Why do we play the piano?

Supporting Your Piano Playing Journey
Written by ANDREW EALES


The question of why we play the piano would seem to be both an obvious one to ask and an easy one to answer. And yet it rarely is.

In this article I consider four “types” of player, while recognising that many of us combine aspects of most or all of them.

Continue reading Why do we play the piano?

Play it Again: Piano

Products featured on Pianodao are selected for review by ANDREW EALES.
ABOUT PIANODAO REVIEWS


Melanie Spanswick’s Play it Again: Piano series launched with two books published by Schott Music back in 2017. Now, with a third book joining the series, it’s time for another look.

This new review covers all three books in the series, so let’s dig in…

Continue reading Play it Again: Piano

Why Bother with Scales?

Supporting Your Piano Playing Journey
Written by ANDREW EALES


“For many, scales and arpeggios are an academic, dry and soulless part of learning the piano, and have to be practised because, like cod liver oil, they are ‘good for you’.”

Anthony Williams, The Piano Teacher’s Survival Guide (Faber Music, 2017)

Why bother with scales? (by which, for the purposes of this article, I also mean arpeggios and broken chords) …

In order to properly answer this question, this article will consider these related questions, of vital importance to students and teachers concerned to know about the purpose and value of teaching and learning scales:

  • What are the benefits of learning scales?
  • Is it important to use consistent fingering?
  • Why is cumulative learning better than exam cramming?
  • How can scales practice and creativity go hand-in-hand?

Let’s get started by considering the core benefits of learning scales…

Continue reading Why Bother with Scales?