The Cross-Eyed Pianist
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The Cross-Eyed Pianist is a blog about music and piano playing, and culture in general, written by pianist and piano teacher Frances Wilson. Get Articles on repertoire, teaching, concert and exhibition reviews, music ephemera, video, sound clips, and other related material.
The Cross-Eyed Pianist
4d ago
Franz Liszt divides opinion. For some he is regarded as one of the greatest pianist-composers of the Romantic era; for others, he is a showman and a charlatan who wrote vulgar, showy music. In fact, he was a remarkable musician and human being. Sure, as a performer he could be flamboyant and extravagant in his ..read more
The Cross-Eyed Pianist
1w ago
A Vast Obscurity celebrates a number of notable anniversaries in the creative arts, including the bicentenary of Lord Byron’s death, the 460th anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth, as well as the centenary of the death of Song Easel’s featured composer, Gabriel Fauré. The work of poets plays a central role in this year’s series, with ‘obscurity’ a ..read more
The Cross-Eyed Pianist
1w ago
The pursuit of musical excellence is a journey that many musicians embark upon with a fervent desire to achieve perfection. We strive for flawless performances, impeccable technique, and unwavering precision. As an advanced amateur pianist, these are goals to which I too aspire. But the constant pursuit for perfection and an ongoing desire for perfectionism ..read more
The Cross-Eyed Pianist
2w ago
'Sing to the Lord, a new song of creation' is a wonderfully rousing hymn in five verses, with a soaring descant in the final verse ..read more
The Cross-Eyed Pianist
3w ago
It started with this tweet….. I retweeted it because it amused me. But looking at that red cover with the simple outline of a recorder also brought a Proustian rush of memories – of about 20 children sitting in a sun-filled classroom at Maney Hill Primary School in Sutton Coldfield in the early 1970s, with ..read more
The Cross-Eyed Pianist
3w ago
Concert pianist. Thanks to movies and popular culture, this job title brings to mind conflicting images of a starving artist, mad genius, or supernaturally talented magician who communes with the Muse – almost never the hardworking professional that a pianist must be in order to maintain a successful performing career. Lifting the Lid: interviews with ..read more
The Cross-Eyed Pianist
1M ago
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 musicians: Ikigai Have a purpose in life Ikigai comes from two words – Iki meaning life ..read more
The Cross-Eyed Pianist
1M ago
Guest post by Ingrid on the experience of studying with Dr Michael Low Like many musicians, my journey started thanks to a fabulous piece I heard one day (and for sure so many more, but it has been a while so I can’t quite tell) that moved my heart and soul so deeply that I ..read more
The Cross-Eyed Pianist
1M ago
‘Music, Painting, Landscape, and Me’ by Marc Yeats Publication date 1st April 2024 In this book, composer and landscape painter Marc Yeats embarks on an introspective journey, weaving together the symbolic realms of music and painting through the written word. This endeavour expands upon the immediacy of engagement with his compositions and paintings and what ..read more
The Cross-Eyed Pianist
1M ago
"We have to plant music and art into the brains and hearts of young people" - an interview with celebrated baritone Benjamin Appl ..read more