G Henle Verlag If you’ve ever stepped into a music conservatoire, a piano teaching studio, or even just browsed sheet music online, you’ve definitely seen it. That distinct, elegant shade of darkish pastel blue which forms the iconic cover belonging to G. Henle Verlag publications. Henle is a German music publisher who has spent the…
Tag: Piano Practice
‘Author Focus’ at Presto Music Part 6: Ghostly Piano Tales
I’m music store Presto Music’s current ‘Author Focus’ this year, which means that Presto publishes a video about my work every month on their YouTube channel and website. You can watch earlier videos in this series by clicking on the button below: Part six focuses on my popular collection of elementary piano pieces ‘Ghostly Piano…
’25 For 25′ at Chetham’s International Piano Summer School
In 2001, distinguished pianists, piano teachers and dynamic husband and wife piano team Murray McLachlan and Kathryn Page started a piano summer school. They wanted their school to provide an inspiring, warm, friendly environment where anyone obsessed with the piano could simply show up, learn, and hang out. Fast-forward 25 years, and the Chetham’s International…
‘Bright Start’ for Elementary Pianists
‘Bright Start’ is a collection of educational elementary piano pieces published by Clifton Edition. I have composed an elementary piano piece for every issue of Pianist magazine for over five years. Every issue’s piece focuses on a different technical or musical element, and my challenge is to come up with something new each time. I’ve…
‘Author Focus’ at Presto Music: Part 4 – Play it again: PIANO
I’m currently music store Presto Music’s ‘Author Focus’ of the year, which means that Presto will be publishing a video about my work every month over the next year on their website and YouTube channel. You can watch earlier videos in this series by clicking on the button below: Part four focuses entirely on my…
Teaching Observations: The Pencil
As the academic year draws to a close and teachers look forward to the refreshing long summer break, there is a natural tendency to reflect, focusing on elements that have brought particular joy throughout the year, as well as those that, perhaps, have been less successful or have caused upset in some way. I’m exploring…
‘Author Focus’ at Presto Music: Part 3 – The Older Beginner
I’m currently music store Presto Music’s ‘Author Focus’ of the year, which means that Presto will be publishing a video about my work every month on their website. I recorded these videos over the Easter holiday and you can hear the first one, published in May and serving as an introduction to the series, by…
5 Tips To Sharpen Concentration and Focus
In this month’s Pianist magazine tips article, I suggest ways to sharpen mental focus, helping to optimise both our attention span and concentration. We all know that feeling, don’t we? We are happily traversing our way through a favourite piano piece and then all of a sudden and seemingly out of no-where, we’ve lost our…
Pianissimi in India
Piano courses are becoming increasingly popular, particularly those focusing on the adult piano ‘hobbyist’ market. It makes sense: this demographic probably have the most money to spend, and they also have more time to hone their piano chops, especially retired pianists. And they can be excellent players and attentive students. Like many teachers, I’ve taught…
The Opus One 2026 Summer Music Festival Showcase & Concert
The Opus One Summer Music Festival is establishing itself as an international platform for young musicians. The programme, running in July this year, welcomes upwards of 30 participants, from small children to young professionals, and offers solo masterclasses, chamber music workshops, and public performances across London as well as in Paris, France. Founded initially as…
‘Author Focus’ at Presto Music: Part 1 – Introduction
I’m pleased to be the featured author and composer this year at Presto Music. For this series, entitled ‘Author Focus’, Presto Music will publish a new video every month over the next twelve months featuring my work, books and music. In each video, I discuss various aspects of my career, including teaching beginners, talented young…
A Master Class with Cyprien Katsaris
I came across this interesting master class given recently by French-Cypriot pianist Cyprien Katsaris held in Hong Kong at the Hong Kong City Hall on October 1st, 2025, for the Chopin Society of Hong Kong. Edmond Cheng is the piano student in this class and he plays Frédéric Chopin’s Polonaise-Fantaisie in A-flat major, Op. 61….