Andrew Eales

Patience: The Greater Peak 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?

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 👇

Spotlight or quiet life? 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, and learn to more quickly spot those moments where we might have allowed ourselves to lose our balance...

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...👇

Piano Music of Latin American Composers 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.

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...👇

Compassionate Boundaries If we’re going to practice acceptance and compassion, we need boundaries and accountability...

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 👇

The Pianist’s Humiliation Recognised by psychologists as one of the most potent of all human emotions, humiliation can have a long-lasting impact on a person’s self-esteem, wellbeing, and mental health.

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… 👇

Piano teaching: an uncertain future? By remaining flexible and open to change, piano teachers can find innovative ways to enhance their approach, attract new students, and maintain our passion for music education.

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 👇

The Beatles • Graded Pieces 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.

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...👇

The Year of the Fire Horse The 'Year of the Horse' can prove to be a time of significant initiative and action, innovation and change. Here are some reflections on the traditional associations of the year, and how we might make...

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...

Music We Might Have Played Written in partnership with musician and broadcaster Jack Pepper, with a foreword by Jeneba Kanneh-Mason, 'Music We Might Have Played' brings together nineteen stunning piano solos for early advanced players.

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 👇

Winter Piano Anthology 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.

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... 👇

John Rutter • Complete Piano Album As he enjoys his 80th birthday year, John Rutter is rightly considered a national treasure, and his publishers OUP Music are celebrating with (among other things) a new compilation of his two recent solo piano albums in one superb book of 16 pieces.

As he enjoys his 80th birthday year, John Rutter is rightly considered a national treasure, and his publishers OUP Music are celebrating with (among other things) a new compilation of his two recent solo piano albums in one superb book of 16 pieces 👇

House of Ghosts - I’m enjoying these piano pieces by British composer Francis Pott, performed by Duncan Honeybourne. They’re perfect for a read of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

Bluey: First Ever Piano Book The 'Bluey First Ever Piano Book' is one of the most impressive educational resources I have seen this year. The imaginative marriage between musical learning and an established animated sensation is undeniably innovative, and works brilliantly!

I cannot think of a better gift for the young kiddos in your life this Christmas. Beyond the wonderful book itself, the 'Bluey First Ever Piano Book' offers the gift of music, which is one to cherish for a lifetime. How brilliant! 👇

Winter Piano Anthology 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.

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... 👇

Christmas Imaginations This selection of arrangements written by composers with very contrasting styles proves to be a collection with genuine educational and musical value, and one to which I expect to return as a teacher, and for my own personal pleasure, for many years to come. Truly superb!

This selection of arrangements written by composers with very contrasting styles proves to be a collection with genuine educational and musical value, and one to which I expect to return as a teacher, and for my own personal pleasure, for many years to come... Truly superb! 👇

Winter Repertoire Challenge Musicians have always had a significant part to play in the feasts and festivals of community life, and for piano players this is a time of the year in which our Active Repertoire can play a particularly significant role in our music-making...

Musicians have always had a significant part to play in the feasts and festivals of community life, and for piano players this is a time of the year in which our Active Repertoire can play a particularly significant role in our music-making... 👇

Christmas Boogie and Jazz For advanced players with a penchant for boogie and jazz piano, here's where the Christmas party starts!

For advanced players with a penchant for boogie and jazz piano, here's where the Christmas party starts!

Ivana Gavrić • A Piano Journey We are delighted that Ivana Gavrić will be performing at the MK Piano Celebration 2025, and on the eve of the release of her new album 'Throwback to Dance' it has been a pleasure to catch up with her for a chat about her piano journey so far.

We are delighted that Ivana Gavrić will be performing at the MK Piano Celebration 2025, and on the eve of the release of her new album 'Throwback to Dance' it has been a pleasure to catch up with her for a chat about her piano journey so far... 👇

A Voyage of Discovery Special Guest Paul Harris explores how music lessons might best unfold...

Educator and best-selling author Paul Harris explains how deep subject knowledge promotes spontaneity, and how a connected "simultaneous learning" approach can enhance teaching... 👇

Christmas for Ten Fingers OUP Music’s evergreen ‘Piano Time Carols’ book has been given a contemporary redesign, with added downloadable audio, and they have also published the excellent ‘Christmas for Ten Fingers’ for younger learners.

OUP Music’s evergreen ‘Piano Time Carols’ book has been given a contemporary redesign, with added downloadable audio, and they have also published the excellent ‘Christmas for Ten Fingers’ for younger learners…👇

The Christmas Shortlist 2025 As the festive season rapidly approaches, here are my latest and best Christmas and Winter piano music recommendations, brought together in one easy-to-use shortlist to help you find what you are looking for!

Keeping track of all the seasonal music reviewed on Pianodao is becoming more challenging with each passing year.
The Christmas Shortlist brings this music together in one easy-to-use portal, making it easier than ever to find what you are looking for 👇

Pianoworks Christmas Within my teaching practice, Pianoworks Christmas has proven to be a perennial chestnut, and my top, most tasty recommendation for a basic no-frills Christmas songbook.

Within my teaching practice, Pianoworks Christmas has proven to be a perennial chestnut, and my top, most tasty recommendation for a basic no-frills Christmas songbook... 👇

Calming Christmas Carols for Graded Piano With so many Christmas-themed piano books on the market, and with yet more appearing to challenge our established favourites each year, it takes something quite special and distinctive to stand out from the crowd. And here it is...

With so many Christmas-themed piano books on the market, and with yet more appearing to challenge our established favourites each year, it takes something quite special and distinctive to stand out from the crowd... 👇

Music We Might Have Played 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.

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 👇

Breathing at the Piano Are you sure that you breathe when playing the piano? It might seem like an odd question – of course we continue to breathe while playing! But to what extent are we aware of our breath, and how it affects our technique, musicality and comfort at the piano?

Are you sure that you breathe when playing the piano? It might seem like an odd question – of course we continue to breathe while playing! But to what extent are we aware of our breath, and how it affects our technique, musicality and comfort at the piano?

Three-Minute Encores The latest addition to the Phillip Keveren Series sees the veteran arranger delivering dazzling “encore” versions of 18 songs, classic and contemporary, suitable for advanced players.

This addition to the popular Phillip Keveren Series sees the veteran arranger delivering dazzling “encore” versions of 18 songs, classic and contemporary. If you fancy delighting listeners with short, entertaining pieces based on classic hits, look no further: 👇

Essential Piano Technique: Levels 2-3 Penelope Roskell's Essential Piano Technique series has already established itself as a benchmark resource for introducing healthy piano techniques in an imaginative and musical way. With the latest two additions to the growing series, Roskell provides a similarly useful and significant resource for players progressing through Late Elementary to Intermediate level, Grades 1-4.

Penelope Roskell's Essential Piano Technique series has established itself as a benchmark resource for introducing healthy piano techniques in an imaginative and musical way. Now, Roskell provides a similarly useful and significant resource for Elementary to Intermediate learners... 👇

Thanks to Mark Goodwin Pianos for this positive feature on their website:
markgoodwinpianos.co.uk/blog…

Carolyn Miller • Piano Expressions The obvious and very natural blend of musical inspiration and educational content to be found in these pieces make Carolyn Miller's 'Piano Expressions' a superb addition to the intermediate piano education repertoire, indeed a truly magical one!

The obvious and very natural blend of musical inspiration and educational content to be found in these pieces make Carolyn Miller's 'Piano Expressions' a superb addition to the intermediate piano education repertoire, indeed a truly magical one! 👇

Edition Peters Piano Classics This bumper selection of piano masterpieces will undoubtedly and significantly enrich the advancing pianist's musical diet, bringing depth and understanding to their appreciation of our core literature. Superb!

This bumper selection of piano masterpieces will undoubtedly and significantly enrich the advancing pianist's musical diet, bringing depth and understanding to their appreciation of our core literature. Superb! 👇