The London 2012 Olympics are a wonderful celebration of sporting success and the superb achievements of Team GB (and others) are an inspiration to us all. Of course such triumphs do not come easily, and every medal winning British athlete interviewed has put their success down to hard work, commitment and focused training, day in… Continue reading Be an Olympian at the piano
Category: Practising
What’s the point of scales?
Many piano students view scales as tedious, mindless exercises, a painful part of practice time, with no value or relevance to "real" piano playing. In fact, scales are incredibly important and useful, and students need to understand this from the very start of their study of scales and other technical exercises (broken chords and arpeggios).… Continue reading What’s the point of scales?
How many hours a day should you practice?
2 hours? 4 hours? 8 hours? 12 hours? How much is enough? Is there such a thing as practicing too much? Is there an optimal number of hours that one should practice? Here's an excellent article from The Bulletproof Musician blog, which dispels some myths about practising and offers practical guidance on 'deliberate' practice. Read… Continue reading How many hours a day should you practice?
‘Curved Lines’ – phrases and how to shape music
Phrases are like musical ‘sentences’, and, a phrase in music expresses a complete idea. In classical music, phrases are symmetrical in length, but in modern music a phrase can be any length. Phrasing helps to shape the music, and to give it life, form and 'punctuation'. Phrasing relates to the way in which individual notes… Continue reading ‘Curved Lines’ – phrases and how to shape music
Soft dough, warm oil – and no bones
At my recent piano lesson, I worked on Rachmaninov's Etude-Tableaux Opus 33 No. 2 in C. In order to practice the tricky arpeggiated left-hand accompaniment, which includes many awkward extensions of more than an octave, my teacher asked me to imagine that my arms had no bones in them, no fulcrum at the elbow, and… Continue reading Soft dough, warm oil – and no bones
Myths about piano lessons
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
How to play…. ‘When Paris Dreams’
This brief, yet very atmospheric piece is from the alternative repertoire list of Trinity Guildhall Grade 2 piano, and would suit a more mature student or one who can give it the requisite wistfulness. In my edition of Nacht und Träume (Night and Dreams), the date under the composer's name is 1939, which immediately conjures… Continue reading How to play…. ‘When Paris Dreams’
Reblogged: Scales – 6 reasons why you need to practice them
‘Now we will test your scales, C major hands together please’, the examiner smiles glancing at the student who is waiting with baited breath…… This is the usual scenario when pupils are faced with scales. Most pianists don’t like scales or scale practice. Some ask if they are really necessary. For me, they are the… Continue reading Reblogged: Scales – 6 reasons why you need to practice them
Should you be practising right now?
My students are very familiar with this chart, which sits on the chest of drawers next to the piano. A colleague of mine has it pinned on the door of her piano room, and I should think innumerable other music teachers and students have it somewhere to remind and inspire. Remember - regular practice WORKS!… Continue reading Should you be practising right now?
Practice like it’s a Chopin Nocturne….
Quite a few of my students are familiar with this instruction by now, and I hope that most, if not all of them who have been asked to practice in this way can explain why it is important and useful. The Nocturnes of Fryderyk Chopin are considered amongst the finest short works for piano ever… Continue reading Practice like it’s a Chopin Nocturne….
A Piano Teacher Writes... 