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About Me

I started playing the piano as a teenager in 1980, a friend at school played something on the piano and I thought this is for me. I really liked the sound and wanted to play like that too. The next step a neighbour who lived close by gifted me an acoustic piano that I pushed down the street, then down the steps, into my parent’s basement. So, I taught myself to play the piano using books and later took classical piano lessons with a dear old teacher and then took my first classical exam in 1982.

Since then, I have continued playing piano music throughout the years and developed my skill with more exams in classical music and theory. I also developed my musical interest in various genres of music but particularly easy listening, ballads, music from popular shows as well as jazz.

It’s so rewarding to hear people’s appreciation, when I play piano music close to their heart

I’ve gained much experience over the years playing at weddings and corporate events this has led me to write some of my own music, with a style that has a lyrical ballad nature, ‘White Flowers’, developed with weddings in mind, ‘Precious Time’ classical piece and one of the longest sections of music I have written, and ‘Horses Run Free’ contains some of my favourite chords. I write music that I love, and hope others will enjoy them too.

Some of my favorite composers include Robert Schumann, his melodic ideas are so personal and thoughtful they draw you in, he was an emotional man and I like to play his music. Beethoven is also on my list, he created great music despite the challenges he faced with his hearing, symphony No 5 in C minor is fantastic.

My appreciation for jazz extends to the classic songbook, particularly the work of Rodgers and Hart. Their music evokes a distinct sense of timeless elegance and captures a “feel-good” atmosphere, especially through Lorenz Hart’s poignant and personal lyrics. “I Didn’t Know What Time It Was” is a perfect example of their brilliance. I also enjoy the work of more contemporary artists like Burt Bacharach and the legendary Tony Bennett, as well as modern jazz musicians such as Esbjörn Svensson, Kenny Barron, Alexis Ffrench, and the captivating vocalist Simone Kopmajer.

My hobbies include watching tennis (perhaps a bit more than my family appreciates), playing tennis recreationally, tending to my garden’s lawn, and maintaining my fitness.

Thanks for reading, I enjoyed putting some thoughts together for you.

Vincent Bartley
Wedding and Events Pianist
Piano Teacher, Composer