- Piano NewsRead More
Louise Farrenc: Celebrating a Forgotten Genius
Louise Farrenc: Celebrating a Forgotten Genius About Louise Farrenc Louise Farrenc (1804-75) was a French composer and virtuoso pianist. Highly-acclaimed during her lifetime, she is unquestionably deserving of our continued admiration today. You can hear the classical influence of her teacher in composition, Hummel, in many of her works. Yet, like her male…
- Tips & TutorialsRead More
Practice Makes Perfect Myth
Piano Practice: Myths, Perfection, and the True Goal Piano Practice: Myths, Perfection, and the True Goal Debunking the Myths of Piano Practice There are several myths surrounding the idea of piano practice, and in this article, we will focus on debunking a common misconception. While myths often contain a hint of truth, they can mislead…
- Tips & TutorialsRead More
The Mindless Practice Repetition Myth
The Art of Effective Piano Practice: Searching, Not Repeating The Art of Effective Piano Practice: Searching, Not Repeating Breaking the Myth: Repetition in Piano Practice We often believe that boredom and mechanical repetition are necessary parts of proficient piano practice. However, nothing could be further from the truth! While it's true that we may hear…
- Tips & TutorialsRead More
Debunking Myths About Piano Practice
Debunking Myths About Piano Practice: How to Master the Art with Patience and Joy There are several myths surrounding the idea of practice, and in this series of posts, I will attempt to debunk a few of them. As with any myth, there is always a kernel of truth hidden within. The distinction…
- Tips & TutorialsRead More
Music : A Matter of Taste
Your taste is the best teacher that ever existed in culinary art; and music, by the way! It tells you what music you like to play and how to play it. Actually, it tells you how not to play it. It does this constantly, every time you sit at the instrument. It’s that little voice…
- Piano NewsRead More
BLÜTHNER FACTORY VISIT
By 1900, Blüthner had become the largest piano maker in Germany, producing around 5,000 instruments per year. More than 165 years later, the fifth generation of the family is watching over Julius' legacy to build the finest, hand-crafted pianos available. Our students had a great time watching the craftspeople at work and enjoyed playing the…
- Tips & TutorialsRead More
The Psychology of Piano Playing
The Psychology of Piano Playing: How Your Mind and Fingers Work Together Playing the piano involves much more than just finger movements and technique. It's a complex interaction between your mind and your hands, each speaking a different language yet working in harmony to create beautiful music. In this article, we explore the psychology…
- Tips & TutorialsRead More
How to build stronger more independent fingers
Mastering Finger Independence on the Piano: Essential Exercises with Siwan Rhys Here is another fantastic video from one of our star piano coaches, Siwan Rhys. Over the last week, we’ve shared some incredible piano techniques and tricks, but it's crucial to return to the fundamentals. Finger independence is the cornerstone of exceptional piano…
- Piano NewsRead More
British Composer Awards
The event was a celebration of new music in a wide variety of genres – not just contemporary classical music for various instrumental and vocal ensembles, but also jazz, sonic art, community/educational projects and works specifically written for amateur/young performers.
- Musical Discussions and TopicsRead More
10 Best Elton John Albums
John Lewis’ 2018 Christmas advert inspired me to review all of Elton’s 30 albums and list the 10 best ones including my reasons why. Elton’s career began in the late 60’s. In the 70’s, he released an astounding 12 albums, 6 of which made it into my 10 Favourites list. In 1971, Elton John amazingly…
