Getting the most from this great hobby!
I was chatting with a pianist friend I met through the Practising the Piano Online Academy (of which I’m a member). During our conversation he mentioned a couple of ‘must read’ books. The first of these was The Perfect Wrong Note by William Westney. On returning home, I fired up my iPad and ordered it...
"The Perfect Wrong Note – Review"Continue reading
Being able to teach piano virtually became critical as the COVID pandemic took hold on the world. Even now, in these (hopefully) waning days of the pandemic, it seems certain that virtual piano lessons for adults (especially adults) are destined to remain popular. Health concerns aside, many adult piano students have discovered the enjoyment of...
"How to Teach Piano Virtually with Perfect Audio Quality"Continue reading
Having the opportunity to discover more music through streaming platforms such as IDAGIO is one thing about the modern age that I have to admit I really love. For a relatively modest monthly fee, we have access to pretty much unlimited music by our favourite artists. We also have an opportunity to explore different composers...
"At last, I can listen to piano music on the go!"Continue reading
The present COVID pandemic has had far reaching impacts on the world of piano. With face to face events becoming increasingly difficult and precarious, we have seen a move to online. For many, online is seen as a ‘necessary evil’ or ‘second best option’. I have often therefore wondered are online piano performance workshops a...
"Are Online Piano Performance Workshops a good idea?"Continue reading
The pandemic has had an immense impact on all ‘live’ events pretty much across the entire world. Some venues have of course changed their operating model somewhat (Wigmore Hall in London is a very good example). However, it does seem that many are awaiting a ‘return to normal’ – rather than re-imagining what ‘live’ could...
"The future of live classical music?"Continue reading
I have come to the conclusion that The Art of Piano Playing by Heinrich Neuhaus is essential reading for pianists. At the time of writing, most of the world is in lockdown so what better time to further our piano studies. It was first published in the UK in 1973 and has been reprinted many...
"Essential Reading for Pianists? Heinrich Neuhaus"Continue reading
“What you need to know, have and do to start piano right” is a book by Jenny Leigh Hodgins. The book is exactly what it says on the cover and gives great insights for those considering taking up the piano. Jenny kindly consented to doing an interview for Tommy’s Piano Corner which I’m delighted to...
"What you need to know, have and do to start piano right!"Continue reading
Are you looking for that perfect Christmas gift for the pianist in your life (or perhaps just a festive treat for yourself)? If space and budget don’t stretch to a Steinway Model D or a nice Fazioli, I’ve got some good ideas of Christmas gifts for pianists below. These should suit all budgets and prove...
"Christmas gift ideas for the pianist in your life"Continue reading
Working out which fingers to use on piano is a very necessary skill for pianists at all levels. Many of us rely predominantly on fingerings given in the music we buy. However, these don’t necessarily always work well – especially if you have smaller hands. Therefore, we need to understand the Art of Piano Fingering. I’m...
"The Art of Piano Fingering by Rami Bar Niv – Review"Continue reading
There are lots of occasions when we try to find out how difficult (or easy) a piece of music might be. We might need to do this when we are: trying to decide whether or not we think we could tackle something looking for new pieces to learn within our current ability range searching for...
"How difficult is this piece? Henle can help"Continue reading