Music Education

Why All Jazz Pianists Should Study Art Tatum

2026-07-13T11:08:49+01:00

Photo credit: “Tatum in 1946–1948” by William P. Gottlieb. Courtesy of the Library of Congress, William P. Gottlieb Collection, digital ID gottlieb.08301. Few musicians have transformed the landscape of jazz piano quite like Art Tatum. Revered by fellow pianists and admired by musicians across every genre, Tatum possessed a level of technical brilliance and musical imagination that continues to astonish listeners decades after his recordings were made. While many pianists naturally gravitate towards figures such as Bill Evans, McCoy Tyner or Herbie Hancock, every serious jazz pianist should spend time studying Art Tatum. His influence reaches far beyond dazzling virtuosity; [...]

Why All Jazz Pianists Should Study Art Tatum2026-07-13T11:08:49+01:00

ABRSM vs Trinity College London: Which Music Exam Board Is Better?

2026-06-15T13:22:03+01:00

Deciding between exam boards is the first step to approaching a music diploma and taking your piano skills beyond playing “just for fun” – yet many students feel overwhelmed by the confusion surrounding which exam board to choose. While several other internationally accredited boards provide structured graded exams and diplomas, ABRSM and Trinity College London are the most globally recognised. Others like Rockschool, The Royal Conservatory of Music, Australian Music Examinations Board, etc. are also widely acknowledged, but may not offer the same level of international standardisation and global recognition. There is still ongoing debate among students over whether ABRSM or [...]

ABRSM vs Trinity College London: Which Music Exam Board Is Better?2026-06-15T13:22:03+01:00

Pianos vs Keyboards: What Is the Difference?

2026-06-08T15:03:42+01:00

Owning a keyboard or a piano, especially a grand piano, is an investment that requires both space and money. Aspiring pianists should always have one in order to keep up a solid practice regime, but some find the offerings of keyboards to be underwhelming compared to the real thing. While owning a Steinway concert grand piano is an unrealistic expectation for most, you can still get yourself a fit-for-purpose setup that allows you to improve your skills and entertain home audiences effectively! Here I will outline the pros and cons of each option, and the possibilities presented by each. Price A [...]

Pianos vs Keyboards: What Is the Difference?2026-06-08T15:03:42+01:00

The Chordfather Returns: A Pianist’s Guide to Seventh Chords, Cadences, and Musical Forms

2026-06-08T14:37:37+01:00

If music were a language, harmony would be its grammar, cadence its punctuation, and form its storytelling structure. Pianists often spend years mastering scales and finger technique, yet many discover that understanding how music is built transforms the piano from a machine of notes into a vehicle of expression. From the emotional weight of a dominant seventh chord in a Beethoven sonata to the satisfying closure of a perfect cadence in a Chopin nocturne, harmony and structure shape the listener’s emotional journey. This article explores three foundational musical ideas found across piano repertoire: the types of seventh chords, the different cadences [...]

The Chordfather Returns: A Pianist’s Guide to Seventh Chords, Cadences, and Musical Forms2026-06-08T14:37:37+01:00

Overcoming the Psychological Barriers of Learning Piano as an Adult

2026-05-18T10:29:15+01:00

Never has anyone who achieved challenging tasks said it was easy. So why do we expect comfort when venturing more into the unknown? The reality is that growth rarely happens within the boundaries of what feels safe or familiar. Learning something as complex and expressive as the piano naturally comes with moments of discomfort, uncertainty, and even self-doubt. A wonderful fact about piano is that there are no age restrictions as to when you can learn it. Many adults later in their life are drawn to learning the instrument, even if they have had no prior musical experience at all. In [...]

Overcoming the Psychological Barriers of Learning Piano as an Adult2026-05-18T10:29:15+01:00

The Living Architecture of Music in London

2026-04-27T07:42:24+01:00

London’s musical life is not anchored in a single institution or tradition; rather, it unfolds across a dense and interwoven network of academies, conservatoires, and concert halls whose histories are embedded in the fabric of the city. To understand music in London is to move between pedagogy and performance, between rehearsal rooms and grand auditoria, where generations of musicians have been trained, tested, and ultimately heard. What emerges is not simply a catalogue of venues, but a living ecology in which education, experimentation, and public culture continually shape one another. Photo credit: "The facade of the Royal Academy of Music" by [...]

The Living Architecture of Music in London2026-04-27T07:42:24+01:00

The Greatest Blues Pianists in History

2026-04-13T11:01:01+01:00

The blues is one of the most emotionally direct and influential forms of music ever created, and the piano has played a central role in shaping its sound. From smoky juke joints in the American South to sophisticated jazz clubs in Chicago and New York, blues pianists have defined rhythm, harmony, and storytelling at the keyboard. What makes a blues pianist “great” isn’t just technical skill—it’s feel, groove, individuality, and the ability to translate life’s struggles and joys into sound. Here is my list of some of the greatest blues pianists in history, whose playing not only defined the genre [...]

The Greatest Blues Pianists in History2026-04-13T11:01:01+01:00

From Chopsticks to Chopin A Guide to Piano Learning Levels

2026-03-18T08:38:10+00:00

Let’s be honest: sitting down at a piano for the first time feels a bit like staring at the dashboard of a Boeing 747. There are 88 keys, three pedals, and a piece of sheet music that looks suspiciously like a swarm of angry bees. Without a plan, you aren’t "learning piano"—you’re just hitting furniture until it makes noise. At our institution, we believe that the difference between a frustrated quitter and a lifelong musician is the art of the goal. Whether you are a hobbyist or a budding virtuoso, your goals must evolve as your callouses do. Here is [...]

From Chopsticks to Chopin A Guide to Piano Learning Levels2026-03-18T08:38:10+00:00
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