NICE TO MEET YOU

I'm Marcel Zidani

Marcel Zidani is a concert pianist, composer, and piano teacher, whose passion for music has led him to a career spanning performance, composition, and education. Trained under Royal Academy of Music Vice-Principal Mark Racz and later with Professor Philip Martin, Marcel developed a deep expertise in both piano performance and composition.

🎹 Biography

A critically acclaimed composer, Marcel’s work Butterflies — from his album Life Cycle — was nominated by the renowned pianist Leslie Howard for the British Composer Awards in 2015. His piano compositions have been described as "beautifully written for the piano" and have featured on numerous radio broadcasts. Melanie Spanswick, noted author, recommended Butterflies among her top 10 educational piano resources.

Marcel’s discography includes Life Cycle and Piano in the Small Hours, an album of improvised works featured on BBC Radio 3, where his music was described as "a musical gem". Critics have likened his compositional style to that of Chopin, Liszt, and Satie.

His live performances have earned national attention, including a standout performance at the Hay Festival, broadcast by BBC Introducing, where Andrew Marston described him as "the most incredible piano player I’ve ever seen". Marcel has appeared at prestigious venues such as Cheltenham Town Hall and Pittville Pump Room, performing major piano concertos including Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, and Liszt’s Hungarian Fantasy.

Marcel’s international acclaim includes reviews in The Sunday Times, which hailed his album A New Renaissance as "an explosion of expressive tonal colours". His performances of Beethoven’s Tempest Sonata and Liszt’s Un Sospiro have received equal critical acclaim.

Alongside his performance career, Marcel is a devoted piano teacher and masterclass leader. Many of his students have achieved high distinctions, winning Young Musician competitions and prizes across the UK. Marcel has adjudicated competitions, including at the Birmingham Conservatoire, and is passionate about nurturing the next generation of musicians.

Recognizing a gap in piano education for adult beginners, Marcel created the Hey Presto! Piano Method — a unique approach that introduces the sustain pedal from the very first lessons, allowing students to create expressive music without waiting years to sound musical. His method book, Hey Presto! Adult Piano Method, is now available worldwide, offering an engaging, progressive approach tailored specifically to adults returning to or starting the piano later in life.

Building on the success of his book, Marcel has developed a professionally recorded, fully online piano course for adult beginners, combining structured lessons with the friendly, accessible teaching style he’s known for. The course offers a 14-day free trial and includes step-by-step video instruction, downloadable sheet music, and regular live masterclasses, creating a vibrant online community for learners across the globe.

You can explore Marcel’s recordings, read reviews, and view his performances on his website and YouTube channel. Whether through his performances, compositions, or teaching, Marcel continues to inspire students and audiences alike with his heartfelt approach to music.