The Myth of Perfection
Debunking the myth of perfection in piano performance and suggestions for achieving healthy perfectionism when practising a performance.
Resources for Studying Bach
Quite a lot of my students bring the works of JS Bach to lessons, which is always a delight. I often find myself directing them to various different sources to…
South London Concert Series
On Friday evening I was delighted to attend the launch of an exciting new venture, the South London Concert Series at the 1901 Arts Club. The brainchild of the indefatigable…
The Pot-Bellied Monster
Heinrich Neuhaus spoke of the pot-bellied monster, a fault in piano playing where the harmony swallows both bass and melody. I find myself discussing the layering of sound all the…
Eat Your Greens!
A thorough knowledge of scales and arpeggios is an absolute necessity for all serious students of the piano. Here are some tips for incorporating them into lessons and practice.
Contrapuntal Playing: The Art Of Disentanglement
On my shelves, I have several copies of Bach's 48 Preludes and Fugues, ranging from modern Urtexts to some dodgy editions by luminaries of yesteryear, with fancy performance directions, dynamics…
The Monkey And The Typewriter
If you gave an infinite number of monkeys an infinite number of typewriters, would they eventually produce the complete works of Shakespeare? This favourite question of barstool philosophers seems relevant…
A Prima Vista: Some Thoughts on Sight Reading
Sight reading is included in every graded examination. Few seem to excel at it, and many actively dread it. Even the best players are likely to drop marks in this…
Some Useful Books
It's that festive time of year, and you may want to do a little book shopping. Here is a selection of books on piano playing that are at the top…