Pianist Magazine is currently running a competition featuring Books 1, 2 and 3 of my new series. The competition can be found on Pianist’s website and the closing date is May 10th. You can enter to win a copy of Book 1 here, Book 2, here, and Book 3, here. Just click on the links…
Tag: Female Composers
An Angel’s Footsteps: A Birthday Gift
Today is my birthday, and I want to offer a birthday gift as part of my celebrations, which are certainly low-key this year, as might be expected! For those who teach the piano, or are just learning to play, I hope this free download will provide useful repertoire material. I wrote An Angel’s Footsteps a…
RSL Classical Piano Exams
It’s generally acknowledged that the UK music exam landscape is dominated by three major examination boards; ABRSM (The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music), Trinity College London, and the London College of Music Exams. These organisations have been around for many years and have garnered quite a following – they are also popular…
Étude in A minor by Louise Farrenc
Louise Farrenc (1804 – 1875), pictured above, was a French Romantic composer. In her lifetime she enjoyed a considerable reputation, and whilst the majority of her compositions are for the piano, her chamber music is generally regarded as her finest work. She eventually opened a publishing house with her flautist husband Aristide Farrenc, and Éditions…
Piano Music by Women
Over the past few months, musicians have been carefully rethinking their work; the pandemic has forced artists to develop in a completely new direction. The internet has proved a splendid alternative platform. We have witnessed new online concert series’, master classes, workshops, and for teachers, copious online lessons. I’ve enjoyed performances from international artists, many…
Pianists From The Past: Margaret Bonds
My Pianists From The Past series continues today with a fascinating article written by British pianist and musicologist Samantha Ege. Samantha is a leading interpreter and scholar of the African-American composer Florence Price. Her PhD on Florence Price, and publications on women’s music networks, have shed an important light on classical practitioners from underrepresented…
Simply Driven: 5 Virtuoso Pieces
Simply Driven, published by Schott in their renowned Edition Schott Series, is a collection of five pieces intended for advanced to virtuoso level pianists: Frenzy, Aisa: Sand, Silk and Love, Enigma, Chasm and Time. Each piece proffers a completely different character, whilst still reflecting minimalist influences. Composed over a period of a year, four of…
A Piano Course in Frome & Chamber Music in Tokyo
I’ve just returned from tutoring my yearly weekend piano course at Jackdaws Music Education Trust. It was a full course, with ten students, and it was one of the most enjoyable I have run at this renowned education establishment. We were able to utilise the smart new concert venue, which opened earlier this year, now…
The ‘Chromasoul’ Steinway Piano
Earlier this year, I was invited to the launch of a new Steinway piano. Not entirely a new instrument, but more a new ‘design’; the Chromasoul Steinway. This Chromasoul piano is a Steinway Model D instrument that has been fastidiously painted by renowned Argentinian artist María Inés Aguirre. I wrote about Mia and the concept…
Let’s make way for the Ladies!
The latest edition of Pianist Magazine is now available and it’s an ‘all women’ affair. Spotlighting Isata Kanneh-Mason, who appears on the front cover, this issue offers all the usual magazine goodies; ‘how-to-play’ articles by Lucy Parham, Nils Franke and myself, highlighting female composers (Maria Szymanowska, Cécile Chaminade, and Clara Schumann), in-depth masterclasses from Graham…
Melanie Spanswick 