Pianodao Bookshelf

The Pianodao Bookshelf includes reviews of biographies and books that will be of interest to piano players and educators.

Reviews of books which address lifestyle and qigong practice are included elsewhere on the Pianodao site. Here, you can browse reviews of those books which specifically address piano playing, teaching, history and the lives of musicians.

Pathways for Playing

How to Practise Music

Accessible and authoritative, HOW TO PRACTISE MUSIC is Andrew’s highly acclaimed book of tips for anyone who wants to get more out of their practice.

The Complete Pianist

Penelope Roskell’s ‘The Complete Pianist’ is a monumental achievement, with 560 large format pages, 250 newly-devised exercises and more than 300 supporting online videos. I can well believe that it’s the most comprehensive, and essential book ever written on piano playing!

Mark Tanner’s ‘The Mindful Pianist’

Mark Tanner has distilled his considerable professional experience and intelligent reflection into The Mindful Pianist. Cramming such a panoply of advice, practical suggestion and thought-provoking insight into its slender frame, the book is a richly rewarding read.

The Piano: A History in 100 Pieces

Susan Tomes’ latest book, “The Piano: A History in 100 Pieces” is quite simply an essential purchase for any piano enthusiast, offering as it does a veritable feast of salient information and insight into the instrument and music which we love so much.

Pathways for Teaching

The Piano Teacher’s Survival Guide

Once in a while a book appears which must be considered essential, an instant classic, and this is one such publication. The Piano Teacher’s Survival Guide instantly establishes itself as the very best practical manual available for today’s piano teachers.

Musicians Who Teach

I have no hesitation in recommending this book as an essential primer that should be required reading for all who teach singing or a musical instrument in the UK. Buy it, absorb it, and you will certainly have no regrets!

Paul Harris: Unconditional Teaching

Paul Harris’s latest book, “Unconditional Teaching”, is without question a profoundly rewarding read.

I simply cannot recommend it highly enough.Here’s the Pianodao review…

Music Teaching for Special Educational Needs

This is an excellent and much needed book, which goes a considerable way towards addressing an obvious and significant gap in the training and understanding of many instrumental teachers. Answering many of the questions we typically have, Baker offers a wealth of insight, along with practical strategies to improve our teaching.

Hidden Gems in the Library:

Instrumental Music Education

For those interested in academic insight into instrumental teaching trends, this is a wide-ranging and thought-provoking book sporting 19 chapters, each a distinct article covering an area of special interest. I highly recommend it…

Women and the Piano

In her latest book, Susan Tomes delivers an impassioned exposition of the impact that gender has had, and continues to have, on the development of professional pianism and the wider piano community…

Paul Harris • How to Sight Read

Paul Harris’ sight-reading resources have played an important role in my teaching for years. How wonderful to now have this book, which brings us a deeper understanding of this important aspect of musical learning.

The Symphony: From Mannheim to Mahler

With impeccable timing at the start of a new academic year, Faber Music have just released The Symphony: From Mannheim to Mahler, an accessible new guide written by Christopher Tarrant and Natalie Wild, which hopes (and deserves) to become a standard text for A’ level and undergraduate students.

More Than Music Lessons

Merlin B. Thompson’s book “More than Music Lessons” is one of those books which could prove to be a game-changer for any instrumental teacher who takes time to absorb and apply the author’s key messages…

Mindfulness in Sound

Mindfulness in Sound is at once entertaining, interesting, absorbing and challenging. And though less-directly concerned with the art of music-making, this seemingly slight volume offers up a surprisingly deep and rich mix of helpful information and inspiration.

Memoirs of an Accompanist

Hot off the press comes the autobiography of Helmut Deutsch, one of the most successful and sought-after lieder accompanists of our time. His is a career and life in music that will surely yield both insight and a rich seam of anecdote, so let’s take a look…