Composing… Keep being taught to learn 16 Jul 20153 Aug 2015 "Musical Futures is a global movement that transforms, engages and inspires people through making music that is meaningful to them; the festival builds on its aims to create exciting, innovative,…
Education… CPD through Music 10 Sep 2014 I took up singing lessons a year ago. I’m always on the hunt for a new endeavour and something that can feed my musical self as well as provide me…
Education… We’re still musicians 6 Aug 20146 Aug 2014 I am always thrilled to meet a new group of music teachers when leading an INSET course; it reminds me how valuable it is for us to get together and…
Practice Forward and Up: The Alexander Technique 22 Jun 201323 Jun 2013 Catching up with the various social media feeds recently I noticed Pedro de Alcantara had posted with pride a photo of the new edition of his Indirect Procedures. I first…
Practice After the course 7 Sep 2011 I thoroughly enjoyed my three weeks in Edinburgh. It was very much appropriate to go away and undertake such an intensive piano course away from the concerns of one's routines…
Practice Day Five 19 Aug 2011 It is not even the end of the morning session and already some interesting technical issues have been raised on Kenneth van Barthold's intensive piano workshop in Edinburgh. The physiognomy…
Practice Day Four 18 Aug 2011 Interesting class this morning and it was clear from my play-through of the second movement of the Prokofiev my two practice sessions had yet to cement the notes to ensure…
Practice Day Three in the “Loony Bin” 17 Aug 201117 Aug 2011 Kenneth mentioned at the start of the week that Craighouse - where the piano course is held - was originally a mental health institution and in fact the very same…
Practice Day Two 16 Aug 201117 Aug 2011 Day two is over - and perhaps a little early but my hands are "drunk on notes", to quote a fellow participant. The class only lasted the morning today and…
Practice Getting down to practice 15 Aug 201117 Aug 2011 Well day one on the Kenneth van Barthold Piano Course - held in Edinburgh - is over. A fascinating day of first performances by all of us undertaking the three…
