David Howard-Baker

I’m a dedicated educator and professional musician with a teaching career spanning 11 years across private, school, community, and international settings. I graduated from the University of Oxford with First-Class Honours in Music and have built extensive experience both as a piano teacher and as an academic and Oxbridge admissions tutor.

I have taught piano privately full-time for over six years, building a practice of 40+ students a week. I have 23 years of experience as a pianist and teach across classical, jazz, blues, and pop, from complete beginners through to advanced students preparing for ABRSM exams and GCSE Music. My students have a 100% exam pass rate, with consistently strong results and predominantly Merits and Distinctions.

Alongside music education, I have a particular specialism in Oxford and Cambridge admissions. I completed the Oxford Foundation Year on a full £25,000 scholarship, receiving intensive mentoring from Oxford professors, application specialists, and interview coaches. I subsequently worked with Oxford’s admissions team for two consecutive years, invigilating admissions tests, coordinating with professors, and supporting candidates throughout the interview process. I now provide tailored support with personal statements, admissions tests, academic preparation, and mock interviews, with particular expertise in Music.

My own educational journey gives me a particularly personal perspective on competitive admissions. Coming from a comprehensive school in a deprived area of the southwest, where opportunities were scarce, I was one of the first students from my school to attend Oxbridge. I understand both the academic demands of the process and how daunting it can feel to navigate it without an obvious roadmap.

Whether I am teaching piano or preparing a student for a competitive university application, my approach is fundamentally the same: I take the individual seriously, understand their goals, and adapt my teaching to how they learn best. I combine high standards with a calm, supportive approach, helping students develop not just knowledge and technique, but confidence, independence, and genuine curiosity.

Alongside teaching, I am an active professional musician. I have performed and toured extensively in the UK and Europe with Mandrake Handshake, most recently touring with Del Amitri, and have released music under my solo project Silver Sakura. I self-produced my debut album Childhood Sketches, featuring solo piano and experimental jazz, with coverage from BBC Introducing and international radio. I have also composed and produced music for films and documentaries.

I have extensive experience working with children and young people, including pupils with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, hearing impairment, and English as an additional language. I am DBS checked and committed to creating an inclusive, encouraging environment in which students feel comfortable being challenged, making mistakes, and developing at their own pace.

Whether your goal is to become a more confident pianist, prepare for an ABRSM examination, explore music more creatively, or navigate the Oxford or Cambridge admissions process, I aim to make lessons challenging, purposeful, and genuinely rewarding.