My book ‘Speaking the Piano‘ was published last week, and by a happy coincidence on the same day it received a five-star review from Jessica Duchen in the July issue of BBC Music magazine. (see photo)

‘Susan Tomes’s insights as a performer and teacher are fully matched by her literary eloquence: at the piano or on the page, her style is marked by undemonstrative, perceptive and elegant turns of phrase, in every sense. Drawing on her long experience as performer, chamber musician, teacher and the convenor of a piano club for eager amateurs, she translates with crystalline clarity the elusive question of the multifarious interferences between pianists and the music they wish to express. Physical difficulties, for example: ‘We could all be wonderful musicians if it weren’t for the fact that we have to play instruments,’ as Tomes’s teacher György Sebök used to say. Her solutions are intriguing and inspiring…

…Though the book is chiefly geared to pianists, any music lover would find fascination and entertainment here: there are gems on every page.’

If you would like to read more about the background to this book, have a look at my post on the publisher’s blog, Proofed.