Five tips for your left hand
The left hand can pose problems for many a pianist, says Melanie Spanswick
Category: Magazine
10 motivational piano practice tips
Motivation can be a tricky subject for pianists of all ages, says Melanie Spanswick Practising the piano and making progress are not always synonymous. Practising…
Five tips for piano repertoire selection
Choice of repertoire can be a stumbling-block for piano students needing to balance the needs of private practice with public performance, says Melanie Spanswick Piano…
In praise of slow practice
Practising at very slow speeds whilst employing total concentration can transform a pianist’s playing, says Melanie Spanswick
Helpful tips to improve your piano fingering
Fingering is a crucial element in piano playing and, surprisingly, it’s often overlooked even at advanced levels, says Melanie Spanswick
Five tips for instantly improving your piano performance
Whether you are a younger or older player, or a beginner or very advanced pianist, the following suggestions will hopefully help to instantly improve …
The importance of breath control for pianists
Once you have assimilated breath control, this useful skill can be added to the smorgasbord of performing tools in your pianist’s ever-increasing ar…
Advice: Understanding musical instrument insurance
Losing an instrument is the nightmare scenario. But there is a lifeline – musical instrument insurance is the fast, hassle-free way to keep on playi…
Ten tips for tonal beauty
Technical virtuosity is only one part of the pianist's armoury. Melanie Spanswick offers MUSIC:ED readers her checklist for creating a beauty of sound…
Interview: Pete West, retired Head of Camden Music Service
MUSIC:ED asks recently retired Head of Camden Music Service, Pete West, how music education has evolved in the borough since he joined the Service 30 …
Rhythm of Freedom – musical pathways for prisoners in Malaysia
A groundbreaking scheme, Rhythm of Freedom, is helping Malaysian prisoners to use music as therapy, skill-building and a path to a new career once the…
Zechariah Goh: an interview with the Singaporean composer
Singaporean composer, Zechariah Goh, was commissioned to write 'The Spirit Rejoices', the compulsory set piece for the final of the inaugural World Ch…
Time and the Social Model: ‘Who are you and what do you need to flourish?’
Amble Skuse, a composer and musician, joins commissioning programme for disabled artists, Unlimited's ongoing discussion, ‘Whose Social Model?’
How music can transform the lives of refugees
Sydney-based Music for Refugees and Melbourne’s RISE Refugees, Survivors and Ex-Detainees serve the needs of Australia's refugees with a range of mu…
Opinion: Can music produce the world’s next Einstein?
Music teachers today are under more pressure than ever to demonstrate how the arts remain relevant in a STEM-focused world. But how do we separate fac…
The Belt and Road World Choir Festival: looking back, looking forward
The inaugural Belt and Road World Choir Festival, which took place in Hong Kong in July 2018, was programmed and presented by the World Youth and Chil…
Introducing The King’s Singers
The King's Singers are coming to Hong Kong in July where they are Resident Artists of the 2019 World Youth & Children’s Choir Festival. Brian Chiu, …
Kidumusic – should we raise the bar?
Kids' music is big business, particularly on the internet. But are authenticity and originality sacrificed for quick-fix clicks?
Celebrating Clara Schumann: an icon for women in music
Kathryn Knight, CEO of music technology company Tido, discusses how pianist and composer Clara Schumann (1819–1896) is an inspirational figure for women today. What do…
Music That Unites
Recent events across the world – from the mosque killings in New Zealand to the ugly side of Brexit in the UK – will have…