Putting the ‘Social’ Into ‘Social Media’
I've just been having a clear-out of people I was following on social media. Don't worry, it's not anyone whose posts I read and interact with, it's people who've obviously…
It’s Your Concert: 6 Tips for Compiling a Concert Programme
Whether for an examination, particularly at diploma level, or to share music with an audience, creating an interesting and attractive musical programme for a concert is an art form. Here,…
My Top 10 Books for Instrumental Teachers
Over the past 18 years, I've acquired many books related to music education and instrumental teaching. If you're looking to expand your library, explore some new ideas or collect together…
4 Things Pianists Can Do to Improve Their Sight-Reading
If you're a singer, you might be used to singing in choirs. Maybe you've been in shows, perhaps in the chorus where there's been plenty of ensemble singing. If you're…
5 Questions to Ask Yourself When Writing Programme Notes
Writing notes for a concert programme may seem daunting. It is a professional skill, but also required for some music performance examinations and for local amateur concerts. In this guest post, Ruth…
5 Reasons Why It’s a Good Idea to Have a Studio Policy
When I had lessons as a child, no teacher I encountered seemed to have any formal policy when it came to the lessons they offered. It was predominantly pay by…
4 Ways for Instrumental Teachers to Avoid ‘Resource Overwhelm’
I don't know about anyone else, but one of my jobs over the summer is to make some attempt to sort and reorganise music, organise resources and generally tidy up…
10 Things I’ve Learnt in 18 Years as a Private Music Teacher
I've recently celebrated 18 years as a private music teacher. In that time, there have been many 'ups and downs', and after 18 years, I've definitely learnt a few things…
4 Ways to Make the Most of the Music Exam Mark Sheet
If you're reading this, you've probably taken a music exam fairly recently. Congratulations! Whatever the outcome, I have a huge amount of admiration for any learner who puts themselves forward…
Review: Piano Star Theory
I don't know about you, but when I was learning piano as a child, the idea of theory sent shivers down my spine. Don't get me wrong, I liked theory,…
Review: Modern Piano Studies (Jakub Metelka)
Some might say that studies (or études) have fallen out of favour with modern approaches to piano teaching. As a developing pianist, I don't recall using books of studies in…
Review: Landscapes (Alison Matthews)
After all these years of playing and teaching, I still love discovering new music. In Landscapes, Alison Matthews has composed 14 beautiful 'poetic' piano solos which will, I'm sure, stand…