Why you should attend piano concerts

This post was updated on 10th February 2019

In a previous post I wrote about a couple of piano concerts I attended – New pupils and young masters – and the wonderful performances given by the Chen brothers. With today’s technology, it has never been easier to access music with services like YouTube and Spotify offering a virtually unlimited choice but I think it is important for piano pupils at all levels, children and adults, to try and attend live concerts for a number of reasons.

You will see an accomplished pianist perform and be able to watch their technique and listen to a wider repertoire than the pieces we play and practice during lessons. At a live recital, you will be able to hear different interpretations of music that you are familiar with and will leave the concert feeling inspired and want to go home and practice.

If you have ambitions of one day giving your own piano recital, you will see what is expected of you as a performer. If you are working towards ABRSM grades, exam time is like giving a mini recital to the examiner. Attending live performances will give you confidence that you have the knowledge to preform for the examiner.

The Teesside area has a rich programme of events throughout the year; here is a list of some upcoming piano recitals that I will be attending. If you would like to accompany me, please ask your parents to make arrangements with me during your next lesson. If you are an adult pupil, I encourage you to attend too.

• Sunday, 24 February 2019 from 14:30-16:30 –  Helmsley Arts Centre Old Meeting House, YO62 5DW Helmsley
  • Teesside’s most promising pianist brothers Jeremy (13 years) and James (15 years) are pupils of Chetham’s School of Music, where their first teacher was Barbara White and they are now taught by Simon Bottomley.
  • Jeremy will play the first half of the concert. Haydn: Sonata in C major Hob. XV1 No. 50. Bach: Prelude and Fugue in C# major from Book 1, Chopin: Scherzo No 1 in B minor, Liszt: ‘Au Bord d’une Source’ Prokofiev: ‘Suggestion Diabolic’
  • In the second half James will play Beethoven: Sonata in D major Op.10 No.3 Debussy: Poissons d’or from Images Book 2 Liszt: Etude No.10 in F minor Chopin: Scherzo No. 4 in E major
    • Tickets Full Price £12.00, U18 £6.00

• Saturday 9th March 2019, 7:30pm Long Newton Music
  • The Bury Family in concert
  • Barbara White (internationally renowned pianist and tutor) returns to LNM accompanied by her daughters Laura and Debbie. Laura is a previous semi finalist in BBC Young Musician of the year on recorder, and will also be playing oboe in this concert. Debbie is a former member of Tees Valley Youth choir, who now sings with Leeds Vocal Movement and a newly formed Octet, North8.
  • They will be playing a mixed programme, from Vivaldi, Chopin, York Bowen , Poulenc, Gershwin and Cole Porter to name but a few!
    • Adults: £10, Under 16s: £5

• Sunday 17th March 2019, 3pm at Middlesbrough Town Hall
  • Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by David Greed will be performing Sibelius’ 5th Symphony and the internationally renowned pianist Robert Markham will perform Beethoven’s Emperor Piano Concerto
    • Tickets: £12.00 + booking fee, Under 18’s free. A ticket must be booked for every person attending.

• Sunday March 31st – The Princess Alexander Auditorium, Yarm at 6:00pm
  • Yarm Choral Society performs an evening of choral music featuring Barbara White (Bury) performing the Schumann piano concerto.
    • Tickets Adults £5.00, Concessions £3.00, Children £3.00

• Saturday 27th April 2019, Ian Ramsey CE Academy, TS19 7AJ
  • The 2019 Shine Festival starts with the competition in Piano solo
  • The competition is divided into various classes; Pre – Grade 1 (One piece from any ABRSM or Trinity Preparatory syllabus) , Grade 1 to Grade 8 (One piece from any ABRSM or Trinity syllabus), Piano – OPEN (One piece of own choice), Piano recital 12 years and under, Piano recital 15 years and under and Piano recital Open.
    • Admission prices (Admission charges are for anyone NOT performing in the festival)
      Morning = £2, Afternoon = £2, Evening = £2, Day pass = £5
      Children under 16 = free
  • If you would like to take part in the competition, please let me know by Thursday 7^th March 2019 – the entry fee is as follows
    • Piano Pre-Grade 1
      • One piece from any ABRSM or Trinity Preparatory syllabus, time limit 2 minutes, fee £4
    • Piano Grades 1-2
      • One piece from any ABRSM or Trinity syllabus, time limit 2 minutes, fee £5
    • Piano Grade 3
      • One piece from any ABRSM or Trinity syllabus, time limit 3 minutes, fee £5
    • Piano Grade 4
      • One piece from any ABRSM or Trinity syllabus, time limit 4 minutes, fee £6
    • Piano Grade 5
      • One piece from any ABRSM or Trinity syllabus, time limit 5 minutes, fee £6
    • Piano Grade 6
      • One piece from any ABRSM or Trinity syllabus, time limit 6 minutes, fee £6
    • Piano Grade 7
      • One piece from any ABRSM or Trinity syllabus, time limit 7 minutes, fee £7
    • Piano Grade 8
      • One piece from any ABRSM or Trinity syllabus, time limit 8 minutes, fee £7
    • Piano OPEN
      • One piece of your own choice, time limit 8 minutes, fee £7
    • Piano recital 12 years and under
      • Own choice. Two pieces of contrasting music. No pieces to be duplicated in other classes, time limit 6 minutes, fee £7
    • Piano recital 15 years and under £8
      • Own choice. Two pieces of contrasting music. No pieces to be duplicated in other classes, time limit 9 minutes, fee £8
    • Piano recital Open
      • Own choice. Two pieces of contrasting music. No pieces to be duplicated in other classes, time limit 12 minutes, fee £9.
• Highest mark from grades 5 – 8, Open and Recital categories will be invited to perform in the final showcase.
• The Shine Festival Competition is a fantastic opportunity to take your first step as a performer. If you are interested in taking part, please let me know at your next class.

• Sunday 12th May, 6pm, Middlesbrough Town Hall, TS1 2QJ
  • The 2019 Shine Festival Prizewinners concert where you might see someone familiar presenting a prize or two.
    • Tickets £3 adults, £1 children under 16 (Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times during the finale performance)

Attending any of the above events is a fantastic way to expand your musical appreciation and enhance your piano studies.