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I’ve been writing this blog since 2009, but there still seem to be plenty of interesting topics to mull over. You can subscribe (it’s free) to follow the blog by email – each new post will pop into your inbox.
Playing at Kettle’s Yard in Cambridge
I've been in Cambridge, where I played a solo recital on Thursday at Kettle's Yard (see photo), a delightful art gallery/museum I used to love visiting when I was a student. The audience at Kettle's Yard has a particular character - perhaps it's partly my expectation,...
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A view seen through a window
We recently visited a lovely cafe situated on a cliff top near the sea in East Lothian. The walk to the cafe took us along the cliffs in splendid weather with seagulls wheeling around us, a brisk wind blowing (as usual) and the sea sparkling. We went inside the cafe...
‘The Piano – a History in 100 Pieces’ pops up in the Irish Independent
A belated review of my book The Piano - a History in 100 Pieces has been prompted by a debate on X, formerly known as Twitter. The debate began when comedian and actor Adrian Edmondson was the guest on Desert Island Discs and declared (half-humorously, I think) that...
First glimpse of ‘Speaking the Piano’
My new book 'Speaking the Piano' is due out from Boydell Press in about three weeks' time. It's about my experiences of learning and teaching music. In essence it's a love letter to the joys and benefits of learning an instrument to a high level. Today I received my...
BBC Young Musician and being comfortable with the cameras
I was away at the time of BBC Young Musician but have been catching up with the final instalments. As usual, I was tremendously impressed with the standard of playing in every instrumental category. Really, did my colleagues and I play as well as that when we were...
The ‘heavenly length’ of Schubert’s late works
This week I'm preparing for the last of my lecture-recital series in The Brunton Theatre in Musselburgh. On Saturday afternoon I'll be speaking about - and performing - Schubert's late A major piano sonata, one of the masterpieces of his last year. These...
In Lyon with fellow jury member Sergey Kravchenko
Today I received this nice photo from the Russian violinist and Moscow Conservatoire professor Sergey Kravchenko. It was taken by his wife and shows me and Mr Kravchenko at the drinks party aboard the houseboat 'La Platforme' in the Rhone after the final concert of...
Lyon Chamber Music Competition – jury notes
I'm back from chairing the jury at CIMCL, the Lyon International Chamber Music Competition. It was won by the Trio Messiaen from Paris, who swept the board with almost all of the available prizes. In 2nd place was the Trio Hélios, also from Paris, and in 3rd place was...
Looking forward to spring weather in France
Tomorrow I'm off to France to spend a week on the jury of the Lyon International Chamber Music Competition. This year the competition is for piano trio - the classic combination of piano, violin and cello. From time to time I come across people who think -very...
Ice dancing
On a walk today I found myself passing the ice skating rink ('the coolest place in town!') where my late father was a devoted member of the skating club for about fifty years. He went every Saturday evening and every Sunday afternoon. We children tried ice skating as...
Checking proofs of my new book
Over the last few days I have been checking the proofs of my new book, Speaking the Piano, due out in June from Boydell Press (see photo). Before we got to this point, there have been several other stages of editing. Various friends read the manuscript and gave their...
Snow and cancellations
We're in the grip of bitter winter weather. For several days it's felt as if the country has ground to a halt while 'The Beast from the East' roars around us. My inbox is full of mail from fellow free-lancers who, like me, have had concerts cancelled because of the...
5-star ‘Winterplay’ review in The Scotsman
Winterplay - Beethoven concert, Queen's Hall, Edinburgh 'The dark days of February have been indelibly brightened by Winterplay, a new weekend chamber music festival curated by pianist Susan Tomes. With workshops for children and concerts featuring teenage talent and...
Scotsman Magazine article about Winterplay
It's just ten days now until the Winterplay mini-festival of chamber music in the Queen's Hall in Edinburgh. My tally of organisational emails has probably doubled since I last reported that I had written 568 emails relating to the festival - and of course I was only...
‘Speaking the Piano’ – my new book, due out in June
I have a new book, Speaking the Piano, due out in June from Boydell Press. My previous four books are about performance. This new one is about my experiences of learning and teaching (though performance sneaks in too). The title was inspired by a remark of Artur...