He began studying piano at age eleven with Bob Brouwer and later at the Sweelinck Conservatorium with Jan Wijn where he graduated early with the highest result ever, a ten with distinction.
hiː bɪɡˈæn stˈʌdiɪŋ piˈænoʊ æɾ ˈeɪdʒ ᵻlˈɛvən wɪð bˈɑːb bɹˈaʊwɚ ænd lˈeɪɾɚɹ æt ðə swˈiːlɪŋk kənsˌɜːvɐtˈoːɹiəm wɪð dʒˈæn wˈeɪən wˌɛɹ hiː ɡɹˈædjuːˌeɪɾᵻd ˈɜːli wɪððə hˈaɪɪst ɹɪzˈʌlt ˈɛvɚ, ɐ tˈɛn wɪð dɪstˈɪŋkʃən.