Testimonials

HAYDN DICKENSON – TEACHING:

“Haydn taught me piano between the ages of 13 and 17. In this time, he took me from being a capable yet largely uninspired young musician to one with the nurtured skill, confidence and discipline to be accepted into the Trinity College of Music Conservatoire in London, where I earned my degree. I remember feeling that Haydn was in a very different sphere to my other teachers and tutors; he was himself studying under some heavyweight pedagogues and was a very inspiring performer to watch when I got the chance. I felt that the deep commitment he had to his own musical discipline made him a very exciting teacher with a very real drive to push you forwards. His approach was simultaneously challenging and technical as well as holistic and spiritual. Posture and mental focus were highly prized components of his performance and teaching methods and these are tools I have very much come to appreciate as my career has progressed. By the time I left Haydn’s tutelage to go to music college, we were working on Grade 8/Diploma standard pieces together. We would discuss the music I learnt and its feel in great detail. It is this deeply passionate connection to music that is something I continue as a professional to be well- regarded for. Haydn undoubtedly nurtured and launched me into a career as a professional musician; I shall be forever grateful to him for giving me that shove to take music further and the proficiency needed to make this sort of life map happen.”

Kate Mullins (Jazz Singer and member of the Puppini Sisters), 2021.

“Haydn has been an inspirational teacher for my son ever since he started piano lessons age 8 through to rehearsals for music conservatoire entrance.

On piano, Tom received a complete musical education from Haydn with comprehensive input on style and interpretation, repertoire and musical awareness. Haydn’s attention to detail and his professionalism fostered the deepest respect from Tom.

Haydn’s expectations from Tom were always clear and achievable which comes from years of experience and an understanding and care of his pupils. Tom went in to his lessons happy and came out happier.

Haydn has been instrumental in Tom’s success as a confident musician.

Tom has often turned to Haydn for help in preparing for exams and auditions, not just for his expertise as an accompanist, but also for his input on a musical level. Some very complex orchestral reductions and sonata parts would be handled with confidence and reliability by Haydn creating a sensitive partnership. Tom would be hugely inspired after his sessions with Haydn where discussions on nuance and musical detail would bring life to the performance.

Haydn has had a lasting impact on Tom, and as a teacher, educator and accompanist deserves the highest accolade.”

Wendy B, 2022.

“As a mature student with a love of the classical repertoire, Haydn is the perfect teacher for me. Both his enthusiasm and his encouragement inspire me to practise and improve. This in turn means that when we meet for a lesson, he can utilise his knowledge and expertise as a pianist and a teacher to allow us to explore the finer detail of the pieces that we work on, such as structure, technique, tone and style. I cannot recommend Haydn highly enough.”

Tim P, 2021.

“After reaching a plateau when working towards my piano diploma I found Haydn, and am very glad I did. Haydn is an expert in communicating the essence of the music in a way that is both understandable and inspiring. He is entirely positive in lessons, giving clear guidance on what is needed to move forward with my technique and understanding each time. I feel that I am now able to approach the music more deeply, which brings a whole new level of enjoyment and satisfaction to my practice.  I can wholeheartedly recommend him.”

Oula S, 2021.

“In the year that my 11-year-old daughter has been studying with Haydn, we have seen a remarkable improvement in her musicality, technique and commitment to the instrument.

Previously her playing had focused predominantly on fairly uninspiring exam-style short pieces, but Haydn has taught her a huge range of piano repertoire that has really allowed her to learn and appreciate different styles and techniques: Mozart Fantasia, Mendelssohn’s Songs without words, Bach 2-part inventions, a Beethoven sonata and a Chopin waltz. (She did also achieve a high distinction in her ABRSM Grade 5, but this was by no means the focus of the year’s work, and was really facilitated by her having developed as a player through other repertoire).

The level of technical and musical detail that Haydn picks up on is incredible – I was able to hear this first-hand on occasion when the lessons had to be moved onto Zoom. His enthusiasm, exceptional ability as a player himself, and desire to share his extensive knowledge of relevant music theory and history alongside his teaching of the practical subject have really inspired my daughter. His kind and personable nature means that she thoroughly enjoys his lessons – she works hard because she respects him and his expertise, yet still feels confident to suggest her own ideas on musical interpretation upon occasion and doesn’t feel anxious if she makes mistakes.

We are extremely happy that we took up the recommendation of Haydn as a teacher, and would wholeheartedly recommend him, particularly for higher-intermediate level students, due to his ability to really instil a passion for piano playing by immersion in challenging and exciting repertoire, rather than focusing exclusively on graded exams.”

Clare A, 2021

“I learnt piano as a child from the age of 7 and gained Grade VIII when I was 18. I then hardly played for the next 40 years. In semi-retirement I decided to take piano lessons again and contacted Haydn Dickenson. I have now been taught by Haydn for over 10 years and he has increased my ability considerably and introduced me to many different pieces in the piano repertoire. I thoroughly recommend Haydn to anyone who wants to increase the level of their piano playing and be introduced to more interesting and challenging works”.

Mike T, 2021

HAYDN DICKENSON – PERFORMANCE:

“Haydn Dickenson is not just another gifted pianist. He belongs to that rare breed of musicians who truly recreate every piece they perform so that, under his hands, even the most familiar composition seems as though one were hearing it for the first time.”

Peter Feuchtwanger

“Here is a pianist whose playing exhibits a skilfully controlled agility and a refined clarity of texture. The discerning listener should take the opportunity of hearing him.”

Guy Jonson FRAM, FRSA, Hon FTCL

HAYDN DICKENSON – EXTRACTS FROM CONCERT REVIEWS:

“I am particularly grateful to Haydn Dickenson for bringing this unfamiliar music (by Peter Feuchtwanger) to my attention, and for playing it with such commitment and sense of style.”

Robert Matthew-Walker (Musical Opinion Magazine)

” Haydn Dickenson proved an ideal interpreter (of Peter Feuchtwanger’s compositions). A student of Feuchtwanger for several years who has immersed himself in Indian music, he performed with an uncanny affinity for eastern instruments, making the bright Steinway sound in turn like the Persion Santur (a type of dulcimer), Kannoon and Indian Sitar. The exotic scales and highly ornamental textures created a meditative aura tinged with reflective inward improvisatory spirit…”

Malcolm Miller, Music and Vision magazine.

“Haydn’s performance was absolutely stunning throughout…it was pure pleasure to watch his hands as he created complex and subtle effects with nonchalant ease…I thoroughly recommend looking out for this extraordinary performer in the future.”

Jon Massey – Music Journalist.

“Mr Dickenson’s masterly technique…cascades of notes in the Scarlatti were voiced with a clarity and beauty not normally experienced in a piano performance of these works. The Chopin B flat minor Scherzo proved a revelation.”

Neerlandia Nieuws

“An amazing virtuoso performance by a quite remarkable musician.”

Robert Hardcastle

“The Three Preludes op 104 by Mendelssohn require a brilliant technique for the scale passages which tear up and down from treble to bass. They were masterfully performed by Dickenson, with much panache…Each piece which he played was an unqualified success”

Fraenkische Landeszeitung

“Elegance and the appropriate smoothness…the Beethoven Sonata was interpreted with wondrous beauty”.

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