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Pathways for Pianists

Welcome to the piano education website and online blog of teacher, published composer and author ANDREW EALES.

Latest news and Andrew’s publications:

Chethams’ Summer Piano Teacher Course

I am delighted to confirm that I have accepted an invitation to lead the Piano Teachers’ Course at this year’s Chethams International Piano Summer School. Find out more…

Art of Piano Education Awards

It is exciting to announce the full list of 2024 Finalists, the recipient of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and some additional information about the award committee voting process…

The Joy of Graded Piano

My latest set of publications, these five new repertoire books from Yorktown Music Press herald the return of one of the most iconic piano series of all time.

Graded Gillock • Three Essential Collections

William Gillock’ music continues to inspire piano students around the world with its catchy tunes and imaginative content. My three collections deliver 41 of his very best pieces, sorted by level and including my playing tips.

Naoko Ikeda Graded Collection

For this publication I have selected and edited 24 of Naoko Ikeda’s best solo works, presenting her pieces in approximate order of difficulty, grouped from Grade 2 to Grade 5 level.

How to Practise Music

The essential, pocket-sized companion for every musician!

Accessible and authoritative, HOW TO PRACTISE MUSIC is Andrew’s highly acclaimed book of tips for anyone who wants to get more out of their practice…

Supporting Your Piano Pathway

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Kerstin Strecke • Little Moods

PIANODAO MUSIC LIBRARY

Selected and reviewed by ANDREW EALES
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If you are familiar with Breitkopf & Hāretel’s Pädagogik series you will likely have come across the name Kerstin Strecke, composer of their delightful and inventive series of childrens’ books featuring Tio, the Little Keyboard Man.

Strecke’s latest is a collection of 15 original pieces, Little Moods, about which we are told,

“Little Moods aims to be a building block for versatile piano lessons with children, teenagers and adults. The 15 self-contained, round-sounding miniatures are musically easy to grasp and therefore easy to learn. They are suitable for sight-reading and are especially good for practising the use of the right pedal. If the one or the other piece is then transposed into other keys in a courageous and experimental way or taken as a starting point for one’s own improvisations, the purpose of the collection is more than fulfilled.”

When the review copy arrived a few weeks back, it got buried somewhere in the pile on my piano. Happily it has resurfaced: I am genuinely excited by this beautifully presented and keenly priced collection, and think it could prove to be a real winner….

Too Shy to Perform

THE FERMATA SERIES

A short pause for thought and reflection
Written by ANDREW EALES

My recent article The Pianist’s Humiliation offered the following advice, courtesy of my wife (an advanced practitioner in child and adolescent mental health, with more than 30 years clinical experience.):

“Never FORCE students to play in public, take exams, sing, or expect them to learn music which is beyond their present level. Reject any coercion. NO always means NO, and we should all be attentive and unquestioningly respectful to our students’ wishes.”

As teachers we might find this advice surprising, even unsettling. Many of us do our level best to encourage students to perform. But there is a thin line between encouragement and coercion, and it pains me that on occasion I have misjudged this with students.

There are many reasons why some players don’t want to perform, not least of which is the fact that some people simply have shy personalities.

The Pianist’s Humiliation

PATHWAYS FOR TEACHING

Supporting Your Piano Pathway
Written by ANDREW EALES

WARNING: The following article discusses and includes accounts of humiliation which might trigger distressing memories or thoughts for some readers.

Louise Eales is an advanced practitioner in child and adolescent mental health, with more than 30 years of clinical experience. I am grateful for her insights and collaboration in the writing of this important article.

Humiliation is a deeply painful emotional state caused by public exposure of a person’s mistakes or weaknesses. Recognised by psychologists as one of the most potent of emotions, it can have a long-lasting impact on a person’s self-esteem, wellbeing, and mental health.

A mounting body of research shows the connection between humiliation and social anxiety disorder. Additionally, it is associated with episodes of clinical depression and linked to suicidal ideation or acts.

Humiliation is fundamentally done to us. In his Psychology Today article The Psychology of Humiliation, Neel Burton M.D. explains,

“Whereas shame and guilt are primarily the outcome of self-appraisal, embarrassment and humiliation are primarily the outcome of appraisal by one or several others, even if only in thought or imagination. One critical respect in which humiliation differs from embarrassment is that, whereas we bring embarrassment upon ourselves, humiliation is something that is brought upon us by others.”

Most piano educators, from local teachers to adjudicators, examiners, and conservatoire professors, would balk at the suggestion that we would ever humiliate a student. But realistically, many of us will have inadvertently done so, and will likely also have experienced humiliation ourselves.

We have fostered a culture around piano playing that leaves players of all ages and abilities precariously vulnerable. I find many adults returning to playing recount painful episodes in their piano journey where they have felt humiliated and debilitated.

A Streak of Calm

THE FERMATA SERIES

A short pause for thought and reflection
Written by ANDREW EALES

A few years back I purchased an app called Calm, which has subsequently become one of the most popular mindfulness apps around. With its range of guided meditations, ambient music, soundscapes, breathwork exercises and ‘sleep stories’, Calm has grown to become a superb lifestyle resource, and a deserved success.

Interestingly though, Calm also delivers user stats after each session, with a badge showing one’s ‘streaks’ of consecutive days of practice. I’ve regarded this feature with vague amusement; it seems to owe more to the culture of the gambling arcade than to the ethos of the meditation traditions.

There’s even the opportunity to share your official streaks on social media platforms, something I recently did myself having reached the modest achievement of 100 consecutive days, and curious to see whether it would generate much discussion with friends.

But then an odd, and instructive thing happened: it must have been less than a week later that I ‘missed’ a day…

Discovering Smetana

PIANODAO MUSIC LIBRARY

Selected and reviewed by ANDREW EALES
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In March 2024, we celebrated the 200th anniversary of the birth of Bedřich Smetana (1824-1884), esteemed Czech composer and pivotal figure in the development of the national style during the Romantic Era.

Smetana’s compositions, including his epic tone poem cycle “Má vlast”, not only captured the essence of Bohemian landscapes and folklore but also encapsulated the national spirit during a period of intense political and cultural awakening in the region.

Smetana’s remarkable talent persisted despite hardships. By late 1874, he became completely deaf, but he continued composing until a mental breakdown in early 1884 led to his confinement in an asylum and subsequent decline.

Today, Smetana’s works remain cherished emblems of Czech cultural identity. But what of his piano music? Like many, I have remained largely unfamiliar with the significant body of solo repertoire Smetana composed, the bicentenary year thus providing an opportunity for discovery.

I am most grateful to publishers Bärenreiter for helping me evaluate Smetana’s legacy, kindly supplying me with their editions of his piano works, which presently appear in the seven volumes reviewed below…

From the Inside Out

THE FERMATA SERIES

A short pause for thought and reflection
Written by ANDREW EALES

The Easter weekend is a time at which Christians around the world reflect on rebirth. If Good Friday addresses our alienation from God and one another, Easter Sunday affirms the power of forgiveness, reconciliation and renewal. A fresh start with a clean slate is possible, a “pure heart” restored.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

The Beatitudes, Gospel of Matthew, 5:8

I am not a church-goer. Nor can I claim to have seen God. And yet, whether we are believers or not, the powerful imagery of the Easter story can prompt our desire to reconnect with the spiritual, the eternal, and with each other.

The Gradebusters Series

PIANODAO MUSIC LIBRARY

Selected and reviewed by ANDREW EALES
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Grade exams getting you down?
Who are you going to call?… GRADEBUSTERS!!

Gradebusters is a cheekily-titled series from Hal Leonard, which launched in 2019 with Grade 1 books for piano, violin, cello, flute, clarinet, trumpet, alto and tenor sax.

The series now encompasses five solo piano books, respectively for Grades 1 to 5, each delivering “15 awesome solos”, and together serving up a rich feast of 75 universally popular and neatly arranged songs that piano players everywhere will be keen to play.

A Fresh Perspective

THE FERMATA SERIES

A short pause for thought and reflection
Written by ANDREW EALES

We often hear self-help gurus encouraging us to stop worrying about what others think of our choices, opinions, abilities, behaviour, or work.

And they have a point: many of us become trapped in the mindset of the “people-pleaser”. If we allow ourselves to be manipulated or bullied by others, we can easily lose sight of our own worth and core values. A decision not to care what others think about us can be emancipating.

But wait. If we stop caring about what others think, how long before we stop caring about them at all?

Mutual understanding of each other’s ideas, feelings and perspectives is a crucial foundation for building empathetic, honest relationships. If we limit ourselves to our own perspective, ignoring the opinions, ideas, insights and beliefs of others, we can quickly become arrogant and indifferent.

As the Chinese saying goes,

“However good your eye-sight, you still can’t see the back of your own head.”

We may not always agree with the opinions of others, but shutting them out fundamentally isolates us, and can limit our potential for growth. Clearly a balance is needed, along with an ability to accept the perspectives of others without feeling belittled.

Art of Piano Education Awards

The Art of Piano Education Awards is a significant new annual event which aims to celebrate excellence and innovation, and is set to become a calendar highlight…

Spearheaded by Elena Cobb of EVC Music, the first event will take place on 17 June 2024 in the Elgar Room at London’s prestigious Royal Albert Hall during this year’s annual Star Prize Festival.

I am delighted to have accepted the role of President for this inaugural year. In this capacity, I am chairing the Awards Committee, also comprising Sally Cathcart, David Barton and Murray McLachlin, and on the day I will host the public presentations.

Read on for more information about the Awards, the full Shortlist of Finalists, and the recipient of our Lifetime Achievement Award…

The Power of Returning

THE FERMATA SERIES

A short pause for thought and reflection
Written by ANDREW EALES

If you feel you have lost your momentum or enthusiasm for playing the piano, it’s time to consider the ‘power of returning’…

Celtic Piano Music • Elementary

PIANODAO MUSIC LIBRARY

Selected and reviewed by ANDREW EALES
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EVC Music is a publisher who continue to enjoy an interesting journey. From early beginnings a few years ago, publishing founder Elena Cobb’s music but soon growing to include music of upcoming composers she wanted to support, the publisher has developed a catalogue of music by composers as highly respected as Nikki Iles, Heather Hammond, Graham Lynch, Sam Wedgwood and Donald Thomson.

The latter has long been working in the sidelines as a music engraver for publishers such as Kevin Mayhew and Faber Music, but as a composer burst onto the scene with his award-nominated and deservedly popular series of Celtic Piano Music books, reviewed here, which I have found appeal to intermediate players of all ages.

Thomson is now back with more, and his latest collection in the Celtic Piano Music series offers 21 new pieces suitable for elementary players, equivalent to UK Initial to Grade 2 level.

Sporting a classy cover that builds on the image of the original collections, and with the high quality smooth cream paper that EVC Music have recently switched to, this is a genuinely impressive publication which can only further enhance EVC Music’s reputation for delivering quality product, and for being a publisher with an enviable track record for spotting and bringing to market some of the best new music around.

As this is an EVC publication, I must remind readers that I sometimes assist the publisher as a consultant on particular projects. However, let me confirm that this is not one of those, and that until the review copy landed on my door mat I had no idea about this book.

So as independent agents together, let’s discover what the collection offers…

More Animal Jazz

PIANODAO MUSIC LIBRARY

Selected and reviewed by ANDREW EALES
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Reviewing Barbara Snow’s infectious Animal Jazz back in 2016, I concluded,

“What impresses me most with this collection is the way in which the composer is able to introduce so much character to each of these highly accessible pieces, but without adding unnecessary complexity in the process.
I can highly recommend ‘Animal Jazz’ as a thoroughly charming collection of jazzy pieces, and suspect my own younger students are going to love it!”

Happily, Snow is back with another collection, More Animal Jazz, once again brought to us by boutique publishing house Edition HH. Let’s find out more…

Women and the Piano

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Products featured here are selected for review by ANDREW EALES
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When I reviewed Susan Tomes’ book The Piano: A History in 100 Pieces, I concluded that it,

“… is quite simply an essential purchase for any piano enthusiast, offering as it does a veritable feast of salient information and insight into the instrument and music which we love so much.”

Those who enjoyed that book will undoubtedly be eager to read it’s sequel, and are in for a treat. Tomes’ latest book, Women and the Piano: A History in 50 Lives, is another compelling read…

High Mountain, Flowing Water

THE FERMATA SERIES

A short pause for thought and reflection
Written by ANDREW EALES

A famous folk tale, recounted in the Annals of Lu Buwei (239 BCE) tells the story of a special friendship which has become immortalised in Chinese lore…

Jakub Metelka • The Secret Garden

PIANODAO MUSIC LIBRARY

Selected and reviewed by ANDREW EALES
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Jakub Metelka has proven one of the most interesting piano composers to emerge in recent years, his educational music offering genuinely useful content embedded in attractive pieces which are enjoyable to play, and notably concise.

Metelka’s latest offering is The Secret Garden, brought to us by Bärenreiter, who previously also published his Modern Piano Studies (2019) reviewed here and Little Virtuoso (2021) reviewed here.

This new collection, suitable for early advanced players at around UK Grade 7 level, will undoubtedly further enhance Metelka’s growing international standing, and as with his previous work I found myself quickly drawn into his imaginative sound world and delighted by what I discovered within…

Running in place of horses

THE FERMATA SERIES

A short pause for thought and reflection
Written by ANDREW EALES

This striking passage from a classic of ancient Chinese wisdom offers many analogies and images that are worth pondering:

“Don’t run in place of horses,
or you’ll exhaust your strength.
Don’t fly in place of birds,
or you’ll wear out your wings.
Don’t act before others,
so you can observe their examples.
If you stir, you lose your position;
Be calm, and you’ll spontaneously succeed.”

Guanzi, attributed to Guan Yiwu (725-645 BCE), translated Thomas Cleary
The Way of the World: Readings in Chinese Philosophy (2009)

The Piano Player • Classical Chillout

PIANODAO MUSIC LIBRARY

Selected and reviewed by ANDREW EALES
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Faber Music’s Piano Player series of themed collections for late intermediate players have been a consistent highlight of the past two years, each deliciously presented volume sporting the distinctive artwork of Edward Bawden, and proving especially apt and popular with adult music enthusiasts.

The full series has been reviewed here on Pianodao, and with consistent praise. Not only so, but adult learners have been bringing the books to their lessons at my studio, and shown themselves similarly keen.

The latest addition to the series is Classical Chillout, and can be welcomed with particular enthusiasm, and not just by existing fans of the series. This new collection could also be an answer to the prayers of those still searching for the perfect, if elusive, mix of relaxing piano solos.

So let’s breathe in, and take a mindful look…

Spring Awakening

THE FERMATA SERIES

A short pause for thought and reflection
Written by ANDREW EALES

“When all the world appears to be in a tumult, and nature itself is feeling the assault of climate change, the seasons retain their essential rhythm. Yes, fall gives us a premonition of winter, but then winter will be forced to relent, once again, to the new beginnings of soft greens, longer light, and the sweet air of spring.”

Madeleine M. Kunin

The Chinese New Year heralds the fifteen day Spring Festival, and culminates in the Lantern Festival celebrated this weekend.

It perhaps seems odd to celebrate the arrival of Spring as early as February, several weeks before the equinox, but the stirrings of new life and fresh shoots are surely well under way, and the blossom appearing on the trees in our neighbourhood suggest that the Chinese have it right!

The Joy of Graded Piano

PIANODAO MUSIC LIBRARY

Selected and reviewed by ANDREW EALES
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The Joy of Graded Piano is a set of five new repertoire books from Yorktown Music Press, and heralds the return of one of the most iconic piano series of all time.

The five books cover Grades 1-5, offering an enjoyable and well-rounded introduction to the riches of the piano repertoire.

Denes Agay’s Joy of… piano books are one of the great achievements of music publishing. Agay’s anthologies began to appear in 1955, and he went on to produce more than 50 titles for the series, collectively selling millions of copies. These books remain popular with piano students, players, and teachers around the world to this very day, although much else has changed.

This new series of graded piano anthologies builds on that remarkable legacy with care, drawing together new titles to reflect developments in piano education and musical preferences that have occurred within the intervening decades.

It is a pleasure and a privilege to have worked with the publishers on the development of this series over the last three years:

selecting the 120 included works
editing them afresh, looking to the most authoritative sources, and adding new fingering where needed
writing background notes and practice tips for each and every piece across the series

Using the UK grade exam system as a guide, I have tried to ensure each book in the series offers a wide selection of repertoire, including many of the “greatest hits” of the Baroque, Classical and Romantic piano literature, alongside brilliant newer pieces composed by women and men from all around the world, right up to the present day.

Henle • Chinese Piano Music

PIANODAO MUSIC LIBRARY

Selected and reviewed by ANDREW EALES
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Landmark music publications are arriving thick and fast in 2024, and a new edition from Henle Verlag may prove to be one of the most significant of all.

Classical piano playing has become hugely popular in China in recent years, its cultural popularity contributing to the rise of many impressive concert artists. Chinese pianists are becoming ever more prominent in music schools, international competitions, and concert halls worldwide. It’s not surprising that the music of Chinese composers is also getting more attention.

Riding this wave, Henle’s newly released Chinese Piano Music: Works of the 20th Century brings us superb scores of ten of the most pivotal Chinese works to emerge between 1947 and 1979, music that was formative in the development of a popular national style.

Curated by concert pianist Jingxian (Jane) Xie, this compilation includes music suitable for late intermediate (UK Grade 5) to diploma level players. The works are mostly showpieces that combine a beautiful understanding of pianism with the captivating flavour of traditional Chinese music and culture.

Many of these miniatures are already appearing as encores in the world’s most distinguished concert halls; all are likely to do so in the coming years.

While these composer names and piece titles may be new to many, it is clearly time to discover them, and the familiar Henle Urtext house style brings its own assurance that this is music which should not be ignored…