As many will know, the Jackdaws Music Education Trust is a very popular destination for music students of all ages. Set in Great Elm, just outside Frome in Somerset (U.K.), Jackdaws offers an exciting array of instrumental and vocal courses every year, and, as the saying goes, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. I host…
Category: Melanie Spanswick
Hamish Milne: reflective memories
The relationship between piano teacher and piano student can last a lifetime. When the teacher passes, inevitably, the student takes stock and reflects. Hamish Milne was a concert pianist and pedagogue. He was a highly respected, much-loved piano professor at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He taught there for over forty years and…
Pianists From The Past: Jacques Loussier written by Mark Tanner
The Pianists From The Past series continues today with an article about jazz player, French pianist Jacques Loussier (1934 – 2019). Pianist, author, writer, composer, and music educator Mark Tanner wrote this article. He recalls his first encounter with Loussier’s music. The French jazz pianist, Jacques Loussier, died in 2019 aged 84. Working alongside bassist…
Kindly speaking the truth: Amy Boyes
Canadian piano teacher and music examiner Amy Boyes lives in Ottawa where she also works as an adjudicator, judging piano festivals and competitions. She believes that music educators must always strike a careful balance between kindness and criticism when giving feedback to students. In today’s guest post, she highlights an issue which can emerge after…
Pianists From The Past: Teresa Carreño written by Clara Rodriguez
My Pianists From The Past series continues with this fascinating post detailing the life and career of Venezuelan pianist and composer Teresa Carreño. This article was written by Venezuelan pianist and pedagogue Clara Rodriguez. She is a professor of piano at the Royal College of Music Junior Department. Clara is also a noted exponent of…
Piano Music by Women
Over the past few months, musicians have been carefully rethinking their work. The pandemic has forced artists to develop in a completely new direction. The internet has proved a splendid alternative platform. We have witnessed new online concert series’, master classes, workshops, and for teachers, copious online lessons. I’ve enjoyed performances from international artists, many…
Pianists From The Past: Halina Czerny-Stefańska written by Gareth Owen
My Pianists From The Past series continues this week. The following article features Polish pianist Halina Czerny-Stefańska and has been written by pianist and pedagogue Gareth Owen. He is Deputy Head of Keyboard at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. I had the good fortune to participate at the Chopin international Piano…
Pianists From The Past: Cyril Smith written by Julian Saphir
Pianist and pedagogue Julian Saphir has written this informative article about concert pianist and pedagogue Cyril Smith with whom he had a personal connection. One day in the Spring of 1991, during my third year of study at the Royal College of Music, London, I made my way to my piano lesson, not at college,…
5 Tips to Help Develop the Fourth & Fifth Fingers
This post was first published in Pianist Magazine’s April 2020 newsletter. The fourth and fifth fingers can be tricky to control. They require patience to develop. If left to their own devices, they will assume all kinds of weird, sprawling positions. Here are a few ideas to tame them. Most pianists know only too well…
Pianists From The Past: Lamar Crowson written by Julian Jacobson
I hope you continue to be safe and well during this difficult period. It’s time for a guest feature article. My Pianists From The Past series is proving popular. Today’s post has been penned by British pianist Julian Jacobson. He is a professor of piano at the Royal College of Music in London, UK, and…
The Bridge Position
Today’s post features my latest technique article for Piano Professional, a piano teachers’ magazine published by EPTA or the European Piano Teachers Association. This article highlights the Bridge Position, which is generally considered an important hand position for pianists. I hope it’s of interest to both teachers and students. If you cast your mind back…
Pianists From The Past: Margaret Bonds written by Samantha Ege
My Pianists From The Past series continues today with a fascinating article written by pianist and musicologist Samantha Ege. Samantha is a leading interpreter and scholar of the African-American composer Florence Price. Her PhD on Florence Price has shed important light on classical practitioners from underrepresented backgrounds. Her publications on women’s music networks have also…