Today, Frédéric Chopin is best remembered as a composer. But during his lifetime, his primary occupation was piano teacher…and he was very successful at it! In fact, his teaching career subsidised his compositions. Today, we’re looking at ten facts about

Born into scandal as members of musical royalty, Richard Wagner and Cosima Liszt’s three children – Isolde, Eva, and Siegfried – carried not only the Wagner name, but the weight of the entire family legacy. From bitter feuds and courtroom

Over the last few centuries, the history of the piano has been shaped by rivalries between pianists: sometimes friendly, sometimes fierce. Today, we’re looking at some of the most famous rivalries in piano history, dating from the 1780s to the

Some of the most interesting works in classical music history were the result of collaboration, when composers joined forces to create something they couldn’t have made on their own. Today, we’re exploring six of the best composer collaborations in the

If you’ve ever listened to a piece by Chopin, Liszt, or Bartók and wondered what those strange numbers attached to their works – like WoO 18, L. 123, or Sz. 95 – mean, you’re not alone. These catalogue numbers are

If you’ve ever had a dog, you know firsthand the devotion, affection, and companionship they provide to humans. Many of the great composers knew the joys of canine companionship, too! Today, we’re looking at the amazing true stories of the

The double bass is often thought of as the foundation of the orchestra: deep, resonant, and usually playing a supportive role. In music as in architecture, foundations rarely find themselves in the spotlight. But over the centuries, a handful of

On 24 January, we mark the birth of one of the most remarkable figures of the German Romantic era. Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann (1776–1822), better known by his pen name, E.T.A. Hoffmann is known as the master of the fantastic