Howl With Pride Piano Studio

Now accepting new students for September! Certified piano teacher with 14 years experience. Please message me for details and availability.

Bill Bailey has made a point here about something that often gets overlooked.

Most people know him as a comedian, musician and entertainer, but he’s also passionate about the value of the arts and believes they deserve far more recognition than they get.

One thing that surprised many people is his claim that the arts contribute around £124 billion a year to the UK economy, far more than many realise. His point isn’t to knock football or any other industry, but to ask why something that contributes so much economically and culturally is so often treated as an afterthought.

He’s particularly concerned about schools, where music and other creative subjects are often the first to face cuts when budgets are tight. Bill believes learning an instrument or taking part in the arts doesn’t just help children become better performers, it teaches confidence, discipline, teamwork and skills that benefit them throughout life. He also points to evidence suggesting music can improve literacy and numeracy as well.

Another thing he’s passionate about is protecting traditional crafts and practical skills. He believes not everyone learns in the same way, and that creative and hands-on careers deserve just as much respect as academic ones.

Whether you agree with everything he says or not, Bill Bailey makes a strong case that the arts aren’t just there to entertain us. They help shape our culture, support jobs, inspire young people and deserve to be valued far more than they often are.

Thanks to my students for another wonderful school year of music! I am so impressed with your dedication to practicing.
This year's top 5 practicers are:

5th place. Bev
4th place. Eddie
3rd place. Araya
2nd place. Eamon
and 1st place. Bodhi!!!

You can do amazing things and I am so proud of you!
Ms Pam

At this year's Ivors Awards, Sir Elton John made history as the first-ever President of The Ivors Academy and was presented with an Academy Honour. 👏

He reflected on the brilliance of British songwriters, composers, and musicians: “Creativity, when you’re writing music or writing a song, is probably the greatest thing you can ever have. Music is the greatest gift you can possibly be given.”

In May my students have been learning about Bartolomeo Christofori. Here is some of what they discovered.

Bartolomeo Christofori
“Love is like playing the piano. First you must learn how to play by the rules. “ - Christofori

He was born May 4, 1655 in Padua, Italy. - Araya
He died Jan. 27, 1731. He was 75 - Bev, Araya
He invented the piano around the year 1700 by removing the plucking mechanism of the harpsichord and replacing it with the hammer system used in pianos today. - Bev
His invention was first called a Harpsichord with Soft and Loud. - Bev
The name Piano comes from the word Pianoforte. Piano in Italian means soft. Forte in Italian means loud.
He started his career as a harpsichord maker.
He created the piano while working for Ferdinando de Medici, the Grand Prince of Tuscany.
He also invented the spinet piano which was the first of it’s kind to have strings that angled away from the keys to allow the instrument to be shorter.

Meet Bartolomeo Cristofori: The Forgotten Founder of the Piano In the early 18th century, a man named Bartolomeo Cristofori was working in the court of the Medici family in Florence, Italy. Known primarily as a harpsichord maker, he embarked on a quest to create an instrument that could play both soft and loud. In 1709, Cristofori unveiled his groundbreaking invention: the piano, or "gravicembalo col piano e forte." This innovative design replaced the plucking mechanism of the harpsichord with hammers, allowing musicians to express themselves with dynamic contrasts. Cristofori's creation laid the foundation for the modern piano, yet his genius remained largely unrecognized during his lifetime. Now, three of Cristofori's pianos survive, housed in prestigious museums across the globe. His work transformed music, enabling the rich tapestry of sound that we cherish today 🎹✨

Music education belongs in education!

🎹 Piano Pedals Explained!
Ever wonder what those three pedals under the piano actually do? Here's a clear breakdown:
Left Pedal → Soft Pedal
Also called the una corda pedal. It makes the sound much softer and gentler by shifting the hammers so they strike fewer strings (or with less force). Perfect for delicate, intimate playing.
Middle Pedal → Sostenuto Pedal
The most misunderstood pedal! It only sustains the specific notes you're holding when you press it. All other notes played afterward won't be affected. Great for creating beautiful layered effects in classical music.
Right Pedal → Damper Pedal (Sustain Pedal)
The most commonly used pedal. When pressed, it lifts all the dampers, allowing the strings to continue vibrating and ring out even after you lift your fingers. This creates that rich, full, connected sound we associate with piano music.
Quick Tip: On most upright pianos, the middle pedal functions differently (sometimes as a practice mute), but on grand pianos, it works as the true sostenuto pedal.