Andrew Eales writes about piano playing and teaching in depth, exploring a wide range of important topics.
Explore Key Topics
Researched with care, written to support and encourage, and shared freely to promote better practice, playing, and teaching, you can delve into Pianodao’s extensive archive of informative articles and inspiring posts by topic:
Shorter Blog Posts
The Fermata Series of shorter blog posts expand on the site’s Key Topics, and encourage readers to pause and reflect on the intersections between our playing, teaching and wellbeing.
The series particularly applies the wisdom and wellbeing practices of daoist philosophy and qigong, encouraging piano players and teachers to attain and promote better physical and mental health, so that instead of just surviving, we’re thriving!
Fermata • The Pianodao Blog
In music, the fermata sign is an indication that we should pause for a moment before playing on. The Fermata Series similarly invites you to pause, and consider big ideas in short, reflective blog posts.
Hot off the press
For those who like to stay on top of the latest additions to the site’s content, these are the latest articles and blog posts to appear on Pianodao:
Summer Repertoire Project
The summer months provide plenty of shared opportunity to celebrate our Active Repertoire pieces with others. Join the Project here…
Why not share student images and videos?
The desire to share images and videos of piano students young and old is understandable from a number of angles. But there are importantly legal, ethical, and professional concerns to consider with care before sharing media online…
Who really needs mnemonics?
Are note-naming rhymes useful, and if so for whom? Many piano teachers suggest they aren’t, but multiple studies say otherwise. Perhaps a balanced reassessment of the topic, grounded in neuroscience, cognitive psychology, and academic research, is overdue…
Spring Repertoire Project
There’s perhaps no better time than the Spring months for embarking on exciting new piano projects, but let’s also remember to give our perennial ‘Active Repertoire’ a timely spring clean…
Patience: The Greater Peak
Much is made of the benefits of learning to play a musical instrument, and rightly so. But perhaps the greatest of all these is this: the pinnacle of developing patience. Are those eager to progress as quickly as possible in danger of missing the point?
Spotlight or quiet life?
“Making a name” for ourselves can become an unhealthy preoccupation, whether through competition in its many forms, or through self-promotion. Let’s stop and consider whether we are truly content with the path we are on…
Piano teaching: an uncertain future?
By remaining flexible and open to change, piano teachers can find innovative ways to enhance their approach, attract new students, and maintain our passion for music education.
Creativity is a Dialogue
Creativity is always a dialogue. Let’s all try to make it a richer and more meaningful one!…
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