French pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard has teamed up with publisher G. Henle Verlag to offer a series of master classes in honour of the 150th birthday of French composer Maurice Ravel (1875 – 1937). This piano course is intended for young professional pianists who wish to receive advice and guidance from a leading interpreter of Ravel’s music. Pierre-Laurent…
Tag: Piano Study
Piano Pedagogy Spotlight: An Interview Series with James Kirby – Part 2
This is the second interview with concert pianist and piano professor James Kirby. In our first interview, James spoke about his time studying the piano in the UK. In this second interview, he focuses on his experience as a student in Russia. Why and how did you come to study at the Moscow Conservatory in…
Teaching Observations: The ARSM Diploma
I’ve written on several occasions about piano performance diplomas and you can read my ‘Teaching Observations’ series, where those blog posts are housed, here. The ARSM piano performance diploma exam is not a new test, having been around for several years already, and it was originally intended to ‘bridge the gap’ between the Associated Board…
Piano Pedagogy Spotlight: An Interview Series with James Kirby – Part 1
My Piano Pedagogy Spotlight series has proved popular. In this second series of interviews, concert pianist and piano professor James Kirby throws light on his career over a series of five posts. James has an interesting background: he studied the piano at the Moscow Conservatoire and was a semi-finalist at the International Tchaikovsky Piano Competition…
Chetham’s International Piano Summer School 2021
I can clearly recall the first time I was made aware of Chetham’s International Piano Summer School. A friend had participated as a student and had waxed lyrical about the bountiful facets she had encountered; the high calibre artists and teachers on the faculty, the opportunity to eavesdrop on lessons and forge new piano friendships,…
Tricky Corners: Lateral Arm & Wrist Movement
My previous ‘Tricky Corners’ article focused on finger articulation, specifically relating to Chopin’s Étude in F major Op. 10 No. 8, a study on which I was working with a student. You can read it here. Today’s post examines this magnificent piece a little further, taking into consideration possibly one of the more challenging passages…
Studying at a Japanese Music Conservatoire: Yuki Negishi
Today’s article has been written by Japanese pianist Yuki Negishi. Following on from her very popular first post, in this second instalment, Yuki continues her piano journey, offering her thoughts and experiences on studying at the renowned Toho Gakuen School of Music in Tokyo, Japan. You can read the first post in this series, which…
Historic Classes with Arthur Rubinstein
This post highlights a series of historic classes with the legendary Polish born pianist Arthur Rubinstein (1887 – 1982). Considered by many as the greatest interpreter of Chopin, Rubinstein gave these classes in 1978 at the Jerusalem Music Centre, and they traverse a whole selection of repertoire including Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Brahms, Debussy, Ravel, and…
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…
Tricky Corners: Wrist Circles & Finger Articulation
Speed isn’t always synonymous with clarity. My work as an adjudicator can testify to the fact that’s it’s quite common to hear semiquaver (or demisemiquaver) passages played in a ‘garbled’, unstable, or just plain unrhythmical, manner; either too fast, with the tendency to rush through technically challenging sections resulting in the inevitable slips, errors and…