Learn with Confidence. Play with Joy.
Expert piano and flute tuition for adult learners: from grade 5 to diploma level and beyond.
Your tutor is Joo-Lee: a qualified and dedicated music teacher with over 40 years of experience. Lessons available in person & via Zoom.
ABOUT
Whether you’re preparing for a performance, working towards a diploma, or simply ready to play the music you’ve always loved — Joo-lee at Joyful Music in Durham will help you get there. With 40 years of teaching experience and a 100% exam success rate, this is where serious adult musicians come to flourish.
The Returning Player
You played for years, life got in the way, and now you’re ready to pick it back up. You want a teacher who meets you where you are, not where you used to be.
The Serious Hobbyist
Music is your passion alongside a busy life. You want perform live, but need to build up confidence and iron out a few frustrating issues with technique.
The Virtuoso
You have Grade 5 or above and you’re aiming higher…and beyond. You need an encouraging, positive mentor, as well as expert technical guidance.
MEET JOO-LEE
GBSM, ABSM, PGCE, PCFPSE
I’m Joo-lee, a qualified and dedicated music teacher with over 40 years of experience, specialising in teaching adult students aged 18 and over. I offer expert piano lessons, flute lessons, and music theory tuition to learners who are passionate about progressing in their musical journey—whether you’re pursuing graded exams, playing for pleasure, or returning to music after a break. My students include Durham University undergraduates, postgraduates, working adults and retirees from a wide range of backgrounds.
Some are preparing for university-level music exams, others are studying music as a serious hobby alongside their career or academic path. If your degree isn’t in music but your heart is—that’s exactly who I love to work with. I specialise in helping students from Grade 5 to ARSM diploma level, but welcome those who are starting again or looking to build strong foundational skills. With a 100% exam success rate, my students are well-prepared, confident, and often achieve Merit or Distinction results.
As a fully qualified teacher (Birmingham Conservatoire and Durham University), I’m known for my ability to diagnose and resolve technical issues that hold players back. Whether you want to improve your tone, build technical confidence, or overcome performance nerves, I’ll tailor our lessons to your specific needs and goals. For flautists, that might involve posture, breathing and embouchure; for pianists, it could mean developing relaxed precision and dynamic expression.
My approach is structured yet personal, drawing out your unique musical voice and making your progress feel both rewarding and sustainable. I’ll be your motivational and knowledgeable guide, whether you’re a beginner adult, a university student, or an advanced performer aiming for your next milestone.
If you’re an adult learner ready to unlock your potential, I’d love to support you on your musical journey.
My approach is structured but relaxed, personal and deeply encouraging. I won’t push you to practise more — I’ll teach you how to practise better. And I’ll be honest with you: progress takes patience, but the results are genuinely transformative.
WHAT STUDENTS SAY
Lowri Carter
“Before I started lessons with Joo-Lee, I was struggling with my flute playing. My tone was fluffy and strained, there was so much tension in my embouchure, and my notes were inconsistent and unreliable. I felt stuck, especially with big goals like my diploma recital and final year Music BA recital. But working with Joo-Lee has completely changed the way I play and practice-honestly, the results are better than I ever hoped.”
Steph Roarty
“By the end of the year, we had completely transformed my sound! A standout quality of Joo-Lee’s teaching is the focus on musicality and hearing what you are playing. Her approach to tackle easy sections first, focusing on one element at a time…reduces the stress of practice and the need for perfection, and makes a difficult five page piece infinitely more manageable.”
P. Lawson
“I have been fortunate enough to study piano with Joo-Lee for many years now and I can honestly say that she is an incredibly gifted teacher. I am playing pieces now that I initially thought might never be possible and my ability to perform in front of others has dramatically improved. (I used to be a nervous wreck). Joo-Lee simply has a knack of being able to bring out the best in her students in a caring and supportive manner that makes learning the piano a thing of joy.”
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