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Dr. Roberts is a world-class pianist and teacher. He is also a practising medical doctor. Further, he holds a PhD on the physical and perceptual aspects of touch. He is based in London and teaches advanced principles of piano performance and technique optimisation to talented and professional pianists. Passionate about piano playing and the magic that it can create, he is equally passionate about helping pianists achieve their potential and not suffer from the pitfalls of misguided practice time and injury.
He is frequently engaged to present at schools, universities, conservatories and conferences on the topic of Optimizing Pianism. He works with both talented students and professional pianists who strive for the highest levels of pianistic excellence, whilst offering specialist consultant services to pianists who suffer from technical problems, performance-related problems and injuries. He welcomes enquiries from pianists who strive for excellence in pianism, or who seek help with the diagnosis and management of pain or injury. |
Coaching Services
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5-SESSION INDIVIDUAL
COURSE 
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5 x 1hr sessions: 'Optimise Your Pianism' (£500) + Free book included.
Think clearly! Stop guessing with your pianism. Understand how piano virtuosity works. Covers the principles of optimization, as in "Optimizing Pianism: Evidence-Based Perspectives". 1. Assess Pianism using the "3M Model of Pianism": Understand your strengths and weaknesses. Enhance your awareness. Overcome perception errors, pianistic pitfalls & maladaptive routines. 2. Mechanics & Movements: optimise biomechanics and movements. 3. Memory & Learning: strategies for fast learning and better recall. 4. Musical Artistry: interpret to manipulate senses and emotions in listeners for more aesthetic impact. Learn positive performance mindsets. 5. Practice and Process optimisation: improve learning efficiency. |
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"SEND ME A VIDEO!"
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'Send Me a Video of Your Playing' (£75) + Free book included.
Send me a 10-15 minute video of your playing and fill out the pre-assessment questionnaire (above) to highlight your concerns. I will assess your playing and provide you with a detailed feedback of: - the main problems of your pianism that are holding you back. – a summary of your 3 M's, strengths and weaknesses – the key solutions to solving them. – often, my feedback will include a video or photos. |
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(coming soon)
WEEKLY ONLINE SESSIONS 
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30 min. Weekly online coaching sessions. (Subscription, ONLY £10/m)
Join the team of big-thinking, clear-thinking pianists. Suitable for advanced pianists and teachers. Over time, accumulate the best information for your pianism and see how to put it into practice. Each weekly session includes: • 5-10 min teaching video (by me) on aspects of 'Optimizing Pianism' • Live Q+A sessions. • Possible option (if time allows) to submit personal video and receive feedback on it in the class. |
Presentations & Masterclasses
• Talk – Positive Mindset and Optimising Learning in Music and Life. City of London School (CLS), Dec 2025
• Presentation – Optimising Pianism. Scotch College, Melbourne. Oct 2025
• Masterclass – Piano class. Scotch College, Melbourne. Oct 2025
• Masterclass – Piano class. Australian National Academy of Music. Oct 2025
• Masterclass – Piano class. Melbourne Conservatory of Music. Oct 2025
• Masterclass – Piano class. City of London School (CLS), London. Sep 2025
• Talk – Career advice. Channing Girls School, London. Jun 2025
• Workshop – 'Optimising Performance' (for college musicians). William Goodenough House, London. May 2025
• Book presentation – 'Optimizing Pianism (and anything else!) – Why guess when you can know? – Goodenough College, London, Apr 2025
• Masterclass – 'Optimising pianism – help from science'. Conservatory of Music, Melbourne, Uni. Aug 2022
• Presentation – 'Touch and Tone' – Elder Hall, University of Adelaide, Australia. Jul 2014
• Keynote speaker – "The Application of Science and Medicine to Piano Technique", 6th WA Piano Pedagogy Conference, University of West Australia. Apr 2012
• Masterclass – 6th WA Piano Pedagogy Conference, University of West Australia. Apr 2012
• Presentation – "The Application of Science and Medicine to Piano Technique", Faculty of Music, University of Melbourne. Apr 2012
• Workshop – Australian National Academy of Music, Melbourne. Mar 2010
• Presentation – "The Application of Science and Medicine to Piano Technique", Faculty of Music, University of Melbourne. Mar 2010
• Doctor for Australian Youth Orchestra. European Tour, 2004
• Presentation – Optimising Pianism. Scotch College, Melbourne. Oct 2025
• Masterclass – Piano class. Scotch College, Melbourne. Oct 2025
• Masterclass – Piano class. Australian National Academy of Music. Oct 2025
• Masterclass – Piano class. Melbourne Conservatory of Music. Oct 2025
• Masterclass – Piano class. City of London School (CLS), London. Sep 2025
• Talk – Career advice. Channing Girls School, London. Jun 2025
• Workshop – 'Optimising Performance' (for college musicians). William Goodenough House, London. May 2025
• Book presentation – 'Optimizing Pianism (and anything else!) – Why guess when you can know? – Goodenough College, London, Apr 2025
• Masterclass – 'Optimising pianism – help from science'. Conservatory of Music, Melbourne, Uni. Aug 2022
• Presentation – 'Touch and Tone' – Elder Hall, University of Adelaide, Australia. Jul 2014
• Keynote speaker – "The Application of Science and Medicine to Piano Technique", 6th WA Piano Pedagogy Conference, University of West Australia. Apr 2012
• Masterclass – 6th WA Piano Pedagogy Conference, University of West Australia. Apr 2012
• Presentation – "The Application of Science and Medicine to Piano Technique", Faculty of Music, University of Melbourne. Apr 2012
• Workshop – Australian National Academy of Music, Melbourne. Mar 2010
• Presentation – "The Application of Science and Medicine to Piano Technique", Faculty of Music, University of Melbourne. Mar 2010
• Doctor for Australian Youth Orchestra. European Tour, 2004
Academic
• Reviewer of articles for Journal of Music Research Online, 2025-
• Fellow, Royal College of Anaesthetists (FRCA), UK. 2018
• PhD - ‘How the pianist’s touch affects tone quality – a review of performance-based and scientific literature with applications to piano practice and performance’, University of New England, Australia. 2015
• Masters (Music) – Dissertation: 'Symbolism in the late works of J.S.Bach', University of Melbourne, Australia. 2006
• Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), University of Melbourne, Australia. 2002
• Associate of Music Diploma, Australia (violin), Australian Music Examinations Board. 1993
• Licentiate of Music Diploma (with distinction, piano), Australian Music Examinations Board. 1992
• Fellow, Royal College of Anaesthetists (FRCA), UK. 2018
• PhD - ‘How the pianist’s touch affects tone quality – a review of performance-based and scientific literature with applications to piano practice and performance’, University of New England, Australia. 2015
• Masters (Music) – Dissertation: 'Symbolism in the late works of J.S.Bach', University of Melbourne, Australia. 2006
• Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), University of Melbourne, Australia. 2002
• Associate of Music Diploma, Australia (violin), Australian Music Examinations Board. 1993
• Licentiate of Music Diploma (with distinction, piano), Australian Music Examinations Board. 1992
Scholarships & Awards
• Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) for PhD research, Australia. 2010-13
• Ian Potter Cultural Trust: grant for investigation on the application of science to musical injury prevention. 2011
• Ian Potter Cultural Trust: grant for investigation on the application of science to musical injury prevention. 2008
• Michael Kieran Harvey Scholarship, Australia. 2006
• Ian Potter Cultural Trust: grant for investigation on the application of science to musical injury prevention. 2006
• Australian National Academy of Music, full-residential scholarship. 1998-99
• Pearis Rodger scholarship, University of Melbourne. 1996-98
• Northcote Trust scholarship. 1994
• State Premier's Award for Music, Victoria, Australia. 1994
• Ian Potter Cultural Trust: grant for investigation on the application of science to musical injury prevention. 2011
• Ian Potter Cultural Trust: grant for investigation on the application of science to musical injury prevention. 2008
• Michael Kieran Harvey Scholarship, Australia. 2006
• Ian Potter Cultural Trust: grant for investigation on the application of science to musical injury prevention. 2006
• Australian National Academy of Music, full-residential scholarship. 1998-99
• Pearis Rodger scholarship, University of Melbourne. 1996-98
• Northcote Trust scholarship. 1994
• State Premier's Award for Music, Victoria, Australia. 1994