Piano technique is by no means an easy element to teach and it’s even more tricky to learn and assimilate properly. Few tutors teach it successfully, whether this is because they know little about it or possibly because they find it difficult to relay to pupils (it is!). A good tutor must be able to break…
Tag: tuition
Ruth Nye in conversation with Melanie Spanswick
The twenty-fourth interview in my Classical Conversations Series features Australian pianist and esteemed teacher Ruth Nye. We chatted at Jaques Samuel Pianos in London. Find out more about Ruth, here. Here’s the transcript for those who prefer to read interviews: MELANIE SPANSWICK: Australian concert pianist and esteemed teacher, Ruth Nye has performed extensively. Her students…
Delightfully Easy Piano Duets
Piano duets are amongst the most enjoyable of all chamber music, both for performers and listeners. All pianists, irrespective of standard, can benefit from getting together with a fellow player for some piano fun. They can also be very educational, because they are an excellent method of practising sight-reading. Reading will become so much quicker as pianists…
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…
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…
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…
6 Ways to Introduce Small Children to Music Making
It’s entirely natural for young children to enjoy music and want to take part in musical activities. I believe the best age to commence formal piano lessons is around the age of six or seven years old. This doesn’t mean small children can’t enjoy lots of different musical events or activities, and it’s extremely beneficial…
Piano Talk with Noriko Ogawa: Part 1
Japanese concert pianist has already been kind enough to take part in my Classical Conversations Series and you can enjoy the interview here. However, we decided to meet again and chat more about several subjects. In Part 1 of this two part interview, which was filmed at Steinway Hall in London, we talk about the best…
Coaxing the fourth and fifth fingers into action
‘My little finger just won’t work on its own’ How often have I heard this phrase from disgruntled piano students? Too often is the answer. Pupils invariably spend so much time focusing on and looking at the music on the desk, that they forget all about posture and technique. One of the major technical obstacles…
Memorising Tips
I had some interesting responses to the post I wrote a few days ago dealing with memorisation, which you can read here. It was suggested that I should also focus on what happens when memory fails, that is, a memory slip! Therefore, here are my thoughts on this incredibly stressful event in any pianist’s life….
Memorising your piano pieces
‘Who developed the concept of playing from memory?’ This question is often the one asked by many piano pupils, conservatoire students, and professionals. Memorising a work, or playing without the score, certainly puts extra strain on an artist. Every note must be meticulously rehearsed and learned to the point of distraction. In some cases, might…
The Joys of the Parent Pupil.
The new term brings fresh challenges and new pupils for many teachers. One interesting group of prospective students is the ‘parent’ pupil. A parent will occasionally announce that they wish to start playing the piano alongside their child. There are many reasons for this; it may be that they want to keep an eye on…