James Barrows
Piano Teacher / Studio Owner
James has been playing the piano since the age of just 6 years old, and is now a full time musician teaching Classical piano in his own studios in Mansfield.
James has played professionally for over 25 years with bands across the Uk covering numerous styles with his career starting on the corporate scene with “Shoot the breeze” and then meeting the fellow Splinter / Danny Landon Band whilst doing session work for a wedding band Based in Spalding.
The journey with Splinter paved the way to the bigger gigs starting with performing around the RAF bases around the UK. Being a football fan , a highlight in James’ career was when Dion Dublin employed his band , Splinter, to tour around the uk for Evenings with some of Englands greatest football legends , with the pinnacle of the tour being played in the legendary Old Trafford stadium!
A claim to fame happened unexpectedly in the summer of 2021 when he played the infamous “The one and only” WITH the one and only Chesney Hawkes!
Now in his spare time, James can be found playing for a country rock band, the Highway Junkies, happily touring around Nottinghamshire.
James is also a Composer and arranger in his own right of orchestral music and is a member of the Guild of International Songwriters and Composers writing music for a number of shows / Musicals around the County. James has performed on Piano for some of the biggest musicals , Notably :- Sister Act , Made in Dagenham , Beauty and the Beast and recently has been asked to play for the return of “the sound of music” coming to Nottingham in Oct 2026.
James is no Stranger to the Palace theatre in Mansfield at Christmas time for being Musical Director of the local folk house performances, keeping the band in check.
In November 2020 James opened the doors of JTB Studios Ltd , a music school of excellence, bringing together a team of 20 teachers that he had met on his journey over the years playing professionally, creating what is Mansfield’s Premier music School which still continues to grow exponentially.
It’s here where he has finally settled and can be found teaching classical Piano to his army of over 50 dedicated students, passing on his passion for Music and nurturing the talent of the next generation of professionals to come.
