Piano technique is by no means an easy element to teach and it’s even more tricky to learn and assimilate properly. Few tutors teach it successfully, whether this is because they know little about it or possibly because they find it difficult to relay to pupils (it is!). A good tutor must be able to break…
Category: Melanie Spanswick
Sir John Tavener 1944 – 2013
Sir John Tavener’s died earlier this week. He had, for many years, been a shining light in British music and his works are breathtakingly beautiful. His unique sound, for me, optimised what music is really all about; serenity, spirituality, sincerity and emotion. The choral works, for which he was synonymous, are sacrosanct, sensitive and highly expressive. Classical music, particularly piano music,…
Vanessa Latarche in conversation with Melanie Spanswick
My twenty-fifth interview features British concert pianist, Head of Keyboard and Professor of International Keyboard Studies at the Royal College of Music Vanessa Latarche. Find out more about Vanessa, here. Here’s the transcript, for those who prefer reading interviews: MELANIE SPANSWICK: British concert pianist and professor of piano, Vanessa Latarche, has performed extensively. She’s in…
Rhythmic Precision in the First Movement of Beethoven’s Sonata in C Minor Op. 10 No. 1
Beethoven’s thirty-two piano sonatas are a musical autobiography, charting the composer’s development from a young man up to his death in 1827. The early sonatas are more typical of the traditional classical style. They are akin to those written by Mozart and Haydn. The last six sonatas are possibly the greatest in this genre ever written for…
‘Divine Fire’ at the Radcliffe Centre in Buckingham
The quaint, attractive market town of Buckingham is situated in North Buckinghamshire. It played host to a rather special performance which was held at the Radcliffe Centre earlier this week. The centre was formerly a splendid church. It’s attached to the University of Buckingham and has been tastefully refurbished and renovated. The centre caters perfectly for recitals and lectures….
Ruth Nye in conversation with Melanie Spanswick
The twenty-fourth interview in my Classical Conversations Series features Australian pianist and esteemed teacher Ruth Nye. We chatted at Jaques Samuel Pianos in London. Find out more about Ruth, here. Here’s the transcript for those who prefer to read interviews: MELANIE SPANSWICK: Australian concert pianist and esteemed teacher, Ruth Nye has performed extensively. Her students…
Delightfully Easy Piano Duets
Piano duets are amongst the most enjoyable of all chamber music, both for performers and listeners. All pianists, irrespective of standard, can benefit from getting together with a fellow player for some piano fun. They can also be very educational, because they are an excellent method of practising sight-reading. Reading will become so much quicker as pianists…
A few thoughts on Chopin’s Nocturne No. 20 in C Sharp Minor Op. Posth.
Frédéric Chopin’s nocturnes offer a rich array of depth and emotion for both the pianist and listener. Written between 1827 and 1846, they consist of 21 short pieces. It’s generally acknowledged that the genre was developed by the Irish composer John Field. Chopin expanded on this original conception. He produced what are often considered to…
The Value of Music Theory
Last year I wrote a post about the importance of the Grade 5 Music Theory exam and it has become one of the most visited articles on my site. You can read it here. The main thrust of my argument is that theory, or the academic, written side of music, should never be sidelined in…
John Lill in conversation with Melanie Spanswick
My twenty-third interview in the Classical Conversation Series features celebrated British concert pianist John Lill. I caught up with John at Steinway Hall in London. Find out more about John, here. Here’s the transcript for those who prefer to read interviews: MELANIE SPANSWICK: Celebrated British concert pianist John Lill won the International Tchaikovsky Competition in…
In Praise of Slow Practice
There are so many different ways of practising the piano and whilst it’s relatively easy to identify those that are ineffective, it’s much harder to establish fail-safe methods which will work every time. Many believe slow practice is of little use and can be distracting or even damaging, but if worked at regularly and accurately, it promotes a much more…
Salon Music
The piano is the perfect vehicle for Salon music, that is, music more suited to the drawing-room as opposed to the concert hall. This genre was popular in Europe in the Nineteenth Century. During this period, many composers were also performers, and they loved to write little pieces to perform at house recitals or soirées, showcasing their talents in…