As the year draws to a close, those of us who write blogs are partial to sharing the most popular, or most ‘read’, articles of that year. I’ve done this before but not with any regularity. However, this particular year is a little different as my most ‘popular’ posts have changed.

In 2023, the article featuring my piano course Play it again: PIANO seized top spot for the first time since the series was published back in 2017. This could be for a number of reasons. One of them is probably the creation of my Facebook group, Adult Piano Returners, where we now have thousands of members, and many of them are working through my course. This three-book (soon to be four-book) piano series is recommended as part of an exam syllabus and is extremely popular in the Far East, too, where teachers are using it with students of all ages. Long may this trend continue!

Some of the following posts were written this year, whilst others have proved perennial favourites. For the first time a ‘page’ (as opposed to a post) on my site has nudged into fifth place – Books/Publications.

Here are my top six most ‘read’ articles of 2023:

1. Play it again: PIANO Book 1
2. A few thoughts on Chopin’s Nocturne Op 20 in C sharp minor Op. Posth.
3. Teaching Observations: Favourite Associate Diploma Repertoire
4. Resolving Tension in Piano Playing: Article for EPTA’s Piano Professional Magazine
5. Books
6. Queen Elizabeth II and Ghosts at Windsor Castle

And the top six guest posts:

1. The Music of the Wrists: Rami Bar-Niv
2. The Magic of the Wrists: Rami Bar-Niv
3. Harpsichord Basics: Katharine May
4. My Notebooks – A Personal Journey: Angeline Bell
5. Pianists From The Past – Teresa Carreño: Clara Rodriguez
6. Chord Playing and Improvising No. 4: Christopher Norton

It’s a joy including the writing of other musicians on this blog and I’m extremely grateful for their wonderful contributions. Their articles form an important part of my overall website.

Rami Bar-Niv’s excellent technique articles were a sure-fire hit; there are now three in the series and I’ll be publishing more next year. Similarly, composer Christopher Norton’s guest series has garnered plenty of fans and many of you have downloaded his free pieces, too. Katharine May’s harpsichord posts have been well-received every year as has Clara Rodriguez’s insights into composer Teresa Carreño – which was the most popular article in my Pianists From The Past series. Angeline Bell’s well-considered feature charting her personal journey into composition also rang a bell with readers all round the world.

I have linked each article or page, so if you have some time over the holiday period – and are at a loose end – you might fancy having a read.

Here’s to ‘blogging’ in 2024!