Online piano methods are becoming increasingly popular and can be very cost-effective. They provide those whose funds are insufficient to afford regular lessons, the chance to learn to play. This particular method was written by American music educator Joseph Hoffman. Hoffman is a piano teacher, conductor, and composer. He wrote the ‘Hoffman Method’ after struggling…
Category: Melanie Spanswick
Jessica Duchen in conversation with Melanie Spanswick
My Music Talk interview guest today is music journalist and author Jessica Duchen. We met at Steinway Hall in London earlier this week to chat about her career. Jessica was born in London, where her parents settled after leaving South Africa. She regrets that she can’t remember her encounter with JR Tolkein in Oxford at…
To play Studies or not to play Studies – that is the question…
There has been much debate recently online as to whether technical exercises are important or not when learning to play the piano. These include comments here on my blog, as well as via my inbox, regarding the merits of playing and practising studies irrespective of the standard or level of the pianist. Many believe them…
Kay Tucker in conversation with Melanie Spanswick
My Music Talk Series continues and ‘cellist Kay Tucker who is the founder and director of Stringbabies is my guest. Stringbabies is a method of teaching stringed instruments to young children. I met up with Kay recently at Steinway Hall in London to chat about this increasingly popular method of learning. Kay was born in…
10 Top Tips for Successful Piano Practice in 2014
As the year draws to a close, we tend naturally to reflect on the past twelve months, typically pondering various events, occasions and experiences. Although humans want and need to move forward, sometimes it’s also necessary to examine the past, searching for methods to improve and succeed in many areas of our lives. Certainly, professionally this can help…
Philip Fowke in conversation with Melanie Spanswick
My twenty-seventh interview features British concert pianist and teacher Philip Fowke. We met up at Steinway Hall in London for a fascinating chat about many aspects of Philip’s career. Find out more about Philip, here. For those who prefer to read interviews, here is the transcript: MELANIE SPANSWICK: British concert pianist Philip Fowke made his…
Piano Master Classes
It was a delight to be invited to give a master class for EPTA (the European Piano Teacher’s Association) in Brighton last Sunday. The special event entitled ‘Young Pianists’ Performance Day’ was the first of its kind, and was superbly organised by pianist and teacher, Helen Anahita Wilson, who holds the Regional Chair for EPTA….
Alicia’s Gift: the Concert of the Novel
This splendid concert featured a narrator and a pianist or words and music. What a wonderful combination, and one which will no doubt appeal to both music and literary lovers everywhere. Alicia’s Gift; the Concert of the Novel was performed by acclaimed author and music critic Jessica Duchen (who narrated) and prize-winning pianist Viv McLean. Alicia’s Gift…
Andrei Gavrilov in conversation with Melanie Spanswick
My twenty-sixth interview is with the Russian concert pianist Andrei Gavrilov, who I met at Monkton Combe School near Bath (in the UK) before he gave a series of master classes. Find out more about Andrei, here. For those who prefer to read the interview, the here’s transcript: MELANIE SPANSWICK: My classical conversation today…
Some thoughts on chordal playing in the Scottish Legend Op. 54 No. 1 by Amy Beach
I love highlighting female composers. Trinity College Exam Board’s Grade 8 syllabus has revealed a gem of a piece by the American pianist and composer Amy Beach. Beach (1867-1944) was the first successful American female composer of large-scale art music. Most of her compositions and performances appeared under the name of Mrs. H.H.A. Beach. A…
A Master Class with Andrei Gavrilov
Master class opportunities are usually plentiful. They can be useful on many levels. But coaching sessions with outstanding artists are indeed rare. This is especially true for those encouraging the inclusion of pianists who essentially play for their own pleasure. Andrei Gavrilov (pictured below) is a pianist of the highest calibre, with a once stratospheric…
Music Talk with Erica Worth
It’s been a real pleasure chatting to many wonderful concert pianists and pedagogues on camera over the past year, but the interview today takes a slightly different form to that of my Classical Conversations Series. I’m introducing a little subsidiary series called Music Talk. This series focuses on those who work in areas connected to the piano, music education,…