A Macclesfield pianist has launched a new private tuition service.

Macclesfield resident Jack Mitchell Smith is a talented pianist based in the south west of the town.

The musician was already able to be booked for private events and composition commissions.

And now he has launched piano tuition services at his home studio, for everyone and anyone.

The Macclesfield piano tutor started playing piano 21 years ago, but only recently pursued music as a full-time endeavour. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

"I started playing piano at age 11," said Jack.

"I had lessons right through secondary school.

"I used to book them out during PE as I hated PE. My fingers got a good workout though definitely!

"I took all my exams up to Grade 6, which was a good seven years of learning.

Jack has worked with Macclesfield and Congleton musicians to produce an album with them. And he looks forward to working with more local performers as a new Macclesfield piano tutor. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

"But I didn't actually take my Grade 8 until a few years later.

"I started working at the Waters Green Medical Centre after sixth form. I worked my way up to full time, but I found that getting home at night and getting the week out of the way that it made me realise that time was a lot more precious.

"It wasn't until I started writing my own music in 2014, which lit a spark in me to finish my Grade 8."

In recent years, Jack has focussed on composition and playing different styles.

Jack takes cash or bank transfer for his teaching. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

And now he has honed his craft to offer piano tuition for the first time, which he began late last year.

"Tuition was something I've always had in my mind," added Jack.

"The private tuition is to serve one of two purposes. They can either do it casually, learning anything they want, or they can do it for academic gain working towards an exam. And that includes theory as well.

"I currently have sessions available on Tuesday and Friday.

Watch a video of Jack in action by clicking the 'play button' at the top of this article. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

"The most advisable one, especially for beginners is half-an-hour every week. But I do offer hour-long lessons as well.

"It costs £17 for 30 minutes, and £34 for 60 minutes.

"Your first lesson [for beginners] is £10 for 15 minutes, so you can get a feel for the piano, it is completely non-obligatory."

"I would love to help anybody who has the slightest inkling to play piano.

The classically-taught pianist's teaching manner is patient, friendly and reliable.

Jack had this to say on what he had to offer:

"Personally, I think it is the support I give to them," he revealed

"It is the focus on what they want out of it. I do not automatically just assume that my pupils are going to want to go a certain way.

Click the red links on this article to find out more.

"For example, when a child learns at school, they will almost always be shoehorned into an exam. And that's fine, if they want to do an exam. If you are not careful with these things, you can almost sort of push the joy out of it.

"So with me, it is all about finding and sourcing material that they are learning something from a technical perspective and to progress generally, but also find and source pieces of music that they want to learn for pleasure to keep that fun."

Jack's youngest pupil is five, and he has taught people in their eighties.

"I will teach anybody providing they have the desire to learn," he explained.

Jack is all about the fun that playing piano can bring. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

"I even taught an elderly person with dementia, as this is something to help exercise the brain. It was rewarding to see little glimmers of progress, and the fact they loved being here.

"I love piano tutoring as it is very rewarding for me, from the point of satisfaction.

"There is a lot of reassurance in how much I enjoy playing the piano. I've had my dark patches with the piano, I think every artist can say they have had rocky patches throughput their artistic life. But when I am teaching, seeing results and people being enthusiastic about it, it sort of makes me go 'Yep, they are getting that from me, so there is clearly something from me'.

"It feels great to share something that you're passionate about and helping people recognise their own dream."

Your first lesson has a £2 discount, so you can get a real feel about whether you'd like to proceed and see if the instruments are for you. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

In the future, Jack may also offer remote lessons, and offer his studio as a bookable rehearsal space.

When asked about what personal joy playing the piano brings him, Jack gave this answer:

"It is that extra connection," he shared.

"When you are creating music, a lot of people think when you are playing piano it is all in your hands, but when you are playing you can feel it within you.

Jack Mitchell Smith has become a sponsor of Macclesfield Nub News, to help spread the word about his private piano tuition. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

Should you wish to book Jack, he offers a cheap, short taster lesson. So why not get in touch?

You can contact him via this link.

As a performer himself, Jack is spending the spring uploading his music to Bandcamp. Another personal project is the revival of Morella, a musical first performed at Barnaby Festival in Macclesfield ten years ago.

You can listen to some of Jack's own compositions on this link, and watch a video of him playing at the top of this article.

A younger Jack with a beaming smile at the piano. He's had a lifetime love for the instrument. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

Macclesfield: For more information on Jack and his services, please click HERE to access his website.

Click HERE to follow Jack on Facebook.

You can watch a video of Jack playing on the top of this article.

You can also view more performances on his YouTube.

He decided to pursue music full-time after the pandemic. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)