June 2022
E27: ABRSM Piano Syllabus 2023 & 2024- Review
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Can ABRSM bounce back from their last syllabus I was highly critical of?
Listen to this episode for a comprehensive review of the new set of books, including audio clips of many of the new pieces.
I also discuss some of the recent controversial issues regarding their operational and business challenges
A brief bulletpoint summary of my review:
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May 2022
E26: The #1 psychological skill you need to practise at the piano to be deeply musical
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The first in a series looking at the most essential mental habits to practise at the piano that will give you the quickest and most profound progress. These are the things I refer to constantly when I’m teaching, and covers aspects of musicianship that almost all teachers consider unteachable- considered to be innate qualities in talented students. But I can show you how to develop this […]
April 2022
E25: Interview with Matt Herskowitz- phenomenal classical and jazz virtuoso pianist with deep soul
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Matt Herskowitz is quite simply one of the most skilful, versatile, and soulful pianists on the planet.
Matt shines in many genres, but it’s his outstanding work jazzing up classical music in particular that was the reason I absolutely had to chat with him for the podcast!
I include many generous audio clips of Matt’s playing during the interview to give you a taste of what I love […]
E24: Brain Lateralisation Episode 3- Hands-on coaching at the piano
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A practical masterclass demonstrating how an understanding of the two brain hemispheres can help us deal with performance anxiety, and help us identify and deal with obstacles to our natural musicianship when learning and practising a new piece.
Show Notes
- [3:05] Learning hands separately or together?
- [7:40] Psychological strategies for dealing with performance anxiety, and finding an optimal state of mind before we start to practice […]
E23: Brain Lateralisation Episode 2- How to start applying these concepts to our piano playing
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A further introduction into how an understanding of the two brain hemispheres can help us with aspects of musicianship that are normally considered ‘unteachable’!
Show Notes
- [2:30] Summing up important concepts from the last episode
- [6:35] The neuroscience of the hemispheres is still in a (sometimes controversial) process of discovery- what may be most useful for musicians is to explore the two distinct ways of perceiving […]
E22: Brain Lateralisation Episode 1- Techniques For Deep Musicality
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An introduction into how an understanding of the two brain hemispheres can help us with aspects of musicianship that are normally considered ‘unteachable’!
Show Notes
- [6:30] The story of how I came to understand the fundamental difference between the two brain hemispheres. The difference between analytic & holistic processing. Narrow focus & broad focus
- [10:35] The evolutionary explanation for divided brains
- [14:15] Right hemisphere gives the […]
October 2021
E21: Leeds International Piano Competition (‘The Leeds’) 2021 Review
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Not only just a review of the 2021 Leeds International Piano Competition, but also a wider examination of the issues brought up by competition in music, the role of music in communities, interviews with some of my favourite competitors including the winner Alim Beisembayev, audio clips from the unofficially linked Leeds Pub Piano Competition event, discussion with the competitors about how they deal with the nerves […]
E20: LCM (London College of Music) 2021 Piano Syllabus- Review
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After a long wait, LCM have published a brand new piano syllabus- which covers exams from Pre-Preparatory level to Grade 8. Find out how it compares to ABRSM, Trinity, and Rockschool Classical’s recent new syllabuses.
A written summary of this review is available here: https://heartofthepiano.com/summary-of-podcast-review-lcm-london-college-of-music-2021-piano-syllabus/
Show Notes
- Who are LCM/ London College of Music? [0:50]
- The previous 2018-2020 LCM […]
July 2021
E19: Rockschool Rock/Pop Piano Syllabus- Review
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Listen to see why I’m so enthusiastic about Rockschool’s Rock/Pop Piano grades for piano! Following on from my previous review, I also give more information for those considering the new Rockschool Classical grades.
Show Notes
- Excellent for fixing common rhythmic weaknesses in classical students [3:05]
- The difference between the graded exams and the performance certificates [4:30]
- The improvisation […]
June 2021
E18: Rockschool New Classical Piano Syllabus 2021- Review
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Rockschool has recently released an exciting new set of classical piano grades! Listen to this review to find out their strengths and weaknesses, including my strong misgivings.
Show Notes
- Identity crisis [2:50]
- No mention of balanced programme [5:50]
- Difficult to assess across different styles with no requirement for balanced programme [6:40]
- Excellent representation of women and BIPOC [9:46]
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September 2020
E17: Why I’m moving my students from ABRSM to Trinity- reviews of their new 2021 piano syllabuses
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The Heart of the Piano Podcast is back with a review of the new piano syllabuses from ABRSM and Trinity, which take you from an Initial Grade to Grade 8. Listen to the podcast to discover some reasons why me and many other piano teachers are now defecting from ABRSM to Trinity!
December 2019
E16: Interview with Karl Lutchmayer- British-Indian Concert Pianist, Steinway Artist, Academic, and Rock Keyboardist!
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An absorbing, enlightening and entertaining conversation with Karl Luthmayer- musical raconteur, international concert pianist, academic, rock star keyboardist & theremin player in a prog-rock band!
As well as chatting about Karl’s career and piano playing, we discuss his fascinating research on facial expressiveness in piano performers, the history and aesthetics of piano concert arrangements, the explosion of interest in Western classical music in India, concert etiquette and […]
April 2019
E14: Interview with Karen Bulmer of the Music, Mind, and Movement Podcast
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I was so excited about interviewing Karen Bulmer that it only very recently occurred to me after recording the interview that Karen is not actually a pianist! But every musician will get so much from listening to this episode, and I think particularly us pianists who often have to juggle so many things happening at once in our music will really benefit from so much of […]
E13: Interview with Adam Gatehouse, Artistic Director of the Leeds International Piano Competition
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The Leeds International Piano Competition is one of the top 3 most important and prestigious piano competitions in the world, with previous finalists such as Murray Perahia, Mitsuko Uchida, András Schiff… and dozens more names that anybody familiar with classical pianists will recognise instantly as being in the top row of the best, most important, and most successful artists in the business.
The competition has always owed […]
March 2019
E12: Interview with Olga Georgievskaya, Russian Concert Pianist
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Olga is not only a superb pianist- her CD shows off her deep soulful & expressive playing with a highly refined ear for counterpoint, layers and structure- but her concert transcription of the Vitali Chaconne for solo piano is an absolute masterpiece, and she has also done a PhD on polyphony in Rachmaninov’s music… I absolutely had to interview her!
I’m afraid my enthusiasm for details about […]