Piano Technique

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

The Lesson You Almost Skipped: Why Showing Up Changes Everything

2026-02-19T16:29:11+00:00

Recently, several of my beginner piano students have mentioned that they feel unprepared for their lesson, yet I gently encourage them to attend all the same. It is a conversation that happens more often than you might imagine. A student sends a message apologetically: “I didn’t practise enough this week. I don’t think I should come.” Behind those words is usually a mixture of guilt, embarrassment and a quiet fear of being judged. As a teacher, however, I see something very different. I see a crucial moment in their musical development. Especially as a beginner, attending your regular weekly lesson [...]

The Lesson You Almost Skipped: Why Showing Up Changes Everything2026-02-19T16:29:11+00:00

One Piano Many Roles in Ensemble Performance

2026-02-13T13:49:20+00:00

You may be familiar with the many styles of piano music, but the ways in which pianists perform extend far beyond style alone. The piano is one of the most versatile instruments, functioning equally convincingly as a solo voice, a collaborative partner in small ensembles, and a powerful presence within large ensembles and orchestras. Each performance context places different technical, musical, and collaborative demands on the pianist. Understanding ensemble size is therefore essential, not only for repertoire selection, but for developing the skills required to communicate, listen, and lead effectively in each setting. This article explores the main types of musical [...]

One Piano Many Roles in Ensemble Performance2026-02-13T13:49:20+00:00

Why Pianists Must Be Trained to Think Not Just Play

2026-02-12T14:14:51+00:00

Sometimes we forget that there is more to piano than simply playing the notes. A common misconception among pianists is that piano training equals technical mastery. Of course, piano training is a fundamental building block, however, the value of technique has its limits. In the modern technological landscape, machines and artificial intelligence are increasingly capable of reproducing piano performances with remarkable technical accuracy. While many scholars and musicians acknowledge that technological advancement will continue to influence and reshape the music industry, there is broad agreement that it cannot replace the musician. Unlike human performers, artificial intelligence lacks the capacity for musical [...]

Why Pianists Must Be Trained to Think Not Just Play2026-02-12T14:14:51+00:00

Major and Minor Scales and The Seven Modes Explained

2026-01-19T17:15:26+00:00

The music that we learn or listen to is usually built on a specific scale or key. Normally it will be in a major or a minor key. Most beginner students will be familiar with the major scale and also the minor scale. In the western culture our ears are naturally tuned to the major scale sound or the well known Do-Re-Me-Fa system or Tonic solfa system, as it's called. This was popularised by the song called ‘Doe a dear a female dear’ from the classic movie ‘The Sound of Music’. The major scale has a set series of wholetones and [...]

Major and Minor Scales and The Seven Modes Explained2026-01-19T17:15:26+00:00

Effective Warm-Up Exercises in Piano Playing

2026-01-18T13:02:14+00:00

For pianists of every level, from beginners taking their first lessons to seasoned professionals preparing for demanding performances, warm-up exercises are an indispensable part of daily practise. The piano is an instrument that requires both physical dexterity and deep mental concentration. Without proper preparation, the hands, arms, and even the mind can feel unready for the challenges of repertoire. Just as athletes prime their muscles before competition, pianists benefit from structured warm-up routines that build strength, coordination, and fluency while preventing injury. This article explores effective warm-up exercises for piano playing, considering their technical, physiological, and musical value. It also provides [...]

Effective Warm-Up Exercises in Piano Playing2026-01-18T13:02:14+00:00

The Difference Between Legato, Staccato, and Portamento in Piano Playing

2026-01-18T09:53:28+00:00

Most students, when starting to play the piano, have no idea about legato playing or staccato playing. When a student starts to learn, all these concepts are new. Legato playing is a very fundamental and important part of piano playing and you have to have a good grip on what legato really is, how it sounds and how to execute it. Staccato is in a sense the opposite of legato playing and is clearly indicated with small dots placed on top of notes on your score. is playing notes with a very short sound. The note is not kept down. You [...]

The Difference Between Legato, Staccato, and Portamento in Piano Playing2026-01-18T09:53:28+00:00

From Sonata to Symphony

2026-01-16T13:45:24+00:00

Composers composed music called a Sonata or Symphony mostly during the Classical period, which was roughly from 1750 to 1810. Composers like Beethoven, Mozart and Haydn mostly started composing music called the Sonata before moving on to the bigger work called a Symphony. The greatest difference between them being composing for a single instrument versus a whole orchestra! Let’s Look at the Sonata, Then Move on to the Symphony! The Sonata was a piece of music composed with a specific structure, which made it evident to be called a Sonata. It was mostly composed for a single [...]

From Sonata to Symphony2026-01-16T13:45:24+00:00

Phrasing in Piano Playing and How to Beautifully Play the Two-Note Phrase

2025-10-27T12:23:23+00:00

Phrasing in piano sheet music is indicated by a long curving line over a group of notes. These notes normally form a melodic line that one can compare with a sentence you speak. For example, let's think about someone asking you a question and then you answer it. Maybe you are asked: ‘How are you doing today?’ The five words here will all be grouped under one phrase mark. Then the answer to the question would probably be something like: ‘I am very well today, thank you’ forming another phrase. Why Are There Phrases Marked in My Sheet Music? As in [...]

Phrasing in Piano Playing and How to Beautifully Play the Two-Note Phrase2025-10-27T12:23:23+00:00

How Rotation Immediately Changes Your Piano Playing

2025-09-24T16:26:26+01:00

When pianists begin their training, much attention is usually placed on finger strength, scales, and the ability to move the hands independently. These skills are important, but they can never fully compensate for one essential movement that underpins healthy, expressive, and fluent piano playing: rotation. The act of rotating the forearm, even in the smallest degree, immediately alters tone, control, and ease at the keyboard. It is a technical principle that, once understood, can transform your entire approach from the very first attempt. This article explains why rotation is such a powerful concept in piano playing, how it functions anatomically, what [...]

How Rotation Immediately Changes Your Piano Playing2025-09-24T16:26:26+01:00
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