Natalie Tsaldarakis and Panayotis Archontides have extensive experience as piano teachers, clinicians and examiners. Though they have worked with very advanced levels, their studio in London welcomes all ages and levels.
Natalie has worked for over a decade with children from ages 6 and up, at various well-known conservatories of music including the National Conservatory of Greece, and at the Lewisham Music service. She is also experienced in working with adults of all ages for over fifteen years at the American College of Greece (Deree College), Community Education Lewisham (CEL), and now at Canterbury College as Coordinator for the HND in Music Performance. At both Deree and Canterbury College , Natalie has also been teaching undergraduate courses in theory (theory and musicianship, harmonic and contrapuntal analysis), as well as in history of music and music appreciation. With beginners and young learners, Natalie is careful to maintain the students' initial enthusiasm while at the same time she tries to impart a need for structure and progress. Her more advanced students benefit from her experience of Alexander Technique in dealing with matters of stage fright, which she first encountered in the US while she was studying for the MM in piano performance. Natalie has also done extensive research into the educational psychology of music and aspects of musical talent as a developmental characteristic (publication forthcoming).
Panayotis has worked as piano professor and instructor of ttheoretical studies (harmony, counterpoint, fugue, ear-training, music history, form and analysis) for almost a decade at various conservatories of music including the National Conservatory of Greece. He was also music teacher, accompanist and choral director of the 100-member Pierce College Choir, at the American College of Greece (Pierce College). His classes at Pierce dealt with general musicianship, music appreciation and film music. Currently Panayotis is employed as piano and musicianship tutor at Wandsworth Music Service (London) and is active also as an accompanist, often employed by students and professionals alike for exams, auditions and recitals.
Their diverse teaching experiences has made them flexible in their approach to a variety of ages and levels and are always happy to interview prospective students.
The studio, near the Sun-in-the-Sands roundabout, is well equipped with two grand pianos: a Broadwood baby-grand and a newly acquired Steinway Boston (178). There is a further German Otto Bach upright used for younger ages. The studio further benefits from audio-visual equipment for the recording of demo CDs (for auditions etc.).
As an experienced piano duo Natalie and Panayotis (Peter) are also available for clinics, workshops, and masterclasses in both piano, and chamber music.