Monthly Musical Miscellany – January 2026
It’s MMM time! Welcome to the January edition. This month’s round up is very piano-heavy, including a magnificent concert lecture by Brendel, and a few other...
The Sunday Listen: 'Dionysus' by Tin Hat (2007)
This week’s listen is ‘Dionysus’ by Tin Hat Trio — a piece storiated with much of the world’s greatest traditions of diasporic music-making – folk song,...
Studio Notice: 12-13 January Lesson Notes Unavailable
Hi all! Well Carnival term is now in full swing, and it’s been lovely to settle back into regular lessons again. A quick note to say that I am not going to...
The Sunday Listen: 'Silverwater' by The Necks (2009)
And we’re back! This week’s Sunday Listen is ‘Silverwater’ by The Necks, a piece that quietly rearranges how we think about time, attention, and what music...
Practise Paper #2: New Year's Reflections
‘Improvisation’ by Kandinsky One of the hardest things about learning an instrument has surprisingly little to do with notes, technique, or “playing well.”...
Studio Update: New Term Starts This Monday!
From The Cold Yeare (1614) Hi folks, A very quick note to say that next term, Carnival, is already upon us! This will run for six weeks, 5 January to 15...
Happy New Year!
Fellow pianists and students, Just a short note to wish you all a very happy New Year, and to say a sincere thank you for the dedication, conversations, and...
Opportunity: Part-Time Music Teacher
Hi folks, I’m just sharing this job ad I’ve put out. If you know anyone who is interested, please do pass along! Opportunity: Part-Time Music Teacher...
Studio Notice: Lesson Notes
Hi everyone, Just a very quick note to let those of you who had lessons between Thursday 11 December and Saturday 13 December know that you won’t be...
Monthly Musical Miscellany – December 2025
Well didn’t the last couple of months rush by? In this month’s MMM: a few important practical updates as we head towards the end of the year, along with a...
Monthly Musical Miscellany – November 2025
Hello all! A few updates as we move into the end of the year — admin, new music, a few Youtube recommendations, and (naturally) some unsolicited thoughts...
The Sunday Listen: 'Monk's Dream' (Live in Concert, 1989) by McCoy Tyner Trio
During one of my recent YouTube deep dives I got to revisit this absolutely barnstorming live performance by the late, great McCoy Tyner and his trio, and...
Monthly Musical Miscellany – October 2025
Hi folks, I’m on half-term break at the moment, so this month’s miscellany will need to be short and sweet. Happy practising! Will Opening times 2025 & 2026...
Studio Notice: Half Term / Halloween Closure
Hi everyone! Just a quick note to let you know that I’ll be away from Tuesday 28 October 2025, until Monday 3 November 2025. Normal lessons resume from...
The Sunday Listen: Sonata No. 7 in B flat Major, 3rd movement by Prokofiev
If the idea of sticking your head inside a Soviet cement mixer sounds like a fun, you might be with me on this one… The ‘Precipitato’ is perhaps Prokofiev’s...
A quick plug! Hastings Poet-a-thon this Saturday
Hi all, I hope you’ll allow me a quick bit of cross-promotion… This Saturday 11 October, A LOAD OF POETS (a live literature event I helped to set up 3 years...
The Sunday Listen: 'Lwonesome Tonight' by PJ Harvey
One of the upsides of your parents getting older is they get more and more interested in legacy and finding out about their own ancestry. When death is...
The Sunday Listen: 'Step Right Up' by Tom Waits
Tom Waits’ ‘Step Right Up’ (1976) is one of those tracks that feels half-song, half-theatre. On the surface, it’s a fast-talking parody of advertising, where...
September 2025 Musical Miscellany: Lagoon Music, Hastings Jazz Festival, Fast Finger Technique, Policy Update
Happy Sunday one and all! A few things to share with you this month — some practical updates, a few recommendations, and even a piano looking for a good...
The Sunday Listen: 'On The Sunny Side of the Ocean' by John Fahey
In my studio (or, erm, my living room, really, let’s be honest), some of you may have noticed a single black and white photo on my bookshelves. The photo is...