Manchester piano and singing tutor - zara nixon
I live in Burnage, so when people ask why I teach here rather than just in "Manchester" generally, the honest answer is: it's home. I know which streets back onto Burnage Park, I know how quickly Kingsway traffic can eat into an evening, and I know the area produces more musicians than its size would suggest — Burnage High School is where Liam and Noel Gallagher first got into music, long before Oasis, and there's still a strong current of kids picking up instruments here because someone down the road did it first.
I'm Zara Nixon, piano and vocals tutor at Phillips Music Tuition, and I teach one-to-one lessons in students' own homes across Burnage, Levenshulme, Fallowfield, Withington and the wider Didsbury side of the city — easily reachable whether you're up near Errwood Park, over towards East Didsbury tram stop, or down by the Burnage Lane shops.
My background
I hold a First Class Honours degree in Popular Music from the University of Liverpool, and I've got examination experience across both ABRSM and Rockschool syllabuses, so whether a student wants a structured route through grades or just wants to get better at singing along to their own playlist, I can work with either. I've taught piano and vocals to students aged 4 to 60+, including SEN students, backed by safeguarding and speech and language development training — so if your child learns a bit differently, that's genuinely something I have real experience with, not just a line on a website.
Performing as well as teaching
Outside of lessons I record and perform under the name Zara Smile — I've secured PPL Momentum Accelerator funding for an upcoming release, and I also work as a live sound engineer and production manager at venues across the North West, including Kazimier Gardens, Outpost, District and Arts Club. That mix of performing, recording and running live sound means lessons come from someone actively working in music, not just teaching the theory of it.
What lessons look like
I specialise in pop and contemporary styles, but classical, musical theatre and everything in between comes up depending on what a student's into. Younger beginners tend to want songs they recognise from the radio or TikTok; older students preparing for GCSE Music or working through ABRSM grades need a bit more structure, and I build lessons around whichever applies. Singing and piano can be taught separately or together — plenty of my Burnage students end up doing both once they realise how much the two feed into each other.
Lessons are £35 for 60 minutes or £18 for 30 minutes, travel included, with a straightforward 48-hour cancellation policy. Every new student starts with a free consultation lesson, no obligation — just a chance to meet before deciding anything.
If you're in Burnage or nearby in Levenshulme, Fallowfield, Withington or Didsbury and have been thinking about piano or singing lessons, get in touch and we'll find a time that works.
Book your free consultation on the Manchester piano lessons page →