Sharon - Weybridge - Sibelius

We have been incredibly fortunate to have Sharon as our son's piano teacher for over 9 years. Under his dedicated guidance, my son has progressed from early beginner pieces all the way to successfully passing his ABRSM Grade 8 exam with distinction and over the past few years has continued to enjoy exploring the piano repertoire with Sharon.

Sharon can teach students of all ages with equal skill and enthusiasm. By the end of the very first lesson, Sharon had my son playing a part in a duet with him. My son left the lesson enthused and eager to return for the next one.
Sharon’s teaching stands out for his strong emphasis on musicality and style, as well as good technique. He maintains high standards while instilling a genuine passion for the piano and the classical repertoire. Lessons are always engaging and purposeful, with a perfect balance of pushing for excellence and nurturing a love for music.

Sharon takes preparing pieces for performance to the next level. His attention to the small details that combine to make a polished and stylish musical performance are evident in the comments from examiners and competition judges.

I cannot recommend Sharon highly enough to any parent seeking a committed, knowledgeable, and inspiring piano teacher.

I am pleased to recommend Mr. Barnea, with whom my daughter has studied for the past three years. Throughout this time, he has consistently demonstrated a high level of professionalism and a deep commitment to her musical development.

His teaching style is both detail-oriented and highly musical, ensuring that technical precision is always balanced with expressive playing. What stands out most is his ability to tailor exercises and instruction to the individual student, helping my daughter to progress in a way that suits her unique strengths and needs.

Having observed his lessons from the very beginning, I can confidently say that it has been a joy to witness his teaching in action. He creates a focused yet encouraging learning environment that inspires both discipline and a genuine love of music.

I would highly recommend him to any student seeking a dedicated and thoughtful piano teacher.

My daughter has progressed significantly under Sharon’s tuition, culminating in a fantastic A-level recital. I would highly recommend Sharon.

Sharon is a very patient tutor who not only teaches technically but helps you listen to and 'feel' the music. His recommendations are invaluable when selecting pieces to learn, both ones that are enjoyable to play and pieces and exercises that develop technical skill. I would recommend him without hesitation.

I completed all the grades by age 18. With a 15-year break from lessons I realised I needed some tuition again from a new teacher as I wasn't progressing. Sharon has taken me back to first principles, carefully analysing everything about my playing, recommending and teaching various exercises and pieces to improve my technique. It has transformed my playing - within a few months of lessons I am now playing Chopin Etudes which I never thought would be possible! I highly recommend Sharon.

I started learning the piano with Mr Barnea in year 2 and gained a distinction in grade 5 last year when I was in year 6. His teaching is demanding but very effective. He does not let me move on without perfecting the pieces I am on, but he is always encouraging and emphasises musicality rather than just getting the notes right. I really enjoy our lessons. I have been to hear him in concert several times and very much admire his piano playing. I feel lucky to have such a good musician as my teacher.

Sharon has been the piano teacher for my son and daughter for the past four years and I am extremely happy with their progress. Not only have they confidently moved on up through the grades, but, more importantly, they have developed a real love of the instrument. Sharon is patient, punctual and communicates a real love of music whilst still installing the discipline and habits required for a high-level performance.

For the last year and a half, Sharon has introduced our son (now almost seven years old) to the piano, and all of us (our son included) have greatly enjoyed the process. The results have been impressive, and our son received extremely encouraging feedback after his prep test. Sharon combines high standards and a methodical and structured approach as a teacher with considerable patience and a good sense of humour -- which make him very adept at dealing with young children.

Mr Barnea is one of the most thoughtful and interesting musicians of his generation. He has a deep understanding and love for the classical repertoire and is a charismatic communicator. All these qualities make of him a truly fascinating and effective teacher.