About

Image of Anthony Williams

Anthony Williams MMus(Dist)  DipRAM  GRSM(Hons)  LRAM  ARAM

Concert pianist, writer, lecturer, examiner and adjudicator, Anthony Williams studied at the Royal Academy of Music, London and then at Reading University.

Following international competition success, he embarked on a career as a concert pianist and alongside this quickly established an international reputation as a piano teacher and a passionate educator of pianistic musicianship at all ages and levels, giving piano masterclasses, public lecture-recitals and seminars on performance and the art of teaching both in the UK and abroad, including China and Hong Kong. He also coaches on International Summer Schools and Residential Courses.

Anthony has given talks on piano performance for Radio 3 and is author and editor of various publications including The Best of Grade and Fingerprints (Faber), Teaching Notes (ABRSM), EPTA Piano Journal, and the highly acclaimed Piano Teacher’s Survival Guide (Faber).

He is an ABRSM examiner (diploma, jazz and classical), educational consultant, and a member of the examiner training and review team. He is also a member of BIFF, Chair of EPTA Europe and President of Chipping Norton Music Festival. He was Head of Keyboard and Instrumental at Radley College, Oxfordshire for 34 years until recently retiring to focus on his freelance and consultancy work.

You are currently listening to Anthony playing ‘Habanera’ by Ernesto Halffter

Further Listening

Diary

Multiple Piano Course at Jackdaws (October 2024): ‘Nothing but praise for this course – the best fun you can have on a piano!’
‘It was an excellent weekend. I really enjoyed playing with lots of other pianists as it required a different focus compared to when playing solo. We were very lucky to be taught by someone as expert as Anthony.’

Masterclass at the AbbeySchool Reading

Some fabulous, musical playing from talented pianists in a Masterclass at Abingdon School

Outstanding in every respect; universally popular; participants really valued Anthony’s demonstrations

9 – 30 October 2024
Tour of SE Asia
Day presentations on the ABRSM Piano Syllabus
11 Singapore
14 Kuala Lumpur
17 Penang
21 Johor Bahru
23 Kota Kinabalu
25 Kuching
28 Hong Kong
29 Macau

17 – 19 February 2025
The Piano Teachers Survival Guide, Jackdaws

2&3 March 2025
Bedford Music Festival

8&9 March 2025
Milton Keynes Music Festival

23 March 2025
Ruth Ascher Masterclass, Reading

11 – 13 June 2025
Cheltenham Performing Arts Festival

31 January – 1 February 2026
Oxford Music Festival

Publications

Piano Teachers Survival Guide

Front cover of book 'The Piano Teacher's Survival Guide

From preparing for the very first lesson to mastering fiendish fingering and performance anxiety, this inspirational guide helps teachers nurture and support students at every level and develop a love of the piano. With musical communication at its heart, The Piano Teacher’s Survival Guide tackles universal issues and common frustrations faced by all pianists as well as improving and developing teaching skills and piano technique
Available now at Amazon.co.uk

‘This book covers everything we piano teachers could ever need to know with practicality and honesty, from the first lesson to fingering, from technique to teaching skills. Williams is an engaging writer and delivers all this in a straightforward and clear way. Reading the book is like having a wise experienced friend available to answer all the questions you ever wanted to ask about piano teaching.’  Fiona Lau 

The Best of Grade 1-5 Piano

The Best of Grade Series comprises pieces selected by the major examination boards in one volume for each grade, which have captured the imaginations of teachers and students over the years, including some old favourites and some forgotten gems. All the pieces are tried and tested and perfectly graded and fingered. The books also provides top-quality music that is ideal as a sight-reading resource for more advanced students. The music has been carefully selected and edited by Anthony Williams, a leading ABRSM piano examiner and selector.
Available at Amazon.co.uk

Fingerprints

Fingerprints is a collection of piano pieces written by real, living composers who eat breakfast, get tired and irritable, laugh at jokes and have favorite things. Using their imagination and with a love for piano music, they have captured a little bit of what makes them who they are within some inspired pieces and left these as a set of musical ‘fingerprints’ for you to play.

Break In (Madden) * Cowbells in Zululand (Du Preez) * Dance Variations (Peat) * Eeyore’s March (Jackson) * Flowers Upon the Grave of Winter (Alexander) * Hopscotch (Harris) * Pizza with Kristin (Wallen) * Pounce (Phibbs) * Sometimes When I’m Dreaming (Sculthorpe) * Spiders’ Footprints (Jackson) * Stop Doing That (Percy) * The Leaving of Liverpool (Alexander) * Timewarp (Gritton) * Tiny Giant (Hindson) * Twilight (Harris) * Weaving Song (Beach) * While the Cat’s Away (Ilis) * Willow (Iles) * Xmas Bells (Hindson).

Available at Amazon.co.uk