Pianoworks Meditations is a brilliant collection of gentle and reflective pieces for the older beginner. Written with a focus on playing for enjoyment, these 24 original pieces guide the player through a range of styles, while aiding in relaxation and mindfulness...⬇️

In this Guest Post, Karen Marshall demystifies the important principles of adaptive teaching and metacognition, and shows how we can all better support neurodivergent learners at the piano...⬇️

I have been a fan of Angeline Bell's music since her first publications appeared, so it is a particular joy to welcome this more advanced collection, which so absorbingly brings to life the composer's memories, and paints such a gorgeous musical picture of the East Asian landscape... ⬇️

From the reviews archive, one of my favourite publications from Pam Wedgwood. Beautiful music, lovely publications, check out my review in full here 👇

The Schott Student Edition series continues to deliver outstanding new collections of pedagogy classics and rediscovered gems, the latest of which offers a great way to discover the wonderful piano music of Dora Pejačević...⬇️

From the review archive, these three volumes remain a superb choice for teachers and learners exploring the core classical piano repertoire from beginner to around Grade 6. Catch up with my review by clicking here ⬇️

Anyone for Anime? With 19 accessible solo piano pieces in arrangements which are true to the originals, and can even be played along to the soundtracks, it’s truly a “must-have” for fans of the genre… ⬇️

Musicians with #ADHD will likely need to recalibrate the trending advice about taking short micro-breaks between practice repetitions in order to leverage the benefits Molly Gebrian and others have promoted. Here's how (and why we need to)... ⬇️

'Arise and Shine' offers 28 piano solos by Black composers suitable for intermediate to early advanced players. With such a beautiful addition to the piano pedagogy library, there's no doubt that this music's time has come... ⬇️

'Here be Dragons' is undoubtedly one of the piano education highlights of the year so far, and deserves a place in the music collection of all late intermediate players (and of course their teachers). These are pieces which not only take flight, but which will elevate performers, and enchant their…

Approaching our piano journey with a spirit of PLAY, a doorway opens to the greater respect for music that it undeniably deserves. And in doing so we can all find greater contentment at the piano... 👇

Musicians with ADHD will likely need to recalibrate the trending advice about taking short micro-breaks between practice repetitions in order to leverage the benefits Molly Gebrian and others have promoted. Here's how (and why we need to)... ⬇️

In case you’ve not yet read it, the Pianodao review of the new @ABRSM piano syllabus explains all the changes and repertoire trends in depth... don’t miss this essential guide ⬇️

The latest sumptuous addition to the 'Faber Music Piano Anthology' series visits Middle-earth, and claims to offer "the best-loved themes from Howard Shore's landmark scores along with other featured songs, arranged for intermediate piano solo." Let's take a closer look...⬇️

Here’s a post I shared a year ago today… A healthy teacher-student relationship offers a safe space in which we learn to pick up on cues, work stuff through, foster realistic expectations of others, navigate and embrace contradictions... 👇

Ten years ago today, I gave this stunning collection an excellent review. In the years since, many of my students have loved it. I have come to regard it as an essential collection for elementary learners: ⬇️

Molly Gebrian's best-selling book 'Learn Faster, Perform Better' is a great read, based on valuable research. But players with ADHD will need to recalibrate some of her advice in order to leverage the benefits she promotes. Here's how we can adapt her micro-break idea (and why we need to)... ⬇️

Karen Marshall has written this insightful guest post for Pianodao, in which she points to the continuing challenges faced by those whose childhood and education were disrupted by the pandemic, and offers powerful hope that through piano lessons, we can help rebuild that generation… ⬇️

As ABRSM publish their 2027-28 Piano Syllabus, the big question is whether the latest pieces will live up to the board’s high standards, delivering diversity, musical quality, educational value, and genuine appeal. And having had three weeks to explore the music books ahead of their publication,…

In this insightful guest article, the best-selling author and teacher Karen Marshall points to the continuing challenges faced by those whose childhood and education were disrupted by the pandemic, and offers powerful hope that through piano lessons, we can help rebuild that generation… ⬇️

This is an excellent and much needed book, addressing an obvious and significant gap in the training and understanding of many instrumental teachers. Answering many of the questions we typically have, it offers a wealth of insight, and solid practical strategies to improve our teaching… ⬇️

In case you missed this important article earlier this week: The desire to share images and videos of piano students young and old is understandable from a number of angles. But there are importantly legal, ethical, and professional concerns to consider with care before sharing media online ⬇️

Discover how ADHD can impact piano practice, lessons, and performance events. In this authoritative article, you’ll read expert clinical advice about the condition, and discover effective educational strategies that can really help… ⬇️

The desire to share images and videos of piano students young and old is understandable from a number of angles. But there are importantly legal, ethical, and professional concerns to consider with care before sharing media online ⬇️

LCME's 2026 syllabus is out today, and I’ll not hesitate to declare this one of the most educationally rewarding and musically inspiring piano syllabuses I’ve ever seen, which is high praise indeed! Find out more here… ⬇️

Of the many gifted composers of intermediate piano music today, Naoko Ikeda remains a favourite, and it's great to welcome this new collection of solo pieces, particularly as it is one of her most… https://pianodao.com/2026/04/02/naoko-ikeda-kanade/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social

I have previously recommended a number of Phillip Keveren's books, and those who learn with me seem to consistently love them. I am sure that his brilliant 'Jazz Preludes for Piano' will be equally well received... Read my full review here ⬇️

Who really needs mnemonics? Are note-naming rhymes useful, and if so for whom? Many piano teachers suggest they aren't, but multiple studies say otherwise. Perhaps a balanced reassessment of the topic, grounded in neuroscience, cognitive psychology, and academic research, is overdue...

'Piano Tales for Winnie-the-Pooh' is the latest title from best-selling jazz composer Nikki Iles, brought to us in a superbly presented publication from EVC Music. And it is sure to be treasured by players of all ages. Here's the Pianodao review ⬇️

Anyone for Anime? These accessible solo piano versions are fundamentally true to the originals, presented in full and in key, so can be played along to the original soundtracks. Teachers will certainly want this collection, while I suspect that many intermediate pianists will rush to buy it too! ⬇️

Following the success of his first 'Piano Book', piano superstar Lang Lang returns with a second collection, this time including a rich blend of playable classics alongside neoclassical pieces and music from film, pop and video games... Here's the Pianodao review 👇

I'm bringing this 2017 review back from the vault, because these two books are packed with memorable, and in many cases highly distinctive new compositions. This is superior music, in no way just another batch of pastiches ⬇️

The rudimentary facets of our pianism, our musical understanding, technical accomplishment, and creative personality, are ultimately no more than a means to an end... ⬇️

The ‘Graded Gillock’ series is proving hugely popular - #piano learners from Grade 1-6 progress in leaps and bounds with this brilliant and engaging music! Good to see they are now back in stock at Sheet Music Plus. You can read all about them here: ⬇️

I have been a fan of Angeline Bell's music since her first publications appeared, so it is a particular joy to welcome this more advanced collection, which so absorbingly brings to life the composer's memories, and paints such a gorgeous musical picture of the East Asian landscape... ⬇️

Of the many gifted composers of intermediate piano music today, Naoko Ikeda remains a favourite, and it's great to welcome this new collection of solo pieces, particularly as it is one of her most consistent and enjoyable yet! ⬇️

Darragh Gilleece is an Irish pianist, composer and educator, whose pieces in these collections are traditional with a modern twist, imaginative, highly appealing, and packed with valuable learning content 👇

What part do the Grade exams play in fostering positive motivation? Do they provide the impetus and framework needed for musical achievement, or do they distract from more important goals? Might they put some learners off continuing to play? Some answers to these questions here 👇

There's perhaps no better time than the Spring 🌼 months for embarking on exciting new piprojects, but let's also remember to give our perennial 'Active Repertoire' a timely spring clean... 👇

For those interested in academic insight into instrumental teaching trends, this is a wide-ranging and thought-provoking book sporting 19 chapters, each a distinct article covering an area of special interest. I highly recommend it...👇

Much is made of the benefits of learning to play a musical instrument, and rightly so. But perhaps the greatest of all these is this: the pinnacle of developing patience. Are those eager to progress as quickly as possible in danger of missing the point? Read more here 👇

As musicians, "making a name” for ourselves can very easily become an unhealthy preoccupation, whether through competition in its many forms, or through self-promotion. Perhaps we need to stop and consider whether we are truly content with the path we are on...👇

Here's a series which can be highly recommended, and which brings an important body of little-known piano education repertoire to a wider global audience...👇

Effective studio policies, clearly communicated, fence off our personal and professional lives, and are especially important for those of us whose studios are based within our homes. Boundaries help us devote ourselves to our shared objective of pupil progress 👇

Most piano educators would balk at the suggestion that we would ever humiliate a student. But realistically, many of us will have inadvertently done so, and will likely also have experienced humiliation ourselves… 👇

Teachers: are you feeling uncertain about how your teaching can develop, and whether your studio can continue to grow in the future? Here’s some encouragement 👇

Here's an easy publication to recommend, combining classic hit songs, solid progressive arrangements at five levels (Grade 1-5), with educational insight and helpful practice tips...👇

Happy #ChineseNewYear to all who celebrate this evening and tomorrow around the world, and best wishes for Spring Festival. Wishing you a prosperous, happy and productive Year of the Fire Horse! pianodao.com/2026/02/08/t...

Written in partnership with the brilliant musician, composer, broadcaster, and writer Jack Pepper, and with a Foreword by Jeneba Kanneh-Mason, 'Music We Might Have Played' brings together nineteen stunning solo piano pieces for early advanced players 👇

With their 'Winter Piano Anthology', Faber Music have again hit the bullseye, offering an essential collection that gathers an impressively diverse and inspiring array of evocative pieces to satisfy all tastes, including many that pianists are unlikely to already have elsewhere... 👇