Karen Marshall gave her first music lesson three decades ago whilst volunteering as an undergraduate at the local primary school. She taught small group musicianship sessions in exchange for using the school’s piano for practice. Originally a marketing graduate, Karen worked in public relations and marketing for several years before returning to full-time music teaching as her true vocation in the late 1990s. Embarking on a host of music diplomas and training, Karen also studied and qualified in the Kodály approach.

After becoming a music teacher, Karen discovered she was an undiagnosed dyslexic. This resulted in her campaigning in the field and joining the British Dyslexia Association’s Music Committee. Karen has devoted several decades of her life to developing her teaching for those with Specific Learning Difficulties (including dyslexia) and becoming a specialist in Multi-Sensory Music teaching, now recognised as the most accessible approach for teaching Neurodiverse learners.

Devoted to music and children, Karen is happiest working as a music teacher in a range of settings, from primary school classroom music to one-to-one piano and theory lessons, and GCSE/A level music tutoring to running a choir. Karen has also been a regular contributor to Music Teacher Magazine for over a decade and is an experienced trainer, speaker and workshop presenter.

Her books are a manifestation of her extensive curriculum development and many years of teaching experience. Karen is the creator of the Faber Music PianoTrainer series, comprising eight books spanning post-Grade 1 to Grade 8. She is also published by Collins Music (Get Set! Piano series) and the ABRSM, for whom she regularly speaks at conferences and works with their professional development team. Karen studied with the late Enid Oughtibridge and then with Faber Music’s author and series editor, Christine Brown, in the final years of her life. Both teachers have produced current serving Professors of Piano at UK music conservatoires.