The Good Pianist

Month: April 2011

  • Bao Xiu plays Brubeck

    Here’s my student Bao Xiu again, playing Dave Brubeck’s King for a Day. A treat for all you jazz fans.

  • My wish list for the Korg KDM-3 Digital Metronome

    Having used Korg’s excellent KDM-2 for a few years now, I’m hoping that the KDM-3 (at least I assume that’s what the next version will be called) will be coming out soon. Here’s my wish list for it:

    • Backlit LCD display
    • A push-button number pad AND a rotary dial for inputting speeds
    • A real metronome and bell sound
    • A female and/or male voice to count out the beats (Note: some people might see this as a gimmick but I think it’s a nice touch. Moreover it has been featured in Yamaha’s latest Clavinovas)
    • A choice of colors—black is always in fashion, but how about red, gold, brown, etc? A digital metronome could be the next fashion statement!
    • A more powerful speaker system compared to the KDM-2. Don’t get me wrong, the KDM-2 is pretty loud, but…oh well.
    • The ability to use rechargeable batteries would be nice
    • A soft carrying pouch or case

    If you have any other suggestions, feel free to drop me a comment.

  • Student spotlight: Adriana Chiew

    Another of my advanced students, Adriana Chiew performing on the Yamaha Clavinova.

    Adriana won the second Piano Idol competition held in 2009. Since then I have seen her progressing very well in her piano playing. Of course it helps to have a strict teacher like me, yes? Here she is, playing Chopin’s Mazurka in F Op. 68 No. 3. She’s one student that will go very far (and that’s a promise)

  • Student spotlight: Tan Bao Xiu

    One of my advanced students, Tan Bao Xiu playing on the Yamaha Clavinova.

    Bao Xiu has been learning with me for about two years now. She’s a soft-spoken student, but very obedient and follows instructions to the latter. Here she’s playing one of her Grade 8 ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, UK) examination pieces—Clara Schumann’s Fugue. I recorded this video using my Canon EOS Rebel T2i/550D in high definition mode. Well done, Bao Xiu!