Mar 2, 2021 | Practice and performance, Teaching and learning, Video
The crossed rhythms (4s against 3s) in Chopin’s Fantaisie-Impromptu are notoriously awkward. In this video, I describe some simple practice approaches to demystify the difficulties and generate the wonderful flowing, agitato effect.
Feb 13, 2021 | Musicianship, Teaching and learning, Video
In this video, I introduce the first and most important step to having a free technique, which is to feel the natural, flowing rhythm and groove of the music in your body.
Dec 28, 2020 | Teaching and learning, Video
In order to play fluently, we must connect our minds and our fingers to our inner musician. Rhythm and particularly the underlying groove of music are the main skills to practise in order to make this connection.
Sep 12, 2020 | Practice and performance, Teaching and learning, Video
What exactly is a state of flow or peak performance zone and how do you get into it? In this video I explain what flow means to me as a teacher and student of fluent musicianship and give some key pointers on how to achieve this elusive state.
Sep 6, 2020 | Artistic philosophy, Practice and performance, Teaching and learning, Video
As a fluent musician, to learn to play fast notes on the piano, you first need mental dexterity and then you need to be able to let go and play with physical and rhythmic freedom. It is the passive, muscle-memory approach that becomes obsessed with the physical...
Mar 15, 2020 | Artistic philosophy, Practice and performance, Teaching and learning
It can feel quite strange for students of fluent musicianship to be forced to think of nothing but a simple model of how music works: I won’t allow students’ focus to drift towards anything other than intending musical shapes made from rhythm cells and tonal...
