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Pianist/Piano Tutor
Reflecting on 2025 as a pianist, has taught me a few things, helped me find my niche, and taken me to new places!
The year started off a bit rocky, with new piano students doing their trial lessons and then not returning, then there was the guy where i was visiting his place until he forgot to answer the door, didn’t pay me what I was owed, then ghosted me… The first term didn’t really teach me anything because with the ebbs and flows of piano tuition, you’ll always get the fickle ones at the beginning, and I know it’s not me, it’s them!
The ghost guy surprised me though, but I also haven’t pursued it, because I simply didn’t want to expend the energy chasing something that would cause stress. Instead I put my energy into finding my niche. Helping the students that wanted my help. By the summer, I’d decided that in fact I did have a niche. After being told as far back in 2020, that I should only have one niche; this was something I’d struggled with for as many years… I’ve always had lots of interests and hobbies, and as I’ve grown, I’ve found even more, and I just add them to what I offer as I go along!
But each of my avenues does need a niche. After taking one student from a shaky Grade 1, all the way through so he’s now enjoying playing through the Grade 3 pieces I realised that actually I’m quite good at helping a certain type of student. This student is diagnosed Autistic and ADHD. Being neurodivergent myself, I can relate a lot better to those who have different ways of thinking. I always said I was adaptable to my students’ learning styles, and this guy was the one who cemented my niche.
I now can say that I specialise in Neurodivergent, ADHD, ASD kids for piano tuition! I now teach a handful of Neurodivergent kids, and they’re all completely individual in how they learn, and I love that lessons can be so varied.
And in tandem with that I became the first music teacher to be featured on the ND360 hub! Supporting Neurodivergent people with learning music.
I had the opportunity to play for my first official (As the Tropic Pianist Gamer) wedding. It took place at Talhenbont Hall, and was such a lovely day, and I did the bride and groom proud, as they left me some fabulous feedback too <3
The next occasions to get dressed up for as a pianist weren’t until December, but I hosted my third in person concert at the start of the month, then played at Chateau Rhianfa on Christmas Eve, and The Tavern on the Bay on Christmas Day itself.
Public Speaking
This kicked off mainly in the summer.. I sponsored a table for International Women’s Day in March, and my confidence was firm that day. I enjoyed talking to the original founder of Womanifest, and everyone on the table appreciated my notebook and pebble gifts.
Then June saw two opportunities to talk.
Firstly was in Chester for Laura’s Get **It Done Club.
Then there was the first attempt at an interactive workshop at the Anglesey Yoga Festival (Back for the second time!)
My second attempt was just a couple of weeks later, and this was one of my main 2025 goals – to deliver a workshop at Womanifest! My biggest fear was that no one would show up, because it ended up being one of the last things on the Sunday, but to my surprise, the tent was very well populated, and people actually asked me questions at the end. It went as well as I could have hoped <3
There was a bit of a break in the public speaking, but I ended 2025 with 30th November, the Ripples of Resilience Book Launch celebration, where I was on the panel speaking about my own experience with Resilience.
In Conclusion, I’ve had a great balance of piano adventures, and public speaking opportunities, and considering my word of the year was indeed “Opportunities”, I ran with all the opportunities I had this year. Overall it’s been a fantastic year and is worth celebrating! I’ve grown so much more again this year, and I’m excited for what 2026 brings! It’s a milestone year, because I’ll be celebrating 10 whole years as a piano tutor in February, and also a milestone birthday in June! Bring on the FUN!
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