Rhythm Practice Done Right
Practising a passage using rhythmic variations is a long-standing tradition among pianists. When applied thoughtfully, it can be an excellent way to develop control, accuracy and fluency. However, as is…
Debussy, Burgmüller, Finger Pedalling and Ornaments
Our latest Practice Clinic recording features answers to questions on finger pedalling, ornaments, rotation and runs in works by Couperin, Burgmüller and Debussy.
A Practical Guide to Forearm Rotation
In my work as a teacher, I regularly encounter pianists even at the advanced level who ask me for my special exercises to “strengthen” their fingers. Initially they react with…
More on Passagework
Last week's post on passagework dealt with a fair amount of mechanics. Here, I would like to outline a process which strengthens everything - the ear, the memory and the…
On Passagework
There are innumerable examples in the piano repertoire of what is commonly known as "passagework", a string of fast notes that lasts either a few bars, a whole section, or…