….never had I had a piano teacher so demanding and tyrannical – Leonard Bernstein on Isabelle Vengerova The composer Philip Glass described her as somewhere “between intimidating and terrifying” whose lessons invariably left students “shaken and silent”, while Virgil Thomson wrote that she had a “no-nonsense approach to musical skills and a no-fooling-around treatment of… Continue reading Pedagogues and Demigods
Author: The Cross-Eyed Pianist
Pianist, writer, music and arts reviewer, and blogger on classical music and pianism
Practising Tips with Frances Wilson
The first of a series of short films made in collaboration with Casio UK and Pianist magazine. In this film, I offer suggestions on how to make the most of limited practice time, and making practising productive and most of all enjoyable. Find out more about the Casio Premium Grand Hybrid https://youtu.be/hzZT_LyOJwE Frances Wilson is… Continue reading Practising Tips with Frances Wilson
Supportive & inspiring: Weymouth & Dorset Music Festival 2019
Weymouth & Dorset Music Festival was an inspiring and supportive event for all
Meet the student where they are…..
....not where you are and not where you want them to be but where they really are Sound advice for teachers from Frances Clark, American pianist and pedagogue. Too often teachers place unrealistic expectations and demands on their students, often further reinforced by pushy parents. I struggled myself with this when I was fairly new… Continue reading Meet the student where they are…..
The no-practice diary
Teachers and students are familiar with the practice diary, a notebook in which teachers write what students should be working on between lessons and students, or their parents, note how much practising has been done. When I taught children, I found the practice diary something of a chore: I would forget to write in what… Continue reading The no-practice diary
Mindfulness in Music: Notes on finding life’s rhythm
Guest post by Mark Tanner I wonder how often we pause to consider the importance music plays in our everyday lives. What would we miss most about music if it were no longer there? It’s not just non-musicians who run the risk of taking music for granted – exponents of music, and professional players perhaps… Continue reading Mindfulness in Music: Notes on finding life’s rhythm
Use the Difficulty
The title of this post is a quote from the British actor Michael Caine's memoirs which he read on Radio 4's Book of the Week programme over Christmas week. The phrase was first mentioned when he was describing setbacks in his early career and how he would always try to find a positive in a… Continue reading Use the Difficulty
A piano is life, not just for Christmas
The John Lewis Christmas advert celebrates the joy of music and reminds us that a piano is for life, not just for Christmas
Curiosity in piano practice
This questioning curiosity is one of the magical things for me about learning and practising at the piano; there is nothing more exciting that having struggled with something, to notice exactly what I’m doing, find a fix and then discover that it works and the problem is solved/solveable!
New Diploma Syllabus from Trinity College London
For the musician looking to further their studies after Grade 8 Performance Diplomas offer a pathway to fully accredited professional qualifications, recognised by other musicians and music professionals around the world. A diploma, even at the lowest Associate level, is significantly more involved than Grade 8, requiring a high degree of attainment, combined with a… Continue reading New Diploma Syllabus from Trinity College London
