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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.
Jeremy Denk mentions my book in this week’s New Yorker
A kind reader in the US (thank you Diana) has alerted me to the fact that my book Women and the Piano is one of Jeremy Denk's choices in this week's New Yorker magazine. New York pianist and writer Jeremy Denk was asked to recommend a few books that deal with the...
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‘Search for a way to make it natural’
The other day I was listening to a pianist playing the fearsome second movement of the César Franch Sonata for violin and piano. The piano part is highly virtuosic and, apart from anything else, a very good proof of the fact that these big piano parts are not...
Music and longevity
I go to quite a lot of concerts given by amateur musicians - partly because there's a big amateur music scene in the city where I live, and partly because I often have friends and neighbours playing in the concerts. Of course my particular interest is piano. It dawned...
BBC Music: book review, July 2018
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...
How would Robert Schumann design his own record cover?
I have been practising a lot of Schumann's music lately in preparation for various music festivals over the summer. It's always a pleasure to play Schumann and when you play a lot of different compositions, you get really into his way of thinking. His mindset feels...
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...