Tricky Corners: Smooth Passagework

In my previous Tricky Corners post, I focused on fifth finger leaps within a passage from C P E Bach’s Sonata in A flat, H. 31 (first movement, Un poco allegro); you can read the article, here. Today’s post will continue with this piece, looking, this time, at another caveat which can present serious issues…

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24 Steinways in Cardiff

The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama has become an ‘All Steinway’ music school. 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, and one of their fourth-year students (and my ex-student), Amy Reynolds, participated in the…

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Pianists From The Past: Blanche Selva

Pianists From the Past is garnering a steady readership and taking on a life of its own. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed publishing the many interesting and informative articles so generously written by a host of eminent musicians. Today’s superb offering, featuring French pianist, pedagogue and composer Blanche Selva (1884 – 1942), has been written by Professor…

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Chakra Suite for Clarinet & Piano

2020 is not a year which we will remember fondly. It’s been extremely upsetting for us all to witness the demise of the ‘live’ performance what with the closing of theatres, concert halls, and many arts venues – and some will probably never re-open. Those of us who teach have been generally been fortunate, with…

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Pianists From The Past: Eleanor Sokoloff

Pianists From The Past continues today with a fascinating article featuring renowned American pianist and piano pedagogue Eleanor Sokoloff, who died in July 2020. The following tribute has been penned by her student, British international concert pianist and professor of piano at the Royal College of Music, Leon McCawley. Over to Leon… In memory of…

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Tricky Corners: The Leaping Fifth Finger

September heralds the start of a new academic year and is therefore an appropriate time to begin my new monthly series, ‘Tricky Corners’. Those who read this blog will know that I particularly enjoy developing a student’s technique. This is all about re-training bad habits, transforming them into good ones, which takes time and care….

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Practising Fast and Slow

One thing about writing regular articles for magazines and websites is the alarming rate at which the weeks and months tick by, and it’s hard to believe that the Autumn is already upon us. In the new October/November edition of Pianist magazine (pictured below) you can enjoy all the usual articles and scores, as well…

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Pianists From The Past: Benno Moiseiwitsch

Pianists From The Past continues today with this most interesting article featuring Russian/Ukrainian born British concert pianist Benno Moiseiwitsch, written by British pianist and writer Daniel Grimwood. Over to Daniel… Why listen to pianists of the past? In my opinion, much of the musical landscape of the present is shaped by competitions, edited recordings, possibly…

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Why is My Piano Black And White? The Winners

Many thanks to all those who took part in my weekend competition. I have two copies of Nathan Holder’s new book, Why is My Piano Black And White? to give away to two lucky readers. Without further ado, the winners are: Denise Lynn Hill and Karen Newby CONGRATULATIONS! Please send your name and address via…

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Why is My Piano Black And White? A Weekend Competition

Today’s post has been written by guest writer, author, saxophonist and teacher Nathan Holder. In this article, he writes about his new book Why is My Piano Black And White? which is published by Why Books, explaining the concept behind it and why students, parents and teachers may find it useful. Due to be published…

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