Melanie has published over 850 articles and posts on this blog. This page focuses on piano practice, lessons and all aspects of performance. Click on the links below to read the articles.
Selecting & Practising Piano Exam Repertoire
Sweet Dreams by P I Tchaikovsky
Étude in A minor by Louise Farrenc
Selecting & Practising Piano Exam Repertoire: Trinity Colllege London Grade 5
Selecting & Practising Piano Exam Repertoire: ABRSM Grade 5
Selecting & Practising Piano Exam Repertoire: Trinity College London Grade 4
Selecting & Practising Piano Exam Repertoire: ABRSM Grade 4
Selecting & Practising Piano Exam Repertoire: Trinity College London Grade 3
Selecting & Practising Piano Exam Repertoire: ABRSM Grade 3
Selecting & Practising Piano Exam Repertoire: Trinity College London Grade 2
Selecting & Practising Piano Exam Repertoire: ABRSM Grade 2
Selecting & Practising Piano Exam Repertoire: Trinity College London Grade 1
Selecting & Practising Piano Exam Repertoire: ABRSM Grade 1
Tricky Corners: spot practice articles
Tricky Corners: Tension Breaks
Tricky Corners: Lateral Arm and Wrist Movement
Tricky Corners: Wrist Circles and Finger Articulation
Tricky Corners: Fourth and Fifth Finger in Chords
Tricky Corners: The Opening Phrase
Tricky Corners: Smooth Passagework
Tricky Corners: The Leaping Fifth Finger
Piano Practice
5 Tips on preparing a new piano piece: Part 1
5 Tips to help develop finger control
5 Tips For Perfecting That Silence
Exploring the Sostenuto Pedal: 5 Tips
5 Tips to Help Develop the Fourth and Fifth Fingers
5 Vital Daily Practice Reminders
5 Tips for Secure Coordination and Quick Movement
5 Top Tips for Hand Coordination
5 Stage Presentation Tips Part 2
Five New Year Tips to Seriously Improve Your Piano Playing 2019
Basic Tips for Healthy Piano Playing
5 Tips to Create the Illusion of Legato
Structured Piano Practice for Beginners: 10 tips
How Loose are You? Piano Teaching in Asia
5 Tips on Stage Presentation Part 1
5 Tips to Quell a Sustaining Pedal Addiction
Are you all Fingers and Thumbs?
5 Top Tips for piano playing progress in 2018
5 Tips for Practising without the Piano
Approaches to Staccato Playing
5 Tips for the Perfect Practice Schedule
5 Tips to Instantly Improve a Performance
5 Top Tips to Aid Memorisation
Improve Your Sight-reading; 5 Top Tips
5 Tips To Improve Your Warm-Up Regime
10 Top Tips to Improve Your Practice Schedule in 2017
10 Tips to Pass Your Piano Exam
A few thoughts on the ‘Una Corda’
A few thoughts on selecting diploma repertoire
Selecting a piano diploma programme: 10 top tips
10 Tips to Seriously Improve Your Piano Playing in 2016
9 Top Tips for Practising Octaves (EPTA article)
A Few Thoughts On Demonstration
It’s All in The Preparation 4: 5 More Top Tips
It’s All in The Preparation 3: 5 More Top Tips
It’s All In The Preparation 2: 5 More Top Tips
It’s All In The Preparation: 5 Top Tips
5 Top Tips To Improve Wrist Staccato
5 Top Tips To Improve Finger Staccato
5 Practice Tips to Instantly Improve a Performance
10 Top Tips to help Resolve Tension
Resolving Tension in Piano Playing; EPTA Article for Piano Professional Magazine
Improving your scales: article for the Piano Professional Magazine: EPTA
15 Top Tips for Successful Sight-Reading
10 Top Tips for Effective Memorisation
Dance in Bulgarian Rhythm No. 4 by Béla Bartók
Some thoughts on practising during piano lessons
S-T-R-E-T-C-H-I-N-G! A few thoughts….
A Few Thoughts on Beethoven’s Für Elise
Top 20 reasons to play the piano
To play Studies or not to play Studies….that is the question!?
10 Top Tips for Successful Piano Practice in 2014
Some thoughts on chordal playing in the Scottish Legend by Amy Beach Op. 54 No.1
Rhythmic Precision in the First Movement of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata in C minor Op.10 No.1
A few thoughts on Chopin’s Nocturne in C sharp minor Op. Posth.
Structuring your piano practice
Do pianists really need to play the entire piano repertoire?
Coaxing the fourth and fifth fingers into action!
10 reasons to fall in love with the piano! Happy Valentine’s Day
Tension, Czerny Studies and strong coffee….!
How much piano practice is enough?
To memorise or not? Happy 2013!
Espressivo…..a few tips to transform your piano playing
A helpful way to improve your piano fingering
How can amateur pianists become more professional in their approach to performing?
Piano Duets for the summer holidays
Piano Duets – sociable, satisfying and sensuous?
How should I practice my scales?
Structured piano practice in 5 simple steps
Sight-reading – 6 helpful hints
Piano exam success – 9 key points
Scales – 6 reasons why you need to practice them
Piano practice – how much should I do?
Melanie Spanswick 