Piano Lessons with Rory
It's Never Too Late to Learn Piano!
As a conservatory-trained pianist with education from the prestigious Royal Northern College of Music, Queen's University Belfast, and Royal Irish Academy of Music – Rory brings exceptional qualifications to his teaching. His formal training sets him apart as one of the few piano instructors in Phoenix with extensive teaching, performance, and academic credentials, ensuring you learn with someone who offers genuine expertise and depth of musical knowledge.
Unlike music schools with rotating teachers and standardized curricula, Rory's private studio offers a consistent, relationship-based learning experience. With little institutional overhead, Rory's studio provides premium facilities—including a concert-quality grand piano and dual instruments for interactive demonstrations—while maintaining competitive rates and delivering truly personalized instruction.
With a Masters degree in piano and 20+ years of piano teaching experience, Rory offers tried-and-tested methods that maximize your enjoyment and save you years of time and effort.
Many students join after finding limitations with app-based learning or previous instruction. Rory's approach draws his teaching experience and conservatory training to offer methods that simply work. By combining technical fundamentals with engaging instruction, students develop skills efficiently and enjoyably, avoiding common pitfalls that can lead to frustration or stalled progress.
Rory's teaching accommodates the full spectrum of pianists—from young beginners taking their first musical steps on a xylophone to advanced performers refining their concert repertoire. With tailored approaches for every age and skill level, Rory provides technically sound, engaging instruction that meets you exactly where you are in your musical journey, whether you're 4 or 94, just starting out or professionally trained.
Our students regularly place in local and national competitions
Students achieve distinction-level marks in examinations
Annual performances at prestigious Steinway Hall in Scottsdale
We'll get to know you, your goals, and set the foundation for your piano journey.
Establish best practices for successful piano study including on-time arrival, bringing materials, and tracking practice (5-7 days per week, 4-day minimum).
At the end, you'll receive a formal lesson offer to continue.
Play for and socialize with like-minded learners in a supportive environment.
Receive feedback from a joint studio teacher to build towards Grade 1.
Showcase your progress at Steinway Hall in Scottsdale.
Use feedback from our joint studio teacher toward Grade 1 preparation.
Enjoy the fruits of your strong foundations and keep building toward Grade 8.
You've reached the ultimate achievement in piano playing and play at a high-level amateur/semi-professional level. Take piano diplomas next for professional achievement.
Rory's students received Distinctions on average in 2025, 17 marks and 2 categories higher than the ABRSM national average (116/150).
Switched teachers and method, achieved 141/150 in Prep Performance - a distinction level that far exceeded her previous results.
Achieved 135/150 in Initial Grade at age 65, proving it's never too late to start learning piano and achieve impressive results.
Started beginner piano lessons in 2018, achieved Grade 8 piano in 2024 - a remarkable progression that showcases the effectiveness of our teaching methods.
One-to-one piano classes for kids aged 4-18 and for parents looking to make the quality investment of a lifetime.
Private piano lessons for adults looking for a creative outlet, including professionals and adults over 50.
60 to 90-minute piano lessons for those looking to take their piano playing to the next level.
Best for budget-conscious learners
Best option for most learners
Best for maximum creative exploration
Lessons are available Monday through Friday from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM, and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. We'll work with you to find a consistent weekly time that fits your schedule.
Lessons are scheduled weekly at the same day and time. We provide 45 lessons per year with breaks aligned with major holidays.
We require 24 hours notice for cancellations. With sufficient notice, we can offer a makeup lesson based on availability. Last-minute cancellations or no-shows are not eligible for makeup lessons or refunds.
We require 30 days notice if you need to discontinue lessons for any reason.
Payments are made monthly via Stripe. Your monthly payment reserves your weekly lesson time and is due on the 1st of each month.
There are no registration fees or hidden costs. You may need to purchase books and materials as recommended by your teacher, and there are nominal fees for participation in optional assessments and recitals.
As a classically trained pianist, classical music forms the foundation of our teaching. This approach develops well-rounded musicians with strong technical skills. However, we incorporate other styles based on student interest once fundamentals are established.
We specialize exclusively in piano instruction to provide the highest quality lessons in our area of expertise.
Experience the difference that quality instruction can make in your musical development.