Musical Musings

My own relationship with the piano and music in general is a thread that has run through my whole life. Whatever life throws at me it is always there, ready to inspire, console, relax and stimulate like no other art form can. A love of music is something which accompanies a person throughout their whole life; something of immense value which can never be taken away.

My aim as a teacher is primarily to help people to deepen their relationship with music. I don't believe that teaching is simply a matter of instruction. Ideally it should also involve an exchange of ideas which gradually increases awareness of the different elements of the music. I like to encourage pupils to have their own musical ideas right from the very start, even if they will change with time. Through patience and gentle encouragement they should gain the confidence to take risks, make mistakes and learn from them.

I have learnt a great deal from my pupils. They force me to express my thoughts coherently and make me see things from different perspectives. A child's imagination knows no limits and can open up so many magical worlds.

Technology is becoming increasingly intertwined with music making. Being a passionate technophile I follow the latest developments with great interest. Electronic instruments have come a long way and I see no reason why a digital piano (such as the Yamaha P80) shouldn't suffice as a learning instrument. There are huge resources of digital music (imslp.org) and musicians are beginning to use iPads and bluetooth footpedals (airturn.com) to turn their pages. Composers are using programs such as Sibelius and Finale to write their music. Whether this is a good thing during the composing process is a matter for debate, but no one can deny the professional look of the finished product.