Piano, finally

• Episode 70 - The Judging of Art

  🎧 This Week’s CompetitionsThe Out West Piano Fest is just around the corner, and I’ll be heading to Bathurst for the weekend—my first planned break from the podcast. If you’re there, say hello! Details at pianoplus.com.au/out-west-piano-fest-2025.For those who enjoy piano competitions, the Honens International Piano Competition is underway, with finals streaming live and available afterwards on the Honens YouTube channel. Meanwhile, the 19th International Chopin Competition continues into its second week—forty pianists made it to Stage Two, though my pick, Anthony Ratinov, didn’t advance further. Performances and highlights are available on the Chopin Institute’s YouTube page.🎭 Theatre Recommendation – Legally BlondeThe Blue Mountains Musical Society’s production of Legally Blonde is running at the Blue Mountains Theatre in Springwood until 2 November. The cast, led by Charli Arkle as Elle Woods and James Matheson as Emmett Forrest, were outstanding—two dogs even joined the cast and performed perfectly! Minimal staging, but top-tier performances. Highly recommended.📝 Essay – The Judging of ArtWatching the Chopin Competition got me thinking about what it means to judge art. In science, comparisons are objective—numbers, measurements, and repeatable outcomes. In art, not so much. You can quantify accuracy, but not interpretation. Garrick Ohlsson, chair of the Chopin jury, admitted that pianists he preferred didn’t progress—a reminder that even experts disagree. Art isn’t about ranking; it’s about expression.Competitions, I think, should be showcases rather than scoreboards. Like Devi’s annual student recital, where everyone performs, no prizes are awarded, and every listener connects differently. The value lies in participation and appreciation, not comparison.🎧 Review – In-Ear Monitors & Wireless SetupI’ve switched to Mee Audio MX Pro in-ear monitors for podcasting and practice—clear sound, low leakage, and modular design. Paired with the Swiff Audio WX 520 Wireless System, the setup makes recording much easier. Both came from Mooloolaba Music Centre, where the staff were excellent.🎹 ProgressThis week’s practice: Wynn-Anne Rossi’s A Wild Chase, recorded on the Kawai NV10 with Pianoteq 9 emulating a Steinway Model D.Send me a text message.You can contact me: via email at [email protected]; this is probably the best option the show website, www.pianofinally.show Instagram and Threads @pianofinally and on YouTube all the podcast directories - list here's the RSS feed Some of the links to books and other items mentioned in the podcast are affiliate links for Amazon or other providers. If you use one of these links, a commission may be paid to me at no additional cost to you. Thank you if you use a link. All reviews of products, websites and services are unpaid, and no sponsorship has been received for any content on this podcast.

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• Episode 69 - It's Not About the Money

  Episode 69 – It’s Not About the MoneyWelcome back to Piano, finally, the podcast of one bloke learning piano later in life. This week’s episode was planned and drafted on the train to Sydney—an unusually productive commute at $6.90 each way!🎧 YouTube and Podcast – 19th International Chopin CompetitionStage One of the 19th International Chopin Competition has finished, with forty pianists progressing to the next round. I’m following Anthony Ratinov, runner-up in Miami and a recent guest on Ben Laude’s Late Cho(pin). You can catch his first-round performance here, and find more interviews and highlights on the Chopin Institute YouTube channel. For extra insight, check out Ben Laude’s Patreon recaps and a short discussion between Ben and Ratinov here.📝 Essay – It’s Not About the MoneySome approach music as a business, others as a passion. I fall into the latter group. While lessons, instruments, and concert tickets all cost money, for most of us learning later in life, the goal isn’t profit—it’s progress. Playing music for joy rather than financial return changes how we value practice and performance. Attending concerts, connecting with like-minded people, and encouraging students to pursue music for its own sake all reinforce the same truth: music’s real worth isn’t measured in dollars.🎼 Review – Piano Glory Music FolderLike Bill Hilton, I’ve rediscovered the benefits of paper scores. Digital versions are convenient, but writing on real paper feels more connected. Enter Piano Glory, a Sydney-based company creating sturdy music folders that hold pages without plastic sleeves—no reflections, easy annotations, and durable construction. Each folder holds up to forty pages, includes adhesive tabs and a pencil holder, and stays open on the stand. Not cheap, but beautifully designed and worth it. Check out Bill Hilton’s video that inspired the switch here.🎶 Coming UpNext week: the Blue Mountains Musical Society’s production of Legally Blonde (details here), and I’ll be starting the new term with Devi, tackling more Grade One pieces. Also, if you’re near the Blue Mountains, catch Devi performing later this month with the Khyal Trio (event info).The contents of this podcast were entirely generated by a human. These show notes, however, were created by ChatGPT.Send me a text message.You can contact me: via email at [email protected]; this is probably the best option the show website, www.pianofinally.show Instagram and Threads @pianofinally and on YouTube all the podcast directories - list here's the RSS feed Some of the links to books and other items mentioned in the podcast are affiliate links for Amazon or other providers. If you use one of these links, a commission may be paid to me at no additional cost to you. Thank you if you use a link. All reviews of products, websites and services are unpaid, and no sponsorship has been received for any content on this podcast.

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• Episode 68 - It Takes Time

  Episode 68 – It Takes TimeG’day, everyone—and welcome back to Piano, Finally, the podcast from an old bloke who’s learning the piano, finally. This week’s episode comes to you from Queensland, recorded on portable Rode gear via an iPhone and edited in Cubase on a MacBook Pro. It’s also a rehearsal for the upcoming Out West Piano Fest, where I’ll be recording on location.🎧 YouTube Feature – 19th International Chopin CompetitionThe 19th International Chopin Competition has begun, with every performance livestreamed and archived on YouTube. If you missed the opening concert, you can still watch it here. The broadcast quality is excellent, with multiple cameras and pristine sound. Performers included Bruce Liu (Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 5), Yulianna Avdeeva and Garrick Ohlsson (Poulenc’s Concerto for Two Pianos), and Dang Thai Son joining them for Bach’s Concerto for Four Harpsichords. Expect world-class playing and superb production.📝 Essay – It Takes TimeSwimming, like practising piano, takes patience. Around lap six, it always feels impossible—but by the end, the distance is done. Piano practice is the same. Each new piece starts excitingly, then slows into frustration before progress reappears. Preparing my four recital pieces—Spindler’s Canon, Türk’s Bagatelle in F, and Craggs’ Afternoon Snooze and Blackout Blues—proved that persistence works. It took about ten months to get them performance-ready. Each time I reach “lap six,” I remind myself: I’ve finished before, I’ll finish again.🎛 Review – Haptik (Apple Watch Metronome)If you’ve ever seen the Soundbrenner Pulse, you’ll understand the appeal of haptic metronomes. Haptik offers a similar experience for Apple Watch users—and at AU$14.99 lifetime or AU$7.99 a year, it’s far cheaper. Available via haptik.watch, it syncs with iPhone tempo changes and even lets you record while you practise. Battery usage is minimal (around 2% per half-hour), and it’s easy to access from your watch face. Ideal for silent tempo guidance during practice sessions.🎹 ProgressThis week’s practice piece: Wynn-Anne Rossi’s A Wild Chase. Travelling and family life made practice tricky, but things are still moving forward—helped by the Roland FP-30X and Pianoteq 8 emulating the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX.The contents of this podcast were entirely generated by a human. These show notes, however, were created by ChatGPT.Send me a text message.You can contact me: via email at [email protected]; this is probably the best option the show website, www.pianofinally.show Instagram and Threads @pianofinally and on YouTube all the podcast directories - list here's the RSS feed Some of the links to books and other items mentioned in the podcast are affiliate links for Amazon or other providers. If you use one of these links, a commission may be paid to me at no additional cost to you. Thank you if you use a link. All reviews of products, websites and services are unpaid, and no sponsorship has been received for any content on this podcast.

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• Episode 67 - If a Job's Worth Doing…

  Episode 67 – If a job’s worth doing…Welcome back to Piano, Finally, a podcast from an old bloke learning the piano later in life. Term three has wrapped up, and with it my piano lessons for now. Devi has me back on Wynn-Anne Rossi’s A Wild Chase, plus a new piece—Kevin Olson’s Machines on the Loose—and Juan Cabeza’s Diversion 1. Plenty to keep me busy through the break.🎧 Podcast & YouTube – A Musical SéanceThis week’s suggestion comes via Dan Schreiber’s book The Theory of Everything Else, where he recounts the story of Rosemary Brown—a spiritualist who claimed to channel new works from Beethoven, Liszt, Chopin and others. Psychologists called it unconscious composition, but the result was an album: A Musical Séance (Spotify link). Weird, yes, but fascinating piano music.No Such Thing as a FishWe Can Be WeirdosRosemary Brown wiki📝 Essay – If a job’s worth doing…Generative AI has its uses, but mainly for what’s unimportant. When a message matters, effort matters. Real music—music that communicates—isn’t just filler like hold music or AI “slop.” Corporations cutting corners with generated content reveal that they don’t care about their message. By contrast, humans crafting art signal intent, care, and communication. If a job’s worth doing, it’s worth having a real person do it. Two classic Sony ads (here’s the other) prove that effort shines through.✏️ Review – Blackwing PencilsFor marking up scores, I’ve discovered Blackwing pencils—beautifully made, with soft graphite, replaceable erasers, and even a two-stage sharpener. Expensive compared to standard HBs, but worth it for clear, easy writing on scores. Available locally via Sydney Art Store.🎭 Coming UpNext stop: Legally Blonde with the Blue Mountains Musical Society and then the Out West Piano Fest in Bathurst.🎼 ProgressThis week’s progress is A Wild Chase by Wynn-Anne Rossi, from the Piano for Leisure, Grade 1 Series 4 book. Wynn-Anne also has her own YouTube channel. Recorded on the Send me a text message.You can contact me: via email at [email protected]; this is probably the best option the show website, www.pianofinally.show Instagram and Threads @pianofinally and on YouTube all the podcast directories - list here's the RSS feed Some of the links to books and other items mentioned in the podcast are affiliate links for Amazon or other providers. If you use one of these links, a commission may be paid to me at no additional cost to you. Thank you if you use a link. All reviews of products, websites and services are unpaid, and no sponsorship has been received for any content on this podcast.

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• Episode 66 - Nothing's Wasted

  🎙 Episode 66 – Nothing’s WastedWelcome back to Piano, Finally, the podcast of one bloke learning piano later in life. This episode didn’t go quite as planned—I was meant to be sharing a recording from Devi’s piano showcase, but thanks to a calendar mishap, I missed it by a day. Disappointing, yes—but not wasted. The extra practice means I now have four polished pieces ready to play whenever someone asks.🎧 YouTube Spotlight – David BennettTwo new videos worth a look:Beginner’s Guide to Woodwind Instruments, the third in a series explaining orchestral sections, complete with examples and a quiz.67 Real Names of Famous Musicians, a lighter piece revealing the original names behind the stage names.Catch more of David’s excellent work on his channel.📝 Essay – Nothing’s WastedEven without the showcase, the effort paid off. Preparing Spindler’s Canon, Türk’s Bagatelle in F, and Craggs’ Afternoon Snooze and Blackout Blues forced me to analyse practice habits more closely. I realised that when my fingers move on autopilot, mistakes creep in. Concentrating on understanding the music—not just memorising it—improved accuracy and confidence. Playing for others sharpens focus, so my advice is: find opportunities to share your music. None of the preparation is wasted.🎼 Review – Sounds InsideAt Hurstville Library, part of the Sydney Fringe Festival, I joined Marcus Whale for an evening of synthesisers, subtractive synthesis, and performance. Instruments were even available to borrow through the library’s collection—a brilliant way for young people to access music. Highlights included a Roland Juno-60 and Marcus’s layered electronic performance.🎶 Closing & ProgressComing up: a Taylor Swift tribute at the Sydney Fringe, the last lesson of term with Devi, and a return to Rossi’s Wild Chase. This week’s progress section features the four showcase pieces, recorded on the Kawai NV10 with Pianoteq’s Shigeru Kawai SK-EX.Send me a text message.You can contact me: via email at [email protected]; this is probably the best option the show website, www.pianofinally.show Instagram and Threads @pianofinally and on YouTube all the podcast directories - list here's the RSS feed Some of the links to books and other items mentioned in the podcast are affiliate links for Amazon or other providers. If you use one of these links, a commission may be paid to me at no additional cost to you. Thank you if you use a link. All reviews of products, websites and services are unpaid, and no sponsorship has been received for any content on this podcast.

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