Review: Truth (Alexis Ffrench)
[This post contains affiliate links] Someone once described Alexis Ffrench to me as "a bit more upmarket than Einaudi". I think this is pretty unkind to both composers. There are…
12 Quick-to-Learn Christmas Choral Ideas
When I was directing a church choir, I'd like to think I was pretty organised. By December, I'd have decided what we were singing in the Christmas carol service. That…
Review: ABRSM Pop Performer
There are literally thousands of books available for piano of arrangements of pop songs. Some are inevitably more successful than others. The art of arranging a pop song, many of…
8 Simple Ways You Can Support Composers
Recently, I've become conscious of us all needing to support composers and arrangers, particularly after the lack of performances and sheet music sales over the past two years. I'm aware…
Review: Musical Doodles (Paul Harris)
[This post contains affiliate links] Instrumental teachers have long lamented the lack of books and resources for teaching composition. I can understand this, but I also know from experience, that…
Review: Underwater & Cinema (Einaudi)
[This post contains affiliate links] It seems to me that anyone who writes about Einaudi these days is opening themselves to an immediate torrent of social media abuse, simply for…
ABRSM Theory Exams: the End of an Era?
Over the past few years, a number of changes have been made to ABRSM Theory Exams. A syllabus change was quickly followed by the moving of the lower grades online.…
Review: How to Practise Music (Andrew Eales)
[This post contains affiliate links] How to Practise Music by Andrew Eales is one of the best books related to instrumental teaching and learning I've read for years. It's essential…
A Piece a Week for Piano: from Initial to Grade 8
I was excited to hear earlier this year that Paul Harris has now completed his series for piano, A Piece a Week. There are now eight books in the series…
12 Ways to Enjoy a Summer Without Music Lessons
I don't know about anyone else, but I'm definitely in winding-down mode right now. As I type this, I have just a few teaching days left before the summer holidays,…
Review: Mosaic Vol. 4
[This post contains affiliate links] I know I evangelise about Editions Musica Ferrum publications, but they really are some of the most beautiful and adventurous books for piano on the…
10 Amazing Discoveries for Flute
There's a running joke that all the music I play, no one else has ever heard of. To be fair, there's some truth in that, although I like to think…