Rachael Wherry Piano Teaching

I was enjoying visiting the Bowes Museum today and saw a lovely square piano made by Thomas Haxby (1729–1796), Haxby was a prominent English instrument maker from York known for building harpsichords, spinets, organs, and pianos. After a career as a musician and organ tuner, he established a music shop in York in 1756, selling instruments from his own workshop and from other makers. This shop eventually became Banks Music! I wonder if the family name came from the fact that the family lived in our village of Haxby ? There are also Haxby pianos, harpsichords and square pianos you can see in The Castle Museum York.

This is my favourite term. I love welcoming everyone back from the summer break. It’s great to reconnect and hear what exciting things my pupils have been playing or taking part in. This is also the term where we will be preparing music for our Christmas Recital which is always a fabulous event where my pupils perform their favourite pieces and also prepare special seasonal music and carols.

Funny and very clever 🎹😁

Happy Birthday but 13 classical composers are fighting over the last slice of cake This is my take on "Happy Birthday" Variations! I had the idea to have composers (represented by their pieces) fight against each other in a parody-quotation format, while also integrating the Happy Birthday motif in as many places as possible. I've listed all the quotations and instances of Happy B...

Another cracking graphic from AI 😂 Not quite what I meant by practicing backwards - but brilliant nonetheless !

I decided to try out an artificial intelligence app. I asked it to construct an infographic for me. I wanted to give my pupils some information about different ways to practice. This is the result - I did enjoy it ! 🤣 literally an extra finger 🙄😂!!

It is a tradition in my studio to have a little ‘Easter Competition’ where my pupils really focus on interval recognition and note reading. Everyone worked very hard and I enjoyed presenting certificates and chocolate rabbits.

Excellent museum of musical instruments in Brussels. Definitely worth a visit if you’re ever in Belgium. The history of keyboard instruments and the development of the Pianoforte was obviously a highlight for me. Being able to listen to them being played (on headset with explanation) really brought it all to life !