play it again

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 can be a tedious pursuit, demanding complete focus and concentration,…

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 students occasionally struggle to find appropriate repertoire. By…

Practising at very slow speeds whilst employing total concentration can transform a pianist’s playing, says Melanie Spanswick

Fingering is a crucial element in piano playing and, surprisingly, it’s often overlooked even at advanced levels, says Melanie Spanswick

Whether you are a younger or older player, or a beginner or very advanced pianist, the following suggestions will hopefully help to instantly improve your performance, says Melanie Spanswick

Once you have assimilated breath control, this useful skill can be added to the smorgasbord of performing tools in your pianist’s ever-increasing armoury, says Melanie Spanswick

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 which goes beyond the skin-deep

An overriding issue for many students is the need for breathing space during performance. This is seemingly such an obvious point, but it’s one which is challenging to put into practice

It may seem counter-intuitive, but spending structured practice time away from the instrument can reap rewards for pianists, improving memory and visualisation skills

It may seem counter-intuitive, but spending structured practice time away from the instrument can reap rewards for pianists, impriving memory and visualisation skills. Melanie Spanswick – pianist, writer, teacher, adjudicator and composer –…