 

Sandra (Participant on music history course, member of choir, and mature student – classical vocals):

Over a period of some five or more years, I was a pupil of Paul Marks Joffe.

I first encountered him when I was a very new and nervous member of Penzance Choral Society, and Paul was accompanist and deputy Music Director. When Paul took our rehearsals, I was impressed with his knowledgeable and sympathetic manner.

During that time, he ran a History of Music Course (2007-2008), which was well organised and very informative. The sessions were meticulously prepared, and presented with his customary gentleness and humour, and with comprehensive notes for students who were also encouraged to participate with their own appropriate examples of pieces.

I felt sufficiently confident with Paul that I asked to have singing lessons with him to help improve my technique and confidence. Both of these objectives were achieved sufficiently for me to attempt to sing a duet whilst a member of his fun but short-lived choir, Cantito (2011-2012). The repertoire was varied and ambitious for us, and again, sessions were meticulously planned and prepared.

I always found Paul to be an encouraging and intuitive, gifted teacher who found very creative ways to problem solve during my lessons.

Jennifer (Parent of three teenage students – piano, theory, aural… and some violin scales):

Paul Marks Joffe has been an accompanist, theory, and aural tutor to all of my three children over the past 10 years. He has also helped my second daughter with her grade 5 violin scales when we realised her limited knowledge as the exam date drew closer. I felt that without this she might not have passed her ABRSM exam. He also helped my elder daughter with her aural tests up to her grade 8 exam and Paul was also instrumental in helping her gain condense in this area. My son has done all his theory exams up to grade 5 and when he finished, decided that he wanted Paul to continue teaching him, this time on the piano. Paul has gone out of his way to teach and encourage all my children. He is sympathetic to their individual needs and characters. Never have they said that they did not want to go to their lesson and my son does need to be asked to practise when he is at home. My eldest is now studying music at conservatoire and my son intends to do the same in 3 years time. It has been a pleasure knowing Paul.

Mrs JR (Mature student – piano):

As a nervous adult returner to piano, I wasn’t sure what to expect when deciding to restart piano lessons after 40 years! Paul was immediately friendly and reassuring. He was able to quickly respond to my learning needs and is an inspiring, confident and enthusiastic teacher. And, as an amazing musician himself, he was able to recommend new pieces of music, provide recordings of himself playing new pieces and from his example, I always felt encouraged to try harder and do better!

Jan (Parent of teenage student – piano):

Anne* says you were a brilliant teacher. You understood Anne’s quiet ways and brought out the best in her ….despite her crab hands!

Steve (Mature student – piano):

Paul is a gentle but firm teacher and is very flexible in the way he teaches, adapting his approach to ones needs and abilities.  He has given me great motivation to improve and has helped me to find much enjoyment in learning.  

Tom (Mature student – piano):

Paul Marks Joffe has taught me to play the piano for the last five years. I have found him to be a very inspiring teacher and during this period I have greatly enjoyed and gained from the wide range of his musical interests, both classical and non-classical. He sings tenor and plays the violin as well as the piano with great sensitivity.

Initially Paul was recommended to me as a very flexible teacher who would be ideal for coping with my various limitations. At first I expected him to treat me rather like a driving instructor, telling me what speed etc I should play the pieces that he gave me. But eventually the penny dropped when I realised that he was encouraging me to take responsibility for creating coherent interpretations as well as for trying to execute them as well as possible. This not only deepened my understanding of what piano playing entailed but also gave me an enduring interest in it.

Although I am old enough to be his grandfather, I soon established a warm personal relationship with him. I suffer from a deformed left hand that only enables me to play one note at a time. So at the outset, rather than follow a traditional beginner’s course, Paul carefully selected pieces that were suitable for me to play. Then after a few years he sustained my interest by encouraging me to play much more demanding pieces with my right hand alone. Thus I have always looked forward to my next lesson with him.

I therefore recommend him without hesitation as a potential piano teacher for more mature students and probably for younger ones as well.