Heart of the Piano Podcast

Passionate, irreverent and often opinionated discussions on all things piano related as well as interviews, news, tips and reviews.

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Episodes

E10: Interview with Erica Worth, editor of Pianist Magazine

Erica is the editor of UK-based Pianist Magazine, an internationally renowned magazine for people who love to play the piano. It features interviews with top concert pianists, full-length features on current issues, how-to piano lessons, CD and sheet music reviews, Questions and Answers, teaching tips and concert highlights. I thought, who better to chat with than the editor of one of the world’s top piano magazines for interesting opinions and conversations on all things piano related! Erica or...

Mar 07, 2019•59 min•Ep. 10

E09: Interview with Melvin Besbrode of Besbrode Pianos- one of the biggest piano stores in the UK

This time, my friend Andy Cole did the interviewing, chatting with Melvin Besbrode, owner of one of the biggest piano stores in the UK- situated in Leeds. It’s well worth listening to even if you’re not buying a piano- very interesting topics are covered such as the monumental popularity of the piano in China & Asia, and little-known reasons how the piano came to be such an important part of the culture there. Show Notes An introduction to the business, with a background of how Melvin went f...

Feb 17, 2019•56 min•Ep. 9

E08: Interview with Ben Richards, organiser of piano meetups across the UK

Ben Richards organises 8(!) regular piano meetup groups all across the UK. We talk about what makes his groups particularly fun and inviting for amateurs and beginners (although advanced players also play), some of the history of piano groups and the piano, and the various benefits and attractions of taking part. We also talk about the inevitable nerves and performance anxiety that we all feel, and chat a little about how to deal with it! Ben Richards playing in Leeds as part of the Leeds Piano ...

Feb 12, 2019•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 8

Guided Visualisation- Getting Motivated!

A free guided visualisation to help people get passionate and motivated to practise their piano and achieve their goals! You don’t need to be sat at the piano for this meditation, and you can use headphones if you’d like. The meditation starts at 4:45 if you want to listen to it after the first time without the introduction. Risks: people with unresolved trauma, psychotic disorders, major depression or severe personality disorders should get advice from medical practitioners and meditation teach...

Nov 27, 2018•19 min

Guided Piano Meditation- Listening and Posture

A free guided audio meditation to use while practising the piano- this meditation uses a slightly more selective selection of techniques from the previous meditation, ‘Further Down the Road’. However, the plan is to make many guided meditations that will guide people over a longer period of time to gradually and gently build up these techniques, and go into more depth on each one. You should have a chosen bar ready to practise with fingerings already worked out to make the most of this meditatio...

Nov 27, 2018•20 min

Guided Piano Meditation- Further Down the Road

A free guided audio meditation to use while practising the piano- this meditation gives a taster of many different techniques that can be used to deepen piano practice. However, the plan is to make many guided meditations that will guide people over a longer period of time to gradually and gently build up these techniques, and go into more depth on each one. You should have a chosen bar ready to practise with fingerings already worked out to make the most of this meditation. It’s better to use s...

Nov 27, 2018•28 min

Guided Piano Meditation- Introduction to Meditating at the Piano

A free guided audio meditation to use while sat at the piano- this meditation explores the ability to really listen to your piano- one of the most important skills for any pianist. It’s better to use speakers (or just use the speaker on your phone or computer) and not use headphones for this meditation so you can hear your piano clearly. The meditation starts at 2:35 if you want to listen to it after the first time without the introduction. Risks: people with unresolved trauma, psychotic disorde...

Nov 27, 2018•15 min

E05 part 2: Interview with Benjamin Frith

Continuation of the interview with Benjamin Frith, British classical pianist with strong links to the Leeds International Piano Competition- having been a competitor at ‘The Leeds’ twice, and a student with Dame Fanny Waterman since an early age. He won several big awards early in his career, and his recordings are highly regarded- five of his discs are represented in the Gramophone Best CD Guide and his disc of Schumann’s Davidsbundlertänze was chosen as the top recommendation on the Radio 3 “B...

Nov 23, 2018•41 min

E05 part 1: Interview with Benjamin Frith

Benjamin Frith is a British classical pianist with strong links to the Leeds International Piano Competition- having been a competitor at ‘The Leeds’ twice, and a student with Dame Fanny Waterman since an early age. He won several big awards early in his career, and his recordings are highly regarded- five of his discs are represented in the Gramophone Best CD Guide and his disc of Schumann’s Davidsbundlertänze was chosen as the top recommendation on the Radio 3 “Building a Library” programme. B...

Nov 22, 2018•52 min

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