This Sunday at 1pm - during the Myddleton Road Market -  sees the grand opening of one of the new businesses that have made Myddleton Road their home in recent months. As the final preparations for the new shop were completed around us I went to meet Paul, the business owner, to find out more about our new local music shop.

Renaissance is a music business run by father and son team Paul and Daniel at 81 Myddleton Road.

The shop front is full of pianos – from the latest hi-spec uprights and studio pianos to a classic baby grand Steinway and a glorious vintage instruments. Paul and his restorer showed me one glorious old Bechstein piano and the results of their painstaking repair and overhaul work. The piano was originally built at a time when Myddleton road was in its heyday as a new fancy Victorian era shopping street. Following refurbishment from the team at Renaissance it is now once more a great sounding and lovely looking musical instrument.  

Paul and Daniel are bringing back some of that high class heritage with a personalised and bespoke local service – as well as selling pianos they also have a full service offer: tuning, refurbishment, French polishing and repairs – leaving each tuned to concert pitch.

Beyond the shopfront four newly built studios at the back are available for Paul’s team of local tutors to teach students. As well as piano tuition – to grade eight and beyond – lessons in, violin, viola and cello; clarinet, saxophone and guitar are also popular.

Tuition is focussed on the interests of the pupil - whether students want to play jazz, rock, blues or classical one of the 20 strong freelance tutors will be able to help, classes are for those playing for fun, those studying for GCSE and A-Level music and even professionals who are looking for mentoring or support with stagecraft. And after-hours the rooms are available for hire as rehearsal rooms, or interview spaces.

For this new venture Paul draws on his own solid and varied musical background as a performer, composer, producer and teacher. He studied at The Royal College of Music from the age of 13, having been awarded a scholarship. As a working musician he has an eclectic back catalogue, he toured with rock bands in the 1980s, played with Jazz Funk ensembles, pop bands and jazz groups. Performance include gigs at The Jazz Cafe, The 02 and Kensington Roof Gardens. At a Festival in St Petersburg in Russia Paul performed alongside artists such as Anastasia, Tony Hadley, Paula Abdul, Simple Minds and Mika – and was presented with a special award for his work.

Closer to home Paul has been seen playing live in the Ranelagh, The Step and occasional sets at Mum’s Bistro – A big part of the successful Myddleton Road festival earlier this year was the main performance stage – which was managed by the team at Renaissance.

It’s great to have another new, community minded, business in Myddleton Road - do call in and say hello when you are passing or contact by email info@renaissancemusic.co.uk and welcome Renaissance to Myddleton Road.