On preparing for a Beethoven marathon Part 5: Julian Jacobson

Concert pianist and piano professor Julian Jacobson continues his series focusing on Beethoven sonatas. On Saturday November 12th 2022 Julian will perform all 32 sonatas in one day at St John’s Church Waterloo in London, and in this post he assesses Beethoven’s Opus 31 sonatas. You can read all Julian’s posts in this series by…

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Queen Elizabeth II and the Ghosts of Windsor Castle

I’m not often compelled to write about the royal family, and this website is, after all, a piano and music education blog. However, the past week has been rather surreal for those of us here in the UK. It’s as though time has stood still. We knew that the late Queen’s time was limited and…

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On preparing for a Beethoven marathon Part 4: Julian Jacobson

Pianist and piano professor Julian Jacobson continues his Beethoven marathon series. Beethoven’s monumental Sonata in B flat major Op. 106, known as the ‘Hammerklavier’, is today’s chosen topic. You can read other posts in this series, here. Ah, the redoubtable Hammerklavier. Beethoven’s “ne plus ultra” piano work, unless it be the Diabelli Variations. The piece…

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On preparing for a Beethoven Marathon Part 3: Julian Jacobson

Today’s blog is a continuation of concert pianist and teacher Julian Jacobson’s series highlighting the preparations for his forthcoming Beethoven marathon, where he will perform all 32 sonatas in one day.  Here, Julian discusses why he will be performing them all from memory. Why from memory? Why oh why, as I sometimes ask myself when…

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5 Tips For Breath Control

My latest article for Pianist Magazine’s newsletter and online content, focuses on breath control. I hope you find it of interest. Breath control. It might be a topic more closely associated with singing than piano playing, but developing secure breath control can by a most helpful asset, especially for those who regularly perform. Once this…

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On preparing for a Beethoven Marathon Part 2: Julian Jacobson

Today’s post is the second in the new series written by pianist and piano professor Julian Jacobson. In this week’s article, he traces the journey from the beginning, and explores the reasons why he feels drawn to this repertoire. Is Beethoven my favourite composer, as people tend to assume? The answer is “yes and no…

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On preparing for a Beethoven marathon: Julian Jacobson

I hope you’ve enjoyed a relaxing Summer wherever you are in the world. I’m back and am resuming my blog after several weeks tutoring on piano courses, relishing a short holiday, and doing a lot of writing. Today’s guest post has been written by Julian Jacobson who is a concert pianist and a piano professor…

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Exploring the Key Bed: 5 Tips

My latest article for Pianist Magazine’s newletter explores the tonal possibilities found in the ‘key bed’ or the area of the key beneath the double escapement action. I hope you find it of interest. The key-bed can remain a mystery for many, lurking, as it does,  beneath the only part of the key that is…

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The Craft of Piano Tuning: Eric Tan

Today’s guest post has been written by piano tuner Eric Tan. Eric is based in Los Angeles, USA, where he runs his own tuning studio. In this post, he offers a detailed account of how to tune your own instrument, which, as he explains, can be a most useful tool for pianists. The Benefits of…

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