Piano Music

Why Every Pianist Should Study Kind of Blue

2026-10-04T08:34:42+01:00

Photo credit: “Kind of Blue” album cover by Miles Davis. © Columbia Records. Source: Official Miles Davis website. Used for editorial commentary. There are albums that belong to a particular genre, and then there are albums that seem to transcend genre altogether. Miles Davis’s ‘Kind of Blue’, released in 1959, is one of the latter. Widely regarded as one of the most influential jazz recordings ever made, it has inspired generations of musicians with its remarkable combination of simplicity, freedom and sophistication. For pianists in particular, ‘Kind of Blue’ offers an extraordinary musical education. Its lessons extend far beyond [...]

Why Every Pianist Should Study Kind of Blue2026-10-04T08:34:42+01:00

5 Essential Left-Hand Blues Riffs on the Piano

2026-09-11T11:47:08+01:00

Blues piano, especially solo blues, often involves turning your two hands into an entire band. This task can be daunting, as it involves assigning a lot of responsibility to your left hand, both in rhythmic and harmonic terms. Having a selection of riffs fluently learned in your left hand is essential in order to support the melodies your right hand will be playing. The good news is that, once you have a riff fluently in your left hand, you can then focus almost entirely on the right hand while the left hand provides the perfect engine to your tune. Here are [...]

5 Essential Left-Hand Blues Riffs on the Piano2026-09-11T11:47:08+01:00

How Adult Pianists Can Tell If They Are Actually Improving

2026-08-25T12:49:25+01:00

Have you ever wondered whether your piano playing is genuinely improving? Have you reached a learning plateau, or have your skills simply stopped developing? Learning the piano as an adult is incredibly rewarding, but it can also be frustrating, particularly when it feels as though you have little progress to show for your efforts. As you become more experienced, it often becomes increasingly difficult to recognise whether you are still improving. Before becoming discouraged, it is important to distinguish between two very different situations. The first is a learning plateau, which is a completely natural part of mastering any skill. During [...]

How Adult Pianists Can Tell If They Are Actually Improving2026-08-25T12:49:25+01:00

Why Every Jazz Pianist Should Study Bill Evans

2026-03-10T13:57:52+00:00

Few musicians have shaped the language of jazz piano as profoundly as Bill Evans. Emerging in the late 1950s, Evans transformed the role of the jazz pianist through lyrical touch and emotional harmony, as well as having great influence with his collaborative approach to ensemble playing. His influence extends far beyond his own recordings, and permeates modern jazz piano vocabulary, continuing to shape how pianists think about harmony, rhythm, and musical interaction. He is also considered one of the most influential pianists in developing modern solo piano language. For these reasons, every jazz pianist, regardless of style or experience, should study [...]

Why Every Jazz Pianist Should Study Bill Evans2026-03-10T13:57:52+00:00

Piano Music Picks Across Genres

2026-02-25T15:12:09+00:00

Listening is one of the most overlooked aspects of piano development. Students often focus understandably on technique, sight-reading and repertoire preparation, yet forget that the ear is the true guide of musical refinement. What you listen to shapes how you phrase, how you balance tone, and how you understand style. At the London Piano Institute, we encourage our students not only to practise thoughtfully, but to listen actively. Below is a curated selection of piano music across genres — classical, jazz, contemporary and film — with notes on what each can teach you as a developing pianist. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvNsPyp5O2I Classical Depth: Frédéric [...]

Piano Music Picks Across Genres2026-02-25T15:12:09+00:00
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