Concert pianist Hayley Elton, who has taught footballers, babies, chimps, and even Victoria Beckham to play the piano, is to offer music lessons via the internet.

Hayley, from Dollis Avenue, Finchley, is to launch her new internet service next week, where she will be teaching piano and keyboard using the latest webcam technology.

Her venture appears to be unique as other web sites teach piano over the web, but do so using keyboards plugged directly into computers. The webcam will allow Hayley to visually monitor her pupils.

"I have got perfect pitch and I'm used to teaching by telephone," said the 28-year-old. "Having a webcam just helps to see what the fingers are doing."

It will not be the first time Hayley has taught in front of the cameras. She has appeared on the Big Breakfast and This Morning with Richard and Judy teaching celebrities how to play a simple piece of music in only ten minutes.

Victoria Beckham was a much better student than Dane Bowers, apparently, although Tommy and Danny chimps from Twycross Zoo and a host of babies from ten months old seemed to have had more fun in the process.

The Barnet Football Club youth team were given piano lessons to improve their concentration last season, and three of them have gone on to make their first team debuts this season.

Whether this is due to Hayley's lessons, the recent player exodus following relegation, or natural footballing ability is hard to say.

Hayley is already teaching piano theory via email and will offer lessons for other instruments if the demand is there.

The first lesson is free, the next four hour-long lessons cost £25 each, and then £32 from then on.

"It's not a specific piano school. There will be a few other teachers that I have got on hand that will be available," she explained.

Lessons will be available at www.eltonschool.co.uk from next week, logon for more information.

December 3, 2001 13:00