Stepping Tones

Very excited about today's pupil concert!

There you go! Learn the piano and you might end up on the England football squad.... Or something like that, right?!

One of the stars of the Lionesses, who scored a key goal in England's semi-final win at Euro 2025, has revealed the role music plays in her life off the pitch.

19-year-old Michelle Agyemang spoke of her love of the piano in a recent interview with BBC Sport, revealing that she even brought her keyboard with her to Switzerland. "I play the piano, the bass guitar and the drums," she said. "I have my piano in my room so I'm spending a lot of time in there just playing and chilling."

"I don't think that there's a day that I go without playing it because it's right in front of me. Especially on game days I probably spend about two hours just playing and enjoying myself."

YES!! Exactly!

There’s this *gorgeous* little misconception that abounds which is to do with learning a musical instrument.

It’s to do with music being an enjoyable thing to do, as if every aspect of it is some form of entertainment.

We take it as read that the ability to play music to a good level is highly enjoyable. And playing in ensemble with other musicians is just a beautiful thing to do! But let’s just put a couple of things straight.

🎹 It’s so much fun to play the piano all the time.

Actually, efficient piano practice is the utter opposite of just playing music through. It’s a highly disciplined, very intellectual activity that focusses on improvement and unpicking problems, strategically getting them better over time. It involves repetition and evaluative skills.

It’s taken me very many years to enjoy the mindfulness of dedicated practice; the practice that ultimately allows you the freedom to let music speak.

Now I can’t get enough, but have such limited time!

🎹 You’re so talented!

Thank you! That’s really kind of you!

But here’s an analogy: when you say to a singer, “you’ve got such a lovely voice”, essentially you’re commenting on their anatomy. The dedication that it takes to develop and hone that voice is to be applauded. After all, you can own a Stradivarius violin, but have no idea how to play it!

So talent is fabulous, and this is undoubtedly a compliment, but I’ve known several talented individuals who are most definitely seriously held back because of their unwillingness to commit to the art.

🎹 I’m sure it’ll be fine if she just has piano lessons and doesn’t do much in between.

Of course - but the progress will be so slow that it will become off-putting. Piano practice is to do with building neural pathways so that fluency is created. This requires “little and often” practice, with a focus on the latter. Similarly, piano practice is about developing the musculature so that the physical body can gain control and facility. This comes from regular practice: at least five times per week.

The 'Inside the Piano' event is now open to teenagers as well as adults. Ages 13-16 are welcome to attend, when accompanied by an adult.

If you're interested, please email [email protected] to book your place.

Full details on the poster.

Thanks!

Very excited to be teaching Dalcroze at Loughborough University this year!

Flashback from a few years ago:

Very cute goodbye from a 6 year old at today's piano lesson :

Me: you did some lovely piano playing today. Well done!
Pupil:.... and my singing?
Me: yes, that was REALLY good!
Pupil : so do I get a sticker?
Me: yes, of course! I need to go sticker shopping. Would you like to wait until next week when I have some new stickers? I don't have many good ones left over at the moment.
Pupil: OK. (gives me a hug) bye!
Me: bye! See you next week!
Pupil: see you next week.... (walks out the door, waving)...(shouts) I love you!

Pupil's mum and I giggle. What a cutie!

The recent concert was a roaring success!! Thanks to all who took part!

Here's a photo from the crazy group piece 'I Love Coffee', which we performed at the end. We managed to get a total of 19 people playing on four pianos, including several 'non-pianists' and parents...

Utter mayhem, lots of giggles and actually... a pretty coherent and musical performance (which was an unexpected bonus! 😆😆)

More photos and videos to follow in the next few weeks! Stay tuned....

Excited about today's concert. We're sold out. 100 people in the main hall and 10 people on the balcony. How exciting!!! Photos and videos to follow!

Concert preparation has been underway for a few weeks... and now we're pretty much sold out. Perhaps 3-5 tickets available for people who don't mind sitting at the back!

Exciting!

THROWBACK!

This time ten years ago I picked up the 5th (I think!) edition of the Stepping Tones practice diary.

The next edition _should_ be out in time for Christmas purchases!