3 Benefits to Slow Practice
Slow practice should be fun, but why is it met with resistance when teachers discuss this with their students? Surely, anyone who has taken music lessons will have heard endlessly about the importance of this type of work and how it can take one's playing to that next step. Unfortunately, this type of practice has been casted aside by many because it is generally viewed as a tedious and mechanical activity. In this post, I would like to share and hopefully convince the skepti
4 Tips in Combating and Conquering Stage Anxiety
For musicians, nothing is more frustrating than preparing diligently for a concert, and then only to find yourself being plagued and hampered by stage anxiety during the performance. Here are four tips to help keep these emotions in check. Accept that nerves is a completely natural thing It does not matter if you are a veteran or new to the concert stage: everyone gets nervous. Why? Getting anxious for something is a very real human emotion and we are all effected by it one w
The Sustaining Pedal: When and How to Use It
When talking about various topics related to the technical aspects of piano playing, a lot of time is spent towards addressing the fingers, hands, arms, and the upper body. And rightfully so––without proper fundamentals, one will not be able to produce a nice, consistent tone and navigate effortlessly around the keyboard. But how do we get to that "next step" in producing that magical, captivating tone? The sustaining pedal! Let's explore how you can use this tool to elevate
How Nikolai Medtner Fell in Love with His Brother's Wife
In the summer of 1903, Nikolai Medtner visited Emil and Anna, the young composer's older brother and his wife, after a prolonged period away from each other. Except this was not any ordinary reunion. Shortly before, Medtner had suddenly called off his engagement to his fiancée because there was another woman in the picture: Emil's wife, Anna. Apparently, the two have been in love for some time (possibly before Anna's marriage to Emil) and this particular meeting was an opport
