Dr Justin Wildridge

Not being a brass player myself, I have based my findings on having worked with many brass players and the comments made by them and … Read more

For many people, the use of the word medieval conjures up a time of extreme poverty, war and plague with little in the way of … Read more

There are and continue to be many pieces of music that do not ask the singer to sing words at all. Instead, performers may be … Read more

In Beethoven’s relatively short life he devoted significant time to composing for the instrument that he made his own: the piano. Even though Beethoven composed … Read more

The tragically short life of Franz Schubert gave rise to some of the most celebrated and performed music written during that period of history. Schubert, … Read more

With the hundreds of years that are now between us and the world of Mozart and Beethoven, it becomes difficult to understand how their lives … Read more

A key element of this title above is what is a cadenza. The answer to this sensible question is a gigantic clue to the answer … Read more

Both Liszt and Chopin were born at a time in musical history when the piano was already established as a popular instrument with composers and … Read more

Take a brief survey of the history of the piano and you will quickly discover that not all pianos are created equal. This is especially … Read more

Female composers have throughout history frequently been overlooked in favour of male composers. The reasons given were usually flimsy, biased and even ignorant. Whilst female … Read more

Without a doubt, the music of Mozart has a universal appeal that has endured for centuries. His reputation as a child prodigy, a virtuoso performer … Read more

Many young pianists begin with the clear aspiration of becoming the next Lang Lang and playing to adoring audiences across the world. It’s a great … Read more