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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.
Trying pianos at Steinway Hall
I was at Steinway Hall in London the other day to try some pianos for a recording project later this year (of which more news soon). Chief technician Ulrich Gerharz had helped me - after discussing the repertoire and the venue - to whittle the choice down to two...
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The stages that lead up to submitting your book to the publisher
One of my blog readers recently asked me what stages I had to go through before my latest book was accepted by Yale University Press. He was surprised by how complex the process was, so I thought others might find it interesting too. I don't know how it is with other...
Different kinds of live music
I was lying awake in the night, with music playing in my head as it usually does when I'm awake in the wee small hours. Sometimes I set the music going consciously, as for example when I'm 'practising' something I'm currently trying to learn or memorise. At other...
ECMA in Florence
I'm off to Italy to teach for a week on the European Chamber Music Academy course. ECMA is an unusual organisation which moves around during the year, holding courses at a number of 'host institutions' in different parts of Europe. It offers high-level coaching to...
Trying to gain a larger readership …
A few months ago, disheartened by the difficulty of 'growing' my blog readership, I consulted some of my students about the situation. I say 'students' but in fact they are all high-achieving young professionals who come for the occasional coaching. They all agreed...
I am a published photographer!
The Guardian weekend magazine has a page, 'Your Pictures', where they ask for photo contributions on a given theme. For today, the theme was 'produce'. I sent in a photo of our favourite Egyptian geese, whom we've been feeding for years on visits to Richmond Park....
My Mozart on ‘Summer CD Review’ this Sat
This Saturday, BBC Radio 3's 'Summer CD Review' has selected my Mozart piano and violin sonatas e-album, made with violinist Erich Höbarth, as one of their summer recommendations. You can see Saturday's playlist for the programme here. The recordings were made live at...
The piano on which John Lennon recorded…
Sad news this week that Steinway Pianos is to be sold to a private equity company. What does this mean for pianists? On the face of it, nothing; it's just a change of owner for the firm. But a friend writes from New York that the Steinway showroom on Manhattan's 57th...
Glasto musings
Listened to Sir Mick Jagger being interviewed about his upcoming Glastonbury appearance by John Humphrys on the Today programme this morning. John asked Mick what had changed about rock music since he started his career. Mick's reply ranged over things like lyrics,...
Selling books in Tokyo
Noriko Ogawa, who translated my book 'Out of Silence' into Japanese, has been giving concerts in Japan, from where she sent me this photo of our lovely Japanese editor from the publishing firm Shunjusha. Fumiko-san, our editor, had brought some copies of the Japanese...
Sunday’s Wigmore
I'm really looking forward to Sunday's concert at Wigmore Hall with Erich Höbarth. It's the second in our pair of concerts this season featuring duo sonatas by Mozart for piano and violin. What a treat it has been to be so closely involved with this music - and this...
Prussia Cove fundraising concerts
I have had a lovely day playing chamber music with two fine musicians I met last year at Prussia Cove during the IMS 'open chamber music seminar' - Bogdan Bozovic and Anita Leuzinger. They flew in specially from Switzerland. Together with Erich Höbarth we're doing a...
Soaking up music like a sponge
I'm almost at the end of a longish period of learning the notes of a batch of works I'll be playing over the summer in different concerts and festivals. The large pile of music on the side of my piano has loomed fearsomely over me for a while, but is now starting to...
The value of your instrument
Feeling slightly disturbed by large advert in today's Guardian: 'Do you know the value of your instrument?' it asks, above a photo of 'A Fine French Violin by JB Vuillaume'. It goes on, 'The last 20 years have seen a huge price increase in the value of musical...
Letter in today’s Guardian
In today's Guardian I have a letter on the subject of political lobbying, which is headline news in the UK at the moment. The letter was cut before being published, and I felt that part of my specific point had been lost, so in case anyone would like to read the full...