Yamaha Music School teachers are highly qualified musicians that are put through rigorous audition and training requirements before becoming a qualified instructor. Teachers are regularly provided with training throughout their time as a Yamaha instructor and can even add to their qualifications by taking Yamaha’s teacher grades.

Bethany Norman DipABRSM, BMus (Hons)

Coordinator of YMS, Fairfield Halls. Bethany teaches all of the Yamaha keyboard courses and flute lessons.

Bethany Is a pianist, flautist and educator based in Surrey and South London. Having studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama as a junior, she then went on to continue her studies at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. Having always loved teaching and the joys that came with it, she eagerly jumped at the opportunity to become a Yamaha teacher when Fairfield Halls reopened its doors in 2019. She has continued teaching all of the Yamaha courses on offer at FFH whilst running the school itself and juggling other work as a freelance musician.

Jacqueline Turner Bmus (Hons)

Admin Co-ordinator for YMS. Teaching of Group Vocals Singing Class, Toddler Music and PFK.

Jacqueline is a Classically trained Soprano based in South London. Before graduating from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, Jacqueline started teaching 1-1 singing, piano, music theory and music GCSE lessons. Since finishing her undergraduate degree she’s joined the YMS team helping behind the scenes and teaching! Jacqueline continues her classical career alongside teaching, and is in many local Operas, Recitals and Concerts.

Lai Yiu Yeung

Lai Yiu teaches JMC, JSFC and PFK. Lai Yiu is a music educator and credentialed music therapist (USA and Canada).

Specialising in working with paediatrics in the medical settings and children with special educational needs and disabilities. Upon receiving her Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Music at the Hong Kong Baptist University, she furthered her studies in the United States of America, completing a Master’s degree in Music Therapy.
Music has always been a huge part of her life. With the belief that music empowers people, she entered the field since 2013 hoping to provide others with the opportunity she had. She is passionate about and so firmly believe in using a holistic, individualised, and evidence-based approach in her work.

Sophie Stevenson

Sophie is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, conductor and educator originally from Burton-on-Trent and based in South Kensington. After studying at Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester for 5 years, she is currently continuing her education at the Royal College of Music, specifically in Percussion and Timpani. As a 4 year old, Sophie enrolled on Yamaha’s JMC course and learned all aspects of musicianship using the Yamaha method until the age of 13. They are very passionate in continuing to pass on the Yamaha ethos to the next generation, helping to develop well rounded people and talented musicians.

Julien Durand Bmus (Hons)

Teaching Guitar Encounters

Julien is a composer, guitarist and arranger from France. Having recently graduated from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire from the BMus Jazz course, he is now living in London and working as a music teacher and a freelance musician. Projects include working with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, leading his own band 'DREAMSCAPES' and working with Brazilian musicians such as Toninho Horta.

Daniella Abounassar

Cover teacher and Workshop leader.

Daniella is a pianist, cellist and composer based in South London. Having completed her undergraduate degree at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in Piano Performance, she will also obtain her master’s degree in Film Scoring from Berklee College of Music in 2023. Daniella is currently teaching the Play for Keeps course at Fairfield Halls and is a passionate music educator tailoring her lessons to suit every student and supporting them throughout their musical journey.