Joanna Clarke BMus(Hons), LGSMD

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Joanna grew up in a family of musicians and started playing the electronic organ at the age of six, going on to win several regional competitions and also the 'Young Theatre Organist of the Year' in 1991. During 1992 she gained 1st place in the national finals of the 'Yamaha Electone Festival', which saw her go on to compete in the European finals in Milan.

 

She took up the piano, harpsichord and double bass during this time, playing with both the Coventry and Warwickshire Youth Orchestras.  Joanna gained a place studying at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama graduating with a BMus(Hons) degree in 1997, already having vast experience of playing in orchestras, bands and as a soloist. 

 

Since then, Joanna has taught piano/keys both privately and in many schools in Coventry and Warwickshire, lectured at two colleges on the National Diploma in Pop Music course, taught and examined for Yamaha Music Schools and in 2003 became an examiner for the Guildhall School of Music external exams service before it merged with Trinity College London in 2007. 

Joanna served as both a generalist examiner and a rock and pop examiner for Trinity until 2022. During this time she also worked as Trinity's advisor for Electronic Keyboard helping develop the keyboard syllabus, arranging (and sometimes composing) many of the pieces and recording much of the repertoire. She regularly gave workshops to teachers and examiners on the syllabus and undertook a number of overseas examining tours. 

 

Joanna currently enjoys focusing on instrumental teaching and co-owns/manages a growing private music teaching practice based in the midlands. In addition, she also teaches piano at The Market Bosworth school and works as a piano accompanist, playing for exams, recitals and concerts. Joanna has directed the music for numerous PR Productions pantomimes, and also acted as lead judge on the judging panel for a national pop music competition for a number of years. 

 

With expertise in both classical piano and more modern keyboard techniques, Joanna is a versatile player of all styles and is able to tailor-make lessons to each individual.