Matthew Olyver
About
Music has always been at the centre of my life — as both an art and a language of expression. I’m a composer, violist, and educator with a PhD in Composition from the Royal Academy of Music in London, where I was mentored by Sir Harrison Birtwistle and Hans Abrahamsen. My works have been performed internationally by ensembles including the Heath String Quartet, Ligeti Quartet, the Slovak National Symphony Orchestra and the London Mozart Players, and my teaching experience spans over a decade across schools, universities, and private studios.
In addition to composition, I have extensive experience as a string coach for Pro Corda in the UK, where I worked with chamber musicians on tone, ensemble awareness, and musical communication. I also teach music theory, aural skills, music history and analysis, and violin/viola performance, guiding students from beginner through to advanced and professional levels.
My lessons are highly tailored to each student’s goals — whether preparing for exams, refining compositional voice, or deepening theoretical understanding. I focus on clarity, creativity, and confidence-building, using practical examples, score study, and listening to make each concept vivid and relevant.
Above all, I want students to feel inspired, supported, and musically curious. The aim is not only progress, but a deeper sense of connection to the art of music-making itself.
Teaching Style
My lessons are personalised, creative, and structured to each student’s goals. Whether we’re developing compositional technique, refining musical analysis, or working on string performance, I adapt my approach to the student’s background, pace, and interests.
I believe progress happens best in an environment that feels supportive and inspiring, where curiosity is encouraged and ideas are explored openly. I combine clarity and precision with a sense of freedom — helping students gain both solid technical understanding and expressive confidence.
Each lesson aims to leave students feeling motivated, informed, and musically connected.
Curriculum
My approach is centred on clarity, creativity, and adaptability. Every student learns differently, so I design lessons around individual goals — from exam preparation and technical development to creative exploration and professional composition mentoring.
For composers, I focus on building confidence in musical language through analysis, notation, and guided creative tasks. For theory and aural training, I combine practical listening, score study, and real-world examples from a wide range of styles. For instrumentalists, lessons blend technique, musical expression, and ensemble awareness, helping students connect their playing to a deeper sense of musical understanding.
Each session is interactive and collaborative — designed to help students develop mastery and artistic curiosity.
I adapt materials to suit each student’s level and focus, but commonly recommend:
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Harmony and Voice Leading – Aldwell & Schachter
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The Complete Musician – Steven Laitz
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Tonal Harmony – Kostka & Payne
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Musical Composition: Craft and Art – Alan Belkin
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ABRSM or Trinity theory workbooks (for graded exam preparation)
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Selected scores, recordings, and analysis sheets tailored to the student’s goals
For younger or beginner students, I also provide custom exercises and creative worksheets to make learning practical and engaging.
Credentials & Affiliations
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PhD in Composition, Royal Academy of Music, University of London — supervised by Sir Harrison Birtwistle and Hans Abrahamsen.
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PGCertLTHE (Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education), University of London — specialising in composition teaching at higher education level.
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MA in Composition (Distinction), Royal Academy of Music — awarded the MADipRAM Prize for an outstanding composition portfolio.
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BA (Hons) in Music, University of Bristol.
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LRAM Teaching Diploma, Royal Academy of Music — specialising in instrumental and composition pedagogy.
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Manson Fellow, Royal Academy of Music — for excellence in composition and creative research.
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Former Head of Music at Stoke College (UK).
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Pro Corda String Coach (UK) — chamber music and viola/violin specialist.
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Works performed internationally by the Heath String Quartet, Ligeti Quartet, London Mozart Players, and the Slovak National Symphony Orchestra, among others.
