ABRSM Piano Syllabus 2021/22: Publication Review
Alongside my review of the new repertoire selections for the 2021/22 ABRSM Piano Syllabus, the Board have also published a number of other new publications. In this blog post, I…
ABRSM Piano Syllabus 2021/22: Repertoire Review
In addition to a refreshed and more varied repertoire selection, 2021 will see a number of changes to the ABRSM Piano syllabus, including: A new Initial Grade providing a more…
Beginner Piano Lessons: 3 Essential Ingredients
Beginner piano lessons with a student of any age can be pivotal. They can be 'make or break', so it's no wonder they can make us piano teachers so nervous.…
Mindful Reflection, Before and After the Music Lesson
It’s easy amidst the hustle and bustle of the online world, to feel that as teachers, we're not keeping up. There’s an almost limitless number of things we could teach…
Making the Most of Your Accompanist
This post was written before the 2020 Coronavirus Pandemic took hold; however, I hope it will be useful for a time in the future when we are, once again, able…
Top Resources for Improving Your Sight-Singing
I cannot emphasise what a useful skill sight-singing is. Sadly, over the years, it's got a bit of a bad press as it continues to be tested as part of…
5 Things I’ve Learnt Having Music Lessons as a Teacher
Like many, I had instrumental lessons as a child. First of all, I had piano lessons which I started age six, then flute lessons, then later on, singing lessons. As…
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,…
6 Ways to Nurture Your Own Music-Making in 2020
When we're busy teaching (or indeed, performing) it can be hard sometimes to nurture and enjoy our own music-making as individuals. I know from experience that the demands of teaching…
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…