Stephen Marquiss MA (Cantab.) is a performer, tutor, speaker and course creator whose work helps pianists unlock expressive playing and flowing technique.
After overcoming recurring injury at music school, he reimagined his approach to practice and performance, developing a gentle, inspirational approach centred on deepening self-awareness, not drills.
Stephen’s work featured in BBC Radio 3’s The Essay: Healing Musicians (Ep. 2) and in International Piano and Music Teacher magazines. He is a three-time speaker at the UK Music and Drama Education Expo, presenter at NCKP 2025 Piano Conference and lecturer and regular performer at Scrutopia Summer School. He has been a regular Piano Tutor at Jackdaws since 2017.
His approach, inspired by the greatest, most humble of piano pioneers, Abby Whiteside, and refined through study with Sophia Rosoff in New York, emphasises fluent technique, playing by ear, whole-body coordination, assured memorising, improvising, confident performing, critical thinking and enjoyable practice. He is the Founder of Piano Portals: Rethink Technique, a joyful, groundbreaking online school for holistic technique.
Stephen’s background also includes Kodály-inspired Early Years Music teaching and academic music at Cambridge University. He embodies a lifelong passion for aligning musical understanding with personal expression in his teaching. Outside piano playing, Stephen enjoys photography, cycling, qigong and online content creation.
Stephen Marquiss MA (Cantab.) is a performer, tutor, speaker and course creator whose work helps pianists unlock expressive playing and flowing technique. After overcoming recurring injury at music school, he reimagined his approach to practice and performance, developing a gentle, inspirational approach centred on deepening self-awareness, not drills. Stephen’s work featured in BBC Radio 3’s […]
