Hey there,I hope you had a lovely holiday season. Also, in case you missed it last week, I posted a new YouTube video on why “random” mistakes usually aren’t random — and what to do instead so your playing feels steadier and more reliable. 👉 Watch here: https://youtu.be/jbW7Tee4Q_E I haven’t written according to my usual schedule—partly because of the holidays, and also because I needed real rest. The kind you don’t squeeze in between practice sessions. The kind that feels suspicious at first...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hey there, I posted a new YouTube video because I keep hearing the same thing (and it came up in a lesson this week, too): “My mistakes are random.” They feel random… but most of the time they aren’t. In the video, I break down 5 common ways pianists accidentally train mistakes — and what to do instead so your playing feels steadier and more reliable. 👉 Watch here: Here’s the part most people miss: a lot of “random” wrong notes actually come from what your body did right before the mistake —...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hello there, Last Christmas was a little different for me.🎁 I wasn’t able to be with my family because I was sick, so instead I sat down at the piano and shared about 20 minutes of simple Christmas music — quiet, reflective, and heartfelt. One of the reasons this recording means so much to me is that my stepdad was able to tune in live. He’s quite elderly and not in the best health, and even though we couldn’t be together, the music gave us a small way to share the day. I wanted to offer that...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hi there, I came across a fun article this week about seven musical-instrument museums around the world. If you love traveling—or just daydreaming about it—you might enjoy exploring it. These places are full of instruments that shaped the sound world composers actually wrote for. Reading it reminded me of the first time I played a historic instrument myself. Not one in a museum, but an original piano from the period. And honestly? It was enlightening. So many textures in Mozart and Schubert...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi there, I just posted a new bite-sized clip from a recent member Q&A. It is all about how to handle big intervals without killing your hands. In the video, you will see: • Why do you not want to hold your hand at its widest stretch • How to use arm weight and sideways motion instead of stretching • A simple way to add gentle rotation so large intervals feel smoother and lighter Watch the short clip here: If you are already a member, you can find the full Q&A session in our Classroom. It...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, I just posted a bite-sized excerpt from a recent member Q&A focused on issues around playing with the metronome. It covers: • How to feel the beat in your body (try swaying your head) • Easier ways to hear the beat • Exactly what to do when you get off the metronome If you find the clip useful, the full 90-minute Q&A goes much deeper and covers other member questions on topics such as how to avoid stretching in large intervals and choosing between a mordent and a trill in Bach....
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, Keeping this short and (hopefully) worth your 10 seconds. What’s one lesson you learned the hard way? Could be piano. Could be life. Hit reply and let me know. (Extra credit: tell me which one and I might cry-laugh and learn from you.)For me it was thinking that practicing more hours would be enough to make me a better pianist. Lots of time is essential of course, but knowing WHAT to practice is even more important. If you’d rather shortcut some painful piano learning...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, I just posted a long, practical YouTube lesson where I argue that practicing hands separately is usually a waste of time — and then I show you exactly what to do instead. In the video I walk through a research-backed, step-by-step method (with demos from Bartók, a Handel passacaglia, Chopin, Mozart and more) and give nine concrete practice strategies you can use the next time you sit down at the piano. What you’ll get in 1 video (not vague tips — real, usable tools): • How to...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, Here's a short, useful practice habit I want you to try.Before you tell yourself anything negative about your playing/practicing, force yourself to name one very specific thing that sounded good. One tiny, concrete detail. Then write down everything that needs work in precise terms. Why this works Negativity bias makes us feel discouraged. That emotional reaction steals attention and motivation. Saying one specific positive calms you down, resets focus, and makes it possible to...
3 months ago • 1 min read