Early years

I began learning the piano when I was five with a local Manchester piano tutor who put me through the first five ABRSM exams. I wasn't interested in playing, as I found it too easy and my constant repetition of exam pieces didn't stretch me. When she discovered I was escaping through the window, my mother bought a two-way radio so she could hear me play from the kitchen and bark commands at me through the microphone when I stopped.

When I was 12, I was sent to the Manchester School of Music to study with concert pianist Richard Greatorex who threw out the exam book and taught me technique and a repertoire of Beethoven and Mozart Sonatas, Chopin Waltzes and Clementi Sonatinas. When he left for a concert tour of the USA, I was invited to study with Robert Gregory, Greatorex's own teacher. He passed on some of the techniques he learned in Vienna under the Master Theodor Leschetizky and by the time I was 16 I was able to perform Chopin, Liszt and many more composers I would never have imagined possible.

Writing and music

Robert Gregory's death had a profound effect on my future and, although I later studied with pianists Vincent Billington and Robert O'Neill, instead of a musical career, I became a PR consultant, moved into journalism, authored three books, one of which won two awards, ran workshops in creative writing and gained an MA at Salford University in scriptwriting. I worked semi-professionally as a piano accompanist and was persuaded finally to complete my ABRSM Exams with the help of pianists Rowan Thompson and Gavin Meredith.

Courses

I completed ABRSM courses in Instrumental Teaching, Teaching Jazz and Piano Accompaniment. In August 2007, I studied with Susan Bettany at Chetham's School of Music in their annual Piano Festival.

Voluntary work

I helped to organise concerts for the patients at Christie Hospital for some years until this event ended in 2008.

Compositions

• My composition, A Little Understanding, with lyrics by Robert Goldwater, was shortlisted as theme music for Children in Need and aired by BBC Radio Manchester, with packs supplied to schools. This is still available on application to info@manchesterpianotutor.co.uk
• I co-wrote English lyrics with Jo Bennett for music composed by famous Camerounian singer/guitarist Francis Bebey, while I was living and working in Paris
• I wrote both music and lyrics for Sue Townsend's play Bazaar and Rummage, which was performed at the Manchester College of Adult Education's Basement Theatre. Although most of my original score 'disappeared' at the end of the run, I still have copies of some of these numbers, including the mock opera, which I supply on request to theatre companies who ask for it.  Apply to info@manchesterpianotutor.co.uk for details.

Currently

I am a member of the Incorporated Society of Musicians and a member of two singing groups, one of them a women's performing choir (see page on The Marcliff Singers). For further information or bookings, contact Helen Earey at marcliffsingers@manchesterpianotutor.co.uk

I'm very lucky to enjoy the best of both worlds by combining writing and musical careers and I enjoy tutoring in both.