[2] He was educated at Merchant Taylors' School, then went on for two years study (1893–95) under Oscar Beringer[1] at the Royal Academy of Music (RAM).

[5] He made his London debut on 17 November 1898,[1] and then commenced a career as a touring recitalist as well as an examiner for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music.

[13] His knowledge of the Brahms concerto was informed by the fact that his teacher Oscar Beringer had given the British premiere of the work in 1882.

His first tour of North America came in 1914, and he stayed there for three years, teaching at the Institute of Musical Art in New York (later merged with the Juilliard School).

[1][5] On his return to Britain in 1917, he was appointed Professor of Piano at the Royal College of Music, remaining in that post for the next 30 years, until 1947.

They included Arthur Bliss, Lance Dossor, Colin Horsley, Constant Lambert, Harold Rutland, Cyril Smith and Kendall Taylor.