Why Are Soap Operas Called Soap Operas?
Operas as a musical form stretch back many hundreds of years. Here in the 21st Century, the idea of music without opera may seem strange … Read more
Dr Justin Wildridge
How Hard Is Un Sospiro? by Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt gained a formidable and deserved reputation during his long life, as a virtuoso pianist and composer. For many pianists studying and performing the … Read more
The Best of Niccolò Paganini (3 Beautiful Works by Niccolò Paganini)
Born in Genoa in October of 1782, Paganini was to become one of the most celebrated violinists of his age. Encouraged and taught as a … Read more
Why Was The Marriage Of Figaro Considered To Be Controversial?
Opera buff or not, you are unlikely not to recognise the title above of one of WA Mozart’s most discussed, analysed and performed operas: The … Read more
The Best of Robert Schumann (5 Beautiful Works by Robert Schumann)
Making an accurate summary of any composer’s musical life is a subject of controversy and debate. Schumann’s life was not an easy one and has … Read more
What Makes Mozart Famous?
If you visit Austria today, and in particular Salzburg, you could be forgiven for thinking that WA Mozart was a manufacturer of chocolate or liqueurs. … Read more
The Best of Franz Liszt (5 Beautiful Works by Franz Liszt)
Franz Liszt was one of the most influential and controversial figures in Romantic music. His reputation as a formidable and almost unrivalled virtuoso pianist of … Read more
The Best of George Gershwin (5 Beautiful Works by George Gershwin)
In this article, I am going to take a brief look at the life and works of the composer and pianist, George Gershwin. Gershwin is … Read more
Brief History of Music: An Introduction
In all probability, music has played an important role in the lifecycle of humans perhaps even before we could speak. Significant evidence has been discovered … Read more
8 Famous Ragtime Piano Music Pieces You Should Listen To
This article will take a quick tour through a variety of some of the most well-known ragtime tunes for piano. Ragtime music first emerged around … Read more
Piano vs Organ (Difference Between Piano and Organ)
Two of the most respected, played and composed for instruments play the central role in this particular article. I am going to attempt to make … Read more
Is Classical Music Still Relevant Today? (Answered)
Maybe the simple response to this pertinent question is that it is a matter of individual taste and preference. If it were not relevant then … Read more
9 Fun Piano Music Pieces That Will Make You Laugh
It can be tricky to anchor down what many players, students and audience alike consider to be fun pieces. Fun to play, fun to perform, … Read more
11 One Hand Piano Songs You Can Perform with One Hand
It isn’t uncommon for pianists of all ages to have experienced injury or even the loss of a hand. For some, it has been the … Read more
10 Really Sad Violin Pieces That Will Make You Sob
Perhaps it is the vocal quality of the violin that gives its capacity to stir our deepest emotions. Catherine Medici was well aware of the … Read more