Products featured here are selected for review by ANDREW EALES
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This innovative new series of books from Boosey & Hawkes makes the bold claim to be “the complete resource for the grade ‘x’ pianist”.
But does it live up to its aims? Here’s the Pianodao review…
Continue reading Grade by Grade PianoProducts featured here are selected for review by ANDREW EALES
Find out more: ABOUT PIANODAO REVIEWS
Over the years ABRSM have produced a steady flow of graded piano repertoire books to supplement their exam resources, with series such as A Keyboard Anthology and Short Romantic Pieces becoming standard items in the teacher’s library.
However, one could have been forgiven for wondering whether some of these selections were made up of the most obscure pieces set in previous syllabi rather than the most widely enjoyed. So when Faber Music brought out their “Best of Grade…” books a few years ago, those looking for a one-stop collection of consistently appealing and varied pieces breathed a collective sigh of relief.
This summer ABRSM have responded with the publication of Encore, a set of four books which, based on their own data, include the most popular pieces featured in graded exams over the last decade or so.
Happily these collections include some great in-house pieces and arrangements now unavailable elsewhere. So, might these books play a central role in students learning over the next few years?
Let’s take a closer look.
Continue reading ABRSM’s Encore SeriesProducts featured here are selected for review by ANDREW EALES
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Lucinda Mackworth-Young’s new book “Piano by Ear” fills a massive gap in the market. Quite simply this is the book that I, and no doubt many other thousands of pianists and teachers, have been waiting for. For years!
I even considered writing something like it myself at one point, back at the time my 1990’s Keyquest tuition books for electronic keyboard were just out. But thank goodness: Lucinda Mackworth-Young has saved us all the effort, and has certainly done a great job of it!
Continue reading Lucinda Mackworth-Young: “Piano by Ear”Supporting Your Piano Playing Journey
Written by ANDREW EALES
The relationship between music teachers and their students is a particularly important one. At best it can nurture young people’s development both as a person and bring out the best of their talents as a musician. But what happens when boundaries are crossed and rules get broken?
Author Fiona Whelpton has very kindly allowed me to share this interview in which she talks about her own ordeal and the road to recovery …
Playing and Living • Beyond the Notes
Written by ANDREW EALES
One thing is certain – everything changes. But sometimes things can take longer than we hoped for, in stark contrast to the general pace of our lives today. Is it any wonder that we often feel impatient?
Perhaps there are obstacles that won’t shift from your pathway. Wounds that won’t heal. Or simply a favourite piece of music that you would love to be able to play on the piano, but which somehow seems far out of your reach.
As qigong master Kam Chuen Lam explains, some things simply take time – and are all the better for it!
“All authentic growth takes time. So does healing and the process of deep strengthening. It is like giving birth.
In the more than thirty years that I have been teaching and treating people in the West, I have always had to tell people that nature takes time to form, nourish and give birth to new life.
I tell my students, ‘You can’t make a plant grow by tugging on it every day. You simply put it in good soil, give it just enough water and light, and let it grow. If you do that it will grow naturally. That is its nature’.”
Master Kam Chuen Lam: The Qigong Workbook for Anxiety
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Playing and Living • Beyond the Notes
Written by ANDREW EALES
An ancient Daoist text “Principles of Nourishing Life and Cultivating Longevity” (recently translated by Eva Wong and included in within her book “Being Taoist“) includes the following simple advice:
“When you are young, don’t spend a lot of energy doing what everyone thinks is appropriate.
When you’ve reached maturity, don’t be too competitive.
When you’ve passed middle age, you should begin to find contentment.
When you are old, you should minimise desires.
Exercise the body gently to prevent it from stiffening, and entertain your mind leisurely to prevent it from deteriorating.
In this way you will enjoy a healthy and long life.”
There is of course no quick fix solution to avoid death, no elixir of life to sustain us indefinitely, and we know that once our energy is gone, the end will come.
But perhaps the above advice is useful when thinking about our own approach and lifestyle. We could all do with questioning what steps we are taking to enjoy a healthier and longer life.
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Playing and Living • Beyond the Notes
Written by ANDREW EALES
“Humanity grows more and more intelligent, yet there is clearly more trouble and less happiness daily.
How can this be so?
It is because intelligence is not the same thing as wisdom.”
Lao Tzu: Hua Hu Ching (translated Brian Walker)
The big question for us all is this: what do we do with our knowledge?
Do we accumulate knowledge simply to “fight back”, to be “better” and more “successful” than the next person?
Or does our own self-improvement and development go hand in hand with generosity towards other people?
There are many possible responses, but it’s important to recognise the priority of wisdom over knowledge, because this leads to happiness and peace.
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Playing and Living • Beyond the Notes
Written by ANDREW EALES
This was the first post ever published on Pianodao when the site launched on August 1st, 2015.
Have you noticed that the pace of life isn’t slowing?
That social change and technological innovation are often adding to the stress of your daily life rather than alleviating it?
Sometimes we simply need to slow down. To find calm and purpose.
This is true for all of life – including our piano playing.
The image of a tree growing gradually on a mountainside sums up the natural wisdom of making secure progress, and reaching purposefully towards all the points one must in one’s individual journey.
This image of “Developing Gradually” (I Ching 53) is likely to recur here on the Pianodao site as core wisdom. It underpins the development of this site.
There is so much I would like to share here – but it will take time. The planning is done, and roots are growing into the ground. Over the next few months and years I hope that many branches will grow.
And I hope that as you join me on this journey, you will be nourished by the fruits of the site.
Welcome to Pianodao.
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