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September 29, 2023

From Bedtime Stories to Business Plans: My Adventures with ChatGPT

ALL, Church Music, Music Teaching, Other Music Stuff! 0

ChatGPT - from bedtime stories to business plans

Earlier this year, I came across some buzz about “ChatGPT” in the news. Being a lover of all things computer-related, I had to see what the fuss was about. It turns out, this innovative tool is an absolute treasure trove for someone like me who’s always juggling multiple projects. I now use it in numerous areas of my life and work. Here are some of the many Artificial Intelligence (AI) tricks and hacks I’ve discovered…

September 18, 2023

Finding My Musical Way After An Eye Stroke

ALL, Other Music Stuff! 0

In September 2021, the world as I knew it shifted overnight. I woke one morning unable to see properly out of my left eye. I rushed to hospital, where an opthamology consultant eventually diagnosed a Central Retinal Artery Occlusion (CRAO), also known as an eye stroke. It’s a condition where blood flow to the retina becomes blocked by an arterial clot. This often results (as it did for me) in permanent visual impairment. I had lost about 80% sight in one eye. Not just physically disorienting, this felt like a profound loss – especially as it threatened my deep-seated passion for playing, sharing and teaching music. How would I cope?

September 11, 2023

The Harmonic Shift: Embracing Modern Worship in Today’s Church

ALL, Church Music, Faith and Church 2

Having dedicated many years to playing and organising music in churches, I’ve witnessed a seismic shift in the way we worship through song. Traditional hymns that once echoed through our sanctuaries are now often accompanied or even replaced by contemporary tunes. But why is this happening, and how can we navigate the changing musical landscape in our churches?

September 4, 2023

An Unfinished Symphony: the return of David Hendra Music!

ALL, Learning the Piano, Music Teaching, Other Music Stuff! 0

After an 8-year interlude, David Hendra Music is making its encore – I’m BACK! Yeah, okay, forget the theatrics, nobody missed me…but sometimes it’s time for a reboot. After a long time musicking elsewhere, I’m returning with an update… More

July 28, 2015

Pupils Who Won’t Practise: A Matter Of Conscience

ALL, Learning the Piano, Music Teaching 2

So your pupil arrives for their piano lesson. They sit and play what they have been working on, receive constructive feedback, work on some important techniques with you and leave with some new challenges for the week ahead, confident in their progress, right? If only it were that easy…

June 1, 2015

5 qualities of successful piano learners…be a brilliant pupil!

ALL, Learning the Piano, Music Teaching 0

What makes a good piano pupil? How can you improve your chances of success? Here are five key qualities to develop…

May 19, 2015

Do I have to cut my nails to play the piano? No! (But maybe…)

ALL, Learning the Piano, Music Teaching 10

Should you cut your nails short to play the piano? Can you practise and play well with long nails? The answer is perhaps not as simple as some would have you believe…

May 12, 2015

Learn the piano or the keyboard: which is best? Top tips to help you decide

ALL, Learning the Piano 5

When I start a new pupil, whether they have requested piano or keyboard lessons, I always talk to them about this choice. Often it’s something they haven’t even thought about. Sometimes it’s a parent who decides and they have a fixed idea about what they want, which is fine. But it’s always good to ask the question…

May 5, 2015

The power of the sticker: Gold Star motivation for young pianists!

ALL, Music Teaching 0

When I taught in a primary school, I received regular advertising from companies selling ‘motivational’ stickers in many shapes and sizes, together with personal progress cards and wall charts. When I became a private music teacher I continued to use them with younger pupils. These self-adhesive little bits of nothing contain a magic of their own…

April 27, 2015

Is your piano teacher a scruff?

ALL, Music Teaching 1

Different people expect different things from their music teacher, but what’s really important? Is it the qualifications they hold? Or the skill with which they teach? Is it the price of lessons? Or does their professional appearance and tidy studio matter, too? During a recent ‘tidying up’ session I got to thinking…