Thinking about taking piano lessons, but worried you won't cut the mustard as a piano student? This helpful and informative article by Howard Richman dispels plenty of myths about piano lessons and piano teachers, offers sensible advice about how to approach lessons, whether a child or an adult, a beginner or a restarter, and has… Continue reading Myths about piano lessons
Author: The Cross-Eyed Pianist
Frances Wilson is a pianist, writer, music and arts reviewer, music PR, and blogger on classical music and pianism under the pen name 'The Cross-Eyed Pianist'
Performing – just do it!
With my students' concert fast approaching, this article, which I wrote for a colleague's student concert programme, seems particularly apt..... Never underestimate the value of performing, whether at home for family, friends and pets, or in a ‘proper’ concert venue on a really special grand piano. Performing for others, and the ability to just get… Continue reading Performing – just do it!
Opus and Köchel, Fitzpatrick and Deutsch
How music is catalogued To help us identify and organise pieces of music by a particular composer, individual compositions or sets are usually given an "Opus" number. The word "opus" is Latin and means "work" or "work of art". The abbreviation is "Op.", or "Opp." in the plural. The practice of assigning an "opus number"… Continue reading Opus and Köchel, Fitzpatrick and Deutsch
A History of Classical Music – Part 4: Romantic
Just like the Baroque and Classical periods before it, the Romantic period in music coincides with the Romantic period in art and literature. The Romantic period in music starts around 1820, a few years before Beethoven died (in 1827), and Beethoven's music can be considered to bridge the gap between the Classical and Romantic periods.… Continue reading A History of Classical Music – Part 4: Romantic
Reblogged: Stage Fright – 5 tips
I am reblogging this post from pianist Melanie Spanswick's ClassicalMel blog as it contains some very helpful advice for anyone preparing for a performance (or exam), whether amateur or professional. Over the past few days I have had several requests from readers for a blog post dealing with stress and nerves associated with performance. I… Continue reading Reblogged: Stage Fright – 5 tips
A History of Classical Music – Part 3: Classical
The Classical Period in music falls between Baroque and Romantic. Music from the Classical period was composed between c1750 and c1820. But, as I explained in the first section of this history, 'Classical' has become a general term and includes music from the Baroque to present-day. Like the Baroque, the Classical period in music coincided… Continue reading A History of Classical Music – Part 3: Classical
A History of Classical Music – Part 2: Baroque
Baroque ("baah-rock") is a style of art, which includes music, architecture and painting, and which lasted from around 1600 to around 1750. The greatest composer of the Baroque period is Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750). Baroque is a style of music, rather than an exact period of time. In other words, some composers lived during the… Continue reading A History of Classical Music – Part 2: Baroque
Seating plan: the modern classical orchestra & the piano
The modern classical orchestra has a distinct 'seating plan', and is organised by different groups of instruments - strings (violins, violas, 'cellos, double basses), woodwind (flutes, oboes, bassons, clarinets), brass (trumpets, trombones, horns) and percussion (drums, cymbals, triangles, xylophones). The conductor leads this group of musicians, reading the music from an 'orchestral score', which is… Continue reading Seating plan: the modern classical orchestra & the piano
A History of Classical Music Part 1 – Introduction
The easiest way to explain "Classical Music" is perhaps to say what it is not: It's not Pop Music It's not Rock Music It's not Jazz It's not Folk Music It's not Electronica, Grunge or Punk either Some people like to call Classical Music "serious music", but it isn't all serious, not by any means!… Continue reading A History of Classical Music Part 1 – Introduction
Interview with Favourite Classical Composers
I've recently done an interview with Sebastian Mitchell who writes a blog and website Favourite Classical Composers. Read the full text of my interview here
A Piano Teacher Writes... 