I’m very fortunate to love my work and one particularly enjoyable aspect is the opportunity to direct piano courses and workshops. I’m writing this post whilst relaxing in my accommodation in Shropshire. It’s just a few miles from the Welsh border where I’m working for two weeks at PIANO WEEK. It’s an international piano festival…
Tag: Piano Tuition
Jackdaws Piano Course 2019
The Jackdaws Music Educational Trust instrumental and vocal courses are open for booking today. The 2018/19 programme offers more variety than ever, so there is sure to be something for everyone. The course venue, an attractive house in Somerset, near Frome, contains excellent facilities, including a Steinway Model B piano, and several practice rooms. If you…
Selecting & Practising Piano Exam Repertoire: ABRSM Grade 4
Today I am continuing my series on selected exam repertoire. I’ve chosen three complimentary pieces from the ABRSM Grade 4 list. They are taken from the main syllabus, as opposed to the alternative syllabus. I have offered five practice tips for each one. I have also selected a recording from the many on YouTube. Minuet…
Approaches to Staccato Playing
I am a regular contributor to Piano Professional, the European Piano Teachers Association (EPTA) magazine. I really enjoy writing for this publication which focuses on providing piano teachers with helpful information. The following article was written for Issue 43 (published earlier this year), and examines various approaches to staccato. When it comes to tackling articulation,…
Selecting & Practising Piano Exam Repertoire: Trinity College London Grade 3
I’ve been enjoying selecting repertoire for this current series on my blog. Grade 3 provides an interesting mix of genres and styles. Here are three pieces I chose from the main repertoire list. They are all featured in the Grade 3 exam Pieces & Exercises publication. These options might make for an appealing combination, and…
Selecting & Practising Piano Exam Repertoire: ABRSM Grade 3
Selecting and practising piano exam repertoire continues today with ABRSM Grade 3. I’m selecting contrasting works or those which sit well together, thereby producing an interesting programme. This element should not be underestimated. Examiners are pleased to hear all the repertoire on set lists. For the student, who might spend a good few months learning…
Selecting and Practising Piano Exam Repertoire: Trinity College London Grade 2
Today’s blog post continues my piano exam repertoire selection and tips series by exploring the Trinity College London Grade 2 exam. There’s a wide range of choice on this syllabus with a very definite emphasis on the living composer. I have chosen three pieces which contrast in style and genre. For me, this is an…
Selecting & Practising Piano Exam Repertoire: ABRSM Grade 2
Continuing my series on selecting and practising piano exam repertoire, today we move on to ABRSM Grade 2. I’ve chosen three works. One is from each of lists A, B & C. They are hopefully complimentary. This selection offers a balanced exam programme, with five practice tips for every piece. As always, selections come from the…
5 Tips to Instantly Improve a Performance
If there’s a possibility to immediately improve any performance, most of us would jump at the chance. My latest contribution to Pianist magazine’s newsletter offers a few suggestions which can be easily implemented into your practice session. I hope you find them helpful. As a teacher, I’m often asked how to instantaneously improve a performance….
9 Tips for Success in Your Piano Exam
Selecting and Practising Piano Exam Repertoire is a new series on my blog, which will begin in earnest next week. Today’s post is in preparation, offering a few practice ideas to make piano exam study a more fruitful and rewarding affair. Some of you have written requesting information about piano exam programmes and how best…
Play it again: PIANO Book 1
About the Series My four-book piano course, Play it again: PIANO has been written with the ‘returner’ in mind. Book 1 takes pianists back to Grade 1 level of the British music examination board standard. The entire course consists of 97 piano pieces from the Prep Book through to Book 3. Most pieces are drawn…
2017 Beethoven Junior Intercollegiate Piano Competition
On Sunday I had the wonderful opportunity to sit on the jury of the 2017 Beethoven Junior Intercollegiate Piano Competition. Organised by the Beethoven Piano Society of Europe, the competition is held every year and proffers young pianists the chance to perform a programme built entirely from the German Master’s extraordinary output. Each participant attends…