GUEST ARTICLES
A series of posts written by guest writers on many aspects of pianism and music education.
Beginning Jazz Piano: Tim Richards
My guest writer today is renowned British jazz pianist, author, and educator Tim Richards. Tim has written numerous best-selling books and is a Schott Music author and composer. In this article, he offers an introduction to his latest series, Beginning Jazz Piano – A Introduction to Swing, Blues, Latin & Funk. Part 1 is the…
Studying at a Music Conservatoire: Yuki Negishi
Much has been made about the importance of studying at a music conservatoire, or a specialist music institution. I hear numerous comments – both good and bad – about what I considered a privilege and a wonderful opportunity. But how does this opportunity impact the life of a musician, and is it a vital part…
The Second Prokofiev Festival: Yulia Chaplina
It’s always a pleasure highlighting special events, and this one is particularly exciting as it’s actually taking place ‘live’. Russian pianist Yulia Chaplina is the Artistic Director of The Second Prokofiev Festival to be held at the end of May in London. In this article, she offers a sneak preview, and reminds us of the…
Flipping musical misperceptions on their heads: Erica Sipes
My guest writer this week is American pianist, writer and professor Erica Sipes. Erica is the author of the popular blog, Beyond The Notes, which provided the inspiration for this blog when I started almost ten years ago. In this article, Erica writes about an issue which often rears its head for many a musician….
My work as a composer: Wendy Edwards Beardall-Norton
My guest writer this week is Canadian composer and teacher Wendy Edwards Beardall-Norton. Wendy has taught the piano for over 40 years and, more recently, she has been writing music for it. In this article she describes her journey towards composition, and how she became a published composer. You can also enjoy her music by…
Julian Lloyd Webber at 70: Julian Lloyd Webber
Today’s guest post has been penned by Julian Lloyd Webber, who turns 70 today. A musician needing no introduction, I’m delighted to feature Julian’s work. This renowned ‘cellist has also become a beacon for music education, and, as the following article testifies, he has worked, and continues to work, tirelessly to ensure young people have…
Practice Tips for Exam Pieces: Christopher Norton
Today’s guest post has been written by renowned composer Christopher Norton. This is the first article in a mini-series on this blog over the next few months. Chris will take students through his own piano pieces, many of which are currently featured on various exam syllabuses, offering helpful practice tips and suggestions. We begin with…
Compose Yourself! Alison Mathews & Lindsey Berwin
Lindsey Berwin and Alison Mathews are two composers who have recently established a new online piano competition festival. It’s a pleasure to highlight such an exciting venture, and I’m delighted to be one of the featured composers. Compose Yourself! is a new and exciting online Piano Composition Festival, created by Alison and myself to reflect…
24 Steinways in Cardiff: Amy Reynolds
The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama has become an ‘All Steinway’ music school. Pictured above, the Cardiff-based conservatoire joins the ranks of several music schools and universities who already enjoy this prestige. The RWCMD is understandably excited by this recent development. Amy Reynolds, one of their fourth-year students and my ex-student, participated in…
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…
Real Ear Training: Roland Perrin
My guest writer today is Roland Perrin. Roland has written a book entitled Real Ear Training, published by Faber Music. In this post, he describes the inspiration behind the book and explains how students will benefit from using it. My name is Roland Perrin. I am a jazz/world music/classical composer, pianist and educator, and you…
Avoiding Apocalypse At All Costs: Lola Perrin
My first guest post this year features American composer and pianist Lola Perrin. Over the past few years, Lola, who is a popular composer and performer, has been engaged in the serious worldwide issue of climate change. More recently Lola has been incorporating climate change in her work and in her concerts, and in the…