Category: General

Many thanks to Eve, Julia, Victoria, Trevor, Wayne and visitors Carole and Beverly who attended the concert on 6th December.

It’s difficult practicing 2 pieces and trying to perfect them, then playing them in front of other students. However the performances were excellent, well done to all!

Great video here, showing the effect of playing a musical intrument on the brain.

My all time hero. Horowitz was the consummate virtuoso. He was a throwback to the towering giants of the late Romantic era. He took piano technique to a new level in the 20th century. Audiences would be packed with pianists trying to work out how he could accomplish such feats.

He recorded prodigiously and his musical intelligence and sensitivity was beyond peer. His encores were a thing to be treasured. Here is perhaps his most famous, just over 3 minutes of barnstorming technical effortlessness, not a movement on his face, just concentration and all that keyboard power in authoritative control.

If you haven’t seen him, James Rhodes is a top class concert pianist. He’s performing a musical evening of Chopin in the intimate Bromsgrove Artrix on Friday 20th February 2015 at 7:30 pm.

This is a real treat! James not only performs at the highest standard, he engages with the audience, often giving anecdotes about  composers’ lives. This is a must see!

https://www.artrix.co.uk/Music/James-Rhodes/2538

 

I’ve met many people who regret quitting piano lessons, but none who regret sticking with it.

Sue Hunt

https://twitter.com/justsuehunt

 

Thanks to all who took part in last weekend’s social concert. The lovely people who performed two of their pieces each were Eve, Rachel, Sam, Trevor and Wayne.

Performing raises your game! Practicing hard and then performing two of your pieces to other pupils takes courage. Well done guys!

 

Some say he was the greatest Chopin exponent of all time because of his Polish descent. One thing is sure, he made every note sound like he meant it, a rare gift amongst pianists.

The comedian and broadcaster Alistair McGowan started playing the piano again in his thirties, and will play his first recital in a celebrity Christmas Gala in December. He claims he started playing the piano when living with a former girlfriend, because she took so long to get ready he spent the time waiting to practice.