Hi! I’m Agustina Taborda
I am an Argentinian pianist, composer, educator, and bandoneonist based in Ireland. I offer 45-minute private piano lessons in a cosy cottage in Corrandulla, Galway.
My lessons provide a strong foundation in music language, giving students the skills they need to follow any musical direction they wish—whether it’s playing classical or contemporary music, composing, accompanying their singing, or performing in a band. I teach notation, composition, improvisation, technique, and chord progressions in a fun way, with a repertoire picked according to each student’s interests, as I am constantly researching new music and composers to bring fresh and inspiring material to the lessons.
I incorporate the Piano Safari Method, the teachings and games from Colourful Keys, and Forrest Kinney’s Pattern Method for Improvisation. To encourage consistent practice, I use the Vivid Practice App.
I also prepare students for the grade exams from Royal Irish Academy of Music if I feel it is a good fit for them.
My music Journey
I started playing the piano when I was a child. A friend of the family, who was a pianist, came to our house and the first thing he did was open the piano to show me the mechanisms inside. That day and the moment when our upright piano was delivered at home as I watched through the window, are some of the fond memories that come to mind when I think about how my musical journey began.
I started then taking piano lessons with different teachers, but one stood out. She had an electric piano, recording gear, and a laptop to create her own music. I was the proudest child when I took home a cassette with a song we had recorded in the lesson… my first recording!
That fun experience might have been the spark for an eclectic music career, leading me to composition, songwriting, improvisation, arranging, and even the study of a second instrument: the bandoneón. Today, I bring this rich and diverse background to my teaching. I am also the organist at Salthill Parish Church and a regular performer at Silent Cinema Galway, where I improvise and compose for silent films.
In 2022 I started to work in Galway Music Academy, and since then I have worked full-time teaching piano to many students from 5 years old to adults. I have discovered a new passion in teaching but also the big challenge of conveying what I have learned in my 30 years of musical experiences within a 30-minute lesson.
Despite 30 minutes being the standard length for piano lessons, I believe students can benefit from longer sessions. That’s why I am now offering 45-minute private lessons—to give students the time and space to explore, learn, play and develop their musical skills.
My 12-year-old daughter absolutely loves her piano lessons with Agustina and looks forward to them every week. Agustina’s attention to detail, exceptional organization, and thorough planning have made preparing for RIAM exams so much easier and far less stressful. She not only helps my daughter achieve her goals but also inspires her to play music that she truly enjoys. The 45-minute class structure works brilliantly, offering the perfect balance of focus and fun. We feel so lucky to have found such a talented and genuinely lovely person to guide her!
Maureen (Mia’s mum).