PIANO & MUSIC EDUCATION
Devoted to all aspects of music education, this page features music festivals, events, and venues, as well as piano master classes, exam preparation, and competitions.
The 2014 Dublin International Piano Festival and Summer Academy
The second Dublin International Piano Festival and Summer Academy will be held this summer, from July 26th to August 3rd. The inaugural festival last year was a success and the forthcoming festival looks equally interesting, too. The programme is ‘tailored to those wishing to excel in piano performance and technique with a desire to visit the beautiful Dublin…
Rhinegold LIVE Concert Series opens in style
I returned last night from the first Rhinegold Live Rush Hour Recital and feel compelled to talk about this wonderful new venture. The Rush Hour concert series was established by Rhinegold Publishing, one of the UK’s leading music publishers, and yesterday’s concert was held at Conway Hall in London. It’s notoriously tricky to get any…
It’s All About Piano!
The It’s All About Piano! Festival 2014 looks as interesting, diverse and innovative as it did last year. I loved taking part in the 2013 festival, which was the first of its kind. I gave a talk about my book, So You Want To Play The Piano? and was fortunate to attract a large audience, as…
The Radcliffe Concert Series 2014: Celebrity Launch
It’s always a pleasure to highlight certain concerts and particularly a concert series. The Radcliffe Centre in Buckingham is a state of the art refurbished concert venue in a Church, now a listed building on the University of Buckingham Campus and it has a fine Steinway piano. The church will play host to an exciting new series of concerts featuring…
The Hoffman Method
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…
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…
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…
‘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….
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…
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…
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…