Opinion

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Music for Life Skills
When I was studying music at school in the UK in the 1980s (I took music at O- and A-Level, in addition to studying the piano privately), I was often the butt of jokes that I had “taken the easy
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Alone Yet Together: The Shared Experience of Live Performance
I’ve been going to live classical music concerts since I was a little girl – and not just professional concerts, but also amateur performances when my dad (a clarinettist) played in a local amateur orchestra. As keen music-lovers, my parents
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Let’s Celebrate and Nurture Classical Music’s Core Audience
It’s well known and acknowledged that the core audience for classical music is in the age range from c55 to 80+. These are the people with the money and, more importantly, the time to engage with classical music. Fretting about
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Can Classical Music Make You Smarter? The Answer: Sort Of!
When it comes to music, few genres have stood the test of time like classical music. It has enthralled audiences for centuries and pulled millions into its orbit. But why has it been so consistently popular? What’s so attractive about
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Why Does Classical Music Make Us So Emotional?
Have you ever found yourself awed by a symphony? Have you ever been moved to tears by a delicate cascade of notes in a piano concerto? Have you ever wondered why this music makes me feel so emotional? Classical music
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What if I Just Settle for “Good Enough”?
The pursuit of musical excellence is a journey that many musicians embark upon with a fervent desire to achieve perfection. They strive for flawless performances, impeccable technique, and unwavering precision. As an advanced amateur pianist, these are goals to which
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5 Japanese Techniques to Help Musicians Overcome Laziness and Stay Motivated
The following Japanese terms are all about warding off laziness and boosting motivation plus tips for embracing the concept of doing your best. They are useful as general rules for life; here I have interpreted them for the benefit of
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On Technique
Technique, technique, technique. Practice, practice, practice. Much of the performing musician’s life seems to be centred around practice, development, and improvement of the technique. It is true that technique is essential to the communication of the ideas of the composer,
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