Review: Ask the River (Rachel Portman)
Anyone with even a passing interest in music for film and television cannot fail to recognise the name, Rachel Portman. Born in 1960, and educated at Worcester College, Oxford, Portman…
Review: Grade 5 Music Theory Practice Papers
It's now been nearly a year since ABRSM revised their Music Theory syllabus in order to adapt to their new online exams. Their own Discovering Music Theory workbooks (a refresh…
Review: John Thompson’s First Classical Duets
I have a whole shelf of piano duets. They range from very easy, one-finger beginner pieces, right through to complex four-hand arrangements of orchestral works. You might ask why, if…
5 Tips for a Successful DipABRSM Viva Voce
In my work as a mentor for teaching diplomas, it is often the DipABRSM viva voce which sends shivers down the spine of candidates. Often, people's most pressing thought is:…
Review: Nikki Iles & Friends, Jazz Pieces for Piano
Review: Nikki Iles & Friends, Jazz Pieces for Piano
Many of us, as both pianists and teachers, have enjoyed Nikki Iles' previous books for piano: Jazz in Springtime; Jazz in Autumn; Jazz on a Summer's Day; and Jazz on…
Review: Introducing Theory of Music
Review: Introducing Theory of Music
I have long admired Trinity's Theory of Music Workbooks with their clear and concise look, and this new volume is no exception. Introducing Theory of Music is designed to: "help…
Review: The Piano Trainer Scales Workbook
Sometimes a book arrives for review, and not only is it the book you wish you’d had when you were first having piano lessons, but it’s also the book you’ve…
Rest and the Music Teacher
I don't know about you, but as a teacher, I spend a lot of time talking about rests. I think they're underrated. It's often much harder to 'play' rests than…
Review: From My Book of Melodies (Alma Deutscher)
At the age of just 16, Alma Deutscher already has her own Wikipedia page, having composed her first piano sonata at the age of five, and a short opera at…
Introducing Compose Yourself!
I have been very lucky throughout my life, that I have always had teachers, both instrumental and school teachers, who encouraged me to both improvise and compose. I started making…
Review: Jazz Piano for Kids
I don't know about any other teachers, but I have a shelf dedicated to jazz piano books. Like many of us I'm sure, I enjoy playing jazz, but I definitely…
Review: Connections (Piano Solos by Darren Day)
Darren Day has, over 25 years, developed a versatile career as a teacher, performer and composer. He is also an examiner for Trinity College, London. He publishes a number of…