On Tuesday morning, 19 October, I’m giving a masterclass in ‘the art of piano chamber music’ in the Recital Hall of the Royal College of Music in South Kensington from 10am-1pm. Tickets are free, but you have to book them via this link or by calling the RCM box office on 020 7591 4314.
I’ll be working with three piano trios from the RCM, and we’ll be exploring a movement of Beethoven’s ‘Archduke’ Trio opus 97, a couple of movements of Mendelssohn’s D minor trio, and Mozart’s C major Trio K548. The morning will focus particularly on the role of the pianist and of the piano part in this music. The RCM runs a series of masterclasses which are free to the public and well worth attending, so you’re very welcome to come along and listen on Tuesday morning if you can.
Your masterclass is in the morning, Susan. Do you find that you play better at certain times of the day than at others? I have some professional musician friends who say that they are rarely at their best when playing during daylight hours. They think this is because of so many years of evening concerts. Even the ones who regularly rise early in the morning, still don’t like to practice till after lunch, or preferably even later in the afternoon or evening.
Alas, I think I’m more of a morning person. I rather enjoy morning concerts for that reason, though of course I’m used to playing concerts in the evening, and I appreciate the relaxed atmosphere of evening concerts, when listeners have finished their work for the day. As for energy levels, however, mine are definitely higher in the morning, and I do my best practice then.