Tom Ashton Music lessons · Thames Ditton

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Where I teach

Lessons happen in Thames Ditton, a few minutes from Hampton Court and either side of the A3. Here is honestly how far that reaches.

Stringed instruments hanging on a plain wall: a red sunburst mandolin, two long-necked lutes with skin-covered bodies, a sitar, and beside it a smaller instrument with an inlaid teardrop body; the headstock of a bass guitar and a row of books below.
The instrument room — one of the two rooms I teach in; the piano has a room of its own. Photograph: Hardy Hemmingway.

On the doorstep

nought to two miles

Walkable or a five-minute drive. Most of my students are here.

Thames Ditton · Long Ditton · Weston Green · Hinchley Wood · East Molesey · Hampton Court · Surbiton · Esher

A short drive

two to five miles

Fifteen minutes or so, and well served by the 461 and the trains into Surbiton.

Kingston upon Thames · Hampton · Hampton Wick · Teddington · West Molesey · Claygate · Hook · Tolworth · Chessington · New Malden · Berrylands · Hampton Hill

By arrangement

five to eight miles

Perfectly possible, and worth a conversation about timing before we fix a slot.

Walton-on-Thames · Hersham · Cobham · Oxshott · Twickenham · Ham · Richmond · Wimbledon · Worcester Park · Ewell · Epsom · Sunbury-on-Thames · Weybridge

Do you come to me, or do I come to you?

Being confirmed — ask and I will tell you exactly. As a rule, lessons at mine work better: the piano is there, the sitar is there, and nothing has to be carried.

If you are outside the rings above, ask anyway. I would rather tell you honestly that it is too far than have you assume it and never write.

Getting here

Thames Ditton is on the Hampton Court line, four stops from Surbiton and about half an hour from Waterloo. There is parking on the residential streets nearby. For students coming from Esher, Hinchley Wood or Claygate the A309 is usually quicker than the A3 at lesson times.

Schools

Several of my students come through the local schools, state and independent, and I am used to fitting around a school music department rather than competing with it — including when a student is being entered for exams or auditions through school. If you are a parent wondering whether outside lessons will duplicate what is already happening, that is a sensible question and worth asking me before you book.

Not sure whether you are in reach?

Send me your postcode and the instrument, and I will tell you straight away.

Ask