ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Xinyue

About Xinyue

Xinyue, a renowned classical piano teacher at London Piano Institute, brings over a decade of experience, remarkable skills, and awards to inspire students.

French vs Russian Pedagogical Schools: Stylistic Influence on Tone Production and Phrasing

2025-06-20T12:53:03+01:00

The world of piano playing is as diverse as it is rich. Among the many pedagogical traditions that have shaped generations of pianists, two stand out for their distinct approaches to tone production and phrasing: the French School and the Russian School. Each offers a unique philosophy of sound and musical expression, rooted in different cultural, historical, and artistic contexts. Understanding these differences is not merely an academic exercise—it informs how pianists interpret music, approach technique, and develop their own artistic voice. In this article, I will draw upon personal teaching experience, historical knowledge, and insights from contemporary pedagogy to explore [...]

French vs Russian Pedagogical Schools: Stylistic Influence on Tone Production and Phrasing2025-06-20T12:53:03+01:00

Tips for Accompanying Singers or Other Instrumentalists

2025-05-29T14:02:59+01:00

Accompanying singers and instrumentalists is a vital skill for any serious pianist. It demands more than mere technical proficiency; it calls for attentive listening, sensitivity, and a strong sense of collaboration. A successful accompanist does not simply play alongside another musician — they support, enhance, and often subtly lead the performance without ever overshadowing their partner. In this article, we explore essential tips for pianists who aspire to accompany with confidence and artistry. 1. Understand Your Role First and foremost, recognise that as an accompanist, your role is to serve the music and support the soloist. Your task is to provide [...]

Tips for Accompanying Singers or Other Instrumentalists2025-05-29T14:02:59+01:00

Chamber Music for Beginners: Pieces and Textbooks to Get Started

2025-04-14T14:06:13+01:00

Chamber music, often described as “the music of friends”, offers an intimate and collaborative musical experience unlike any other. For beginners, it represents a rewarding yet sometimes daunting step beyond solo playing. Fortunately, a wealth of accessible repertoire and educational resources exists to support budding chamber musicians as they build ensemble skills and deepen their musical understanding. This article explores some of the most suitable chamber music pieces and textbooks for beginners, offering guidance for both students and educators. What Makes a Good Beginner Chamber Piece? Before examining specific works, it is useful to consider what makes a piece appropriate [...]

Chamber Music for Beginners: Pieces and Textbooks to Get Started2025-04-14T14:06:13+01:00

Piano Voicing Strategy: Make Your Melody Sing With This Easy Practise Technique

2025-03-24T11:49:47+00:00

One of the most crucial elements of expressive piano playing is voicing—the art of making a melody stand out clearly above the accompaniment. Whether you're playing classical pieces, jazz improvisations, or pop arrangements, voicing helps create a more natural, vocal-like quality in your playing. Without proper voicing, even the most beautiful melodies can get lost within the harmonic texture, making the performance sound muddy or unclear. Imagine a singer performing a song. The melody is what captivates the audience, while the harmonies and accompaniment provide support. In the same way, pianists must ensure that the melody is always the star, supported [...]

Piano Voicing Strategy: Make Your Melody Sing With This Easy Practise Technique2025-03-24T11:49:47+00:00

Hearing the Unseen: How to Tell the Difference Between Pianists’ Interpretations of Liszt’s Sonata in B Minor

2025-02-14T12:54:42+00:00

Franz Liszt’s Sonata in B Minor (1853) is one of the most enigmatic and monumental works in the piano repertoire. Its single-movement structure—spanning moments of relentless virtuosity, profound lyricism, and spiritual transcendence—challenges both pianist and listener. More than just a technical tour de force, the piece is an interpretive battlefield, a mirror reflecting each pianist’s artistic personality. While the notes remain the same, the experience of listening can be vastly different depending on the performer. To understand how interpretation shapes the sonata’s impact, we compare four legendary pianists—Vladimir Horowitz, Martha Argerich, Sviatoslav Richter, and Krystian Zimerman—who each take us on a [...]

Hearing the Unseen: How to Tell the Difference Between Pianists’ Interpretations of Liszt’s Sonata in B Minor2025-02-14T12:54:42+00:00

The Art of Playing Fast Octaves Fluently: Mastering the Technique

2025-01-14T11:33:31+00:00

Playing fast octaves fluently is one of the most exciting yet challenging skills for pianists. This technique is essential in many virtuosic compositions, from Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsodies to Rachmaninoff’s Third Piano Concerto. To execute them with precision, speed, and musicality requires a combination of physical mastery, mental preparation, and consistent practice. This article explores the techniques, strategies, and exercises that can help pianists develop fluency in fast octaves. Understanding Octave Technique What Are Octaves? An octave spans eight notes on the scale, from one pitch to the next with the same name (e.g., C to the next C). In piano playing, [...]

The Art of Playing Fast Octaves Fluently: Mastering the Technique2025-01-14T11:33:31+00:00

The Taubman Approach to Technique and Musicality: A Comprehensive Perspective

2024-12-25T14:27:28+00:00

The Taubman Approach is a groundbreaking methodology in piano pedagogy that emphasises the relationship between physical efficiency and musical expression. Developed by Dorothy Taubman, this approach addresses common pitfalls in piano technique, such as pain and injury, and redefines the art of playing with a scientific understanding of biomechanics. This article delves into the key aspects of the Taubman Approach, focusing on its principles related to pain-free practise, physical shaping, musical phrasing, weight allocation, key speed control, and the risks of finger isolation, as well as its role in enhancing expressive performance. Practising Hurts: Understanding the Problem For many pianists, [...]

The Taubman Approach to Technique and Musicality: A Comprehensive Perspective2024-12-25T14:27:28+00:00

Teaching Phrasing in Music: Techniques and Insights

2024-11-19T11:47:06+00:00

Phrasing in music refers to the way a musician shapes a sequence of notes to convey expression, much like how a speaker modulates voice to emphasise meaning in language. Understanding phrasing is fundamental to musicality; it turns notes on a page into a compelling narrative. This article will explore methods for teaching phrasing, drawing from concepts like thwarted expectations, trajectory in Brahms' Op. 118, the use of singing as a practise method, phrasing in Chopin, playing Schubert like a singer, and techniques for handling rests and long notes. 1. Understanding Thwarted Expectations in Phrasing Teaching phrasing often begins with understanding [...]

Teaching Phrasing in Music: Techniques and Insights2024-11-19T11:47:06+00:00

Instantly Improve Your Thumb Technique with These Tips

2024-10-17T12:22:47+01:00

Mastering thumb technique is essential for pianists to achieve control, fluidity, and a dynamic range in their playing. The thumb plays a pivotal role in connecting phrases, transitioning between notes, and enabling smooth passagework, particularly in scales, arpeggios, and chord transitions. While it might seem like the thumb should naturally fall into place, many pianists struggle with "the thumb problem," an issue rooted in anatomy, dexterity, and coordination. This article will explore tips for instantly improving your thumb technique, drawing insights from several renowned teachers and pianists. https://youtu.be/wgTnvNsgQIg?si=_KNlEee3Az5z-Ot1&t=94 1: The Anatomy and Shape of the Thumb: The 'O' Shape with Boris [...]

Instantly Improve Your Thumb Technique with These Tips2024-10-17T12:22:47+01:00

Synesthesia and Piano: How Some Musicians See Colours When They Play

2024-10-03T10:48:46+01:00

Synesthesia is a fascinating neurological phenomenon where stimulation of one sensory pathway leads to involuntary experiences in a second sensory pathway. One of the most well-known forms is chromesthesia, where individuals "see" colours when they hear sounds. For musicians, particularly pianists, this can create a unique and deeply immersive experience when playing or listening to music. This article delves into the relationship between synesthesia and piano playing, exploring how this extraordinary condition influences musical perception, composition, and performance. What is Synesthesia? Synesthesia comes from the Greek words "syn," meaning together, and "aisthesis," meaning perception. It is a condition that blends [...]

Synesthesia and Piano: How Some Musicians See Colours When They Play2024-10-03T10:48:46+01:00
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