Beethoven’s thirty-two piano sonatas are a musical autobiography, charting the composer’s development from a young man up to his death in 1827. The early sonatas are more typical of the traditional classical style. They are akin to those written by Mozart and Haydn. The last six sonatas are possibly the greatest in this genre ever written for…
Tag: Practising the Piano
A few thoughts on Chopin’s Nocturne No. 20 in C Sharp Minor Op. Posth.
Frédéric Chopin’s nocturnes offer a rich array of depth and emotion for both the pianist and listener. Written between 1827 and 1846, they consist of 21 short pieces. It’s generally acknowledged that the genre was developed by the Irish composer John Field. Chopin expanded on this original conception. He produced what are often considered to…
The Value of Music Theory
Last year I wrote a post about the importance of the Grade 5 Music Theory exam and it has become one of the most visited articles on my site. You can read it here. The main thrust of my argument is that theory, or the academic, written side of music, should never be sidelined in…
In Praise of Slow Practice
There are so many different ways of practising the piano and whilst it’s relatively easy to identify those that are ineffective, it’s much harder to establish fail-safe methods which will work every time. Many believe slow practice is of little use and can be distracting or even damaging, but if worked at regularly and accurately, it promotes a much more…
Celebrating the Left Hand
Many students have ongoing problems regarding their left hand. These difficulties may include inability to read the bass clef properly, weaker fingers, or just lack of co-ordination and movement. A languid left hand can be caused by so many culprits, so in this post I thought it a good idea to examine the reasons why…
Structuring Your Piano Practice
Structured practice for the more advanced pianist has been whirling around my inbox recently. I’ve written about it several times for beginners, but it does take on a different mantle for those who have clearly passed that stage. Piano practice has frequently been cited by pupils as the main reason for wanting to quit, after…
Do pianists really need to play the entire piano repertoire?
This is a topic relevant to performers of all standards and abilities. How can we build an effective and enjoyable recital programme which is varied, interesting and more importantly, will compliment a pianist’s abilities and talents? For younger, inexperienced performers, teachers are paramount here, hopefully suggesting works beyond the scope of those found in various…
Listening and focusing
There are numerous considerations when playing the piano. Elements requiring attention include co-ordination, notes, fingering, rhythm, pedalling, colour, sound, and so on. The list is endless, and the success of the all important technical and musical issues depends on how carefully we listen and focus on what we are doing. It’s too easy to play with closed ears, that is,…
Why write on the score?
A piano score is a sacred book. Some pianists are immensely attached to their scores and feel they couldn’t possibly work from another copy. Once bought and used, scores are associated with memories, emotions, special concerts, recitals and performance venues, and even correspond to particular periods of our lives. They have significance, and are generally…
Pulse Perfection
Over the past few weeks I’ve been coaching several exam candidates; pianists who have come to me to play through their set pieces and other aspects of their respective exams. It’s the time of year for cramming, studying and practising beyond the norm in order to achieve that coveted high mark. There have, however, been…
Fifty Shades of Pianism
Tonal colour is a glorious and important aspect of piano playing. Irrespective of standard, all pianists need this skill which allows them alter or grade piano sound; it’s often known as shading or colouring. This adds variation to the music but it also demonstrates an understanding for the composer and a ‘feel’ for the work…
Warm-ups
A couple of days ago, I was discussing ‘warm-ups’ with a colleague. We talked for well over an hour, not all about warming up admittedly, but it is possible to chat about this subject endlessly. After all, everybody’s regime is different. If you’re just starting to learn the piano, or any instrument for that matter,…