The Joys of Playing Together
- July 4, 2026
Playing together can have such wonderful consequences for the soul, as well as for teamworking and interacting with others. The ability to maintain a steady beat, as well as count and come in at the right time, can work wonders when playing with a group.
Favourite Jazz Composer?
- June 15, 2026
Relaxing after a lively jazz jam session upstairs at London’s iconic jazz venue The Vortex, I was considering the answer to the question of my chosen jazz piano composer of preference. The session featured lively arrangements of piano songs by the jazz greats such as Thelonious Monk, Horace Silver, Cole Porter and Art Blakey. It […]
Orchestra this term
- June 11, 2026
In Orchestra this term we are celebrating the lives of Korngold, Bernstein and Marquez. Korngold was an Austrian composer, who left Europe in the 1930s and became a conductor in America. He was active in theatre throughout Europe whilst he was in his 20s. With the end of the second world war, Korngold retired from […]
More top tunes from Suzette Charles
- May 30, 2026
I was in for a lucky treat on 23rd May as I had the chance to attend a Suzette Charles gig, courtesy of Mike Stock Music. Her unique singing style together with vocal harmonies made the gig a treat to see. Her performance techniques as a singer shine a solid example for us all to […]
Playing in Amateur Orchestras
- February 6, 2026
The learning of music in amateur orchestras or group settings is fundamental to finding and developing the skills and ability to work well with others. I wanted to reflect on my own experience of playing in amateur groups and the skills it has taught me both in musicianship and in collaboration and partnership. Recently I […]
Term starts for piano lessons!
- September 4, 2025
It’s September, the autumnal weather is back in flow which can only mean one thing – the start of a new term! Here at Rob Young Piano, we have brand new piano courses and violin courses now available – tailored to all ages! So whether it’s piano lessons or violin lessons that you’re seeking, get […]
12 Bar Blues
- May 9, 2024
The 12 bar blues is a chord progression and style of piece that originated in 1920s America. It is widely used in jazz music and musical forms stemming from this period onwards including boogie and gospel. It starts generally around the root or the tomic chord, which generally forms the first four bars of a […]
Where to see top music performances over the Christmas holidays
- December 10, 2023
The winter season is upon us, and its time to put on our hats, button up our fleeces and warm up those mittens. But with the quietness that the schools breaking up brings, and the muffled air that the snow and the cold conditions promote, where are the best spots in London to find live […]
Learn to play Klezmer
- November 15, 2023
The first logged use of the word Klezmer was spotted at a committee meeting in Poland in 1595. It is a musical tradition of Eastern Europe. At this time, all-round entertainment and wedding music was providers by players often known as Spielleute or minstrels who sung, played and provided on-request musical numbers and dances. It […]
The importance of a proper practice routine
- October 11, 2023
Having a regular practice routine is one of the key tools to succeeding at learning an instrument. Practice should always be at the best times of the day, and the phrase “practice a little and often” is paramount here. Each practice session should normally start with warm-up exercises. These most often take the form of […]