Sarah Pickering

Over the years her appreciation of the importance of investing in young musicians’ musical journeys has led her to focus more of her time and attention on teaching. She has held teaching posts at Christ’s Hospital, Charterhouse and Cranleigh Schools, but now happily combines teaching at Junior and Primary Academy with a thriving private practice near Guildford. She values the use of Kodály principles in teaching younger pupils, ensuring that musical foundations are established, and continues refining her students’ listening, critical and technical skills as they develop, striving with them to communicate the composer’s aims through their own individual musical voice.

Her students have gained entry and scholarships to music schools and conservatoires, had numerous successes in local and national competitions, and consistently achieved high marks in grade and diploma exams. But above all, Sarah aims to work with her students towards performing solo and chamber music with integrity and understanding, and to give authentic and convincing interpretations of their repertoire.

Sarah has examined for ABRSM, and she was appointed the first coordinator of the Junior Academy keyboard department in 2016. Her CD collaboration with cellist Paul Marleyn of the Prokofiev, Shostakovich and Schnittke sonatas was described by Répertoire magazine as 'over-flowing with health, the joy of playing, and flamboyant brilliance'.

In 2018 she was made an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music in recognition of her contribution to the musical profession.