Piano, finally

• Episode 73 - Practising in Public

  G’day, I’m David Reidy. Welcome to Piano, Finally, a podcast by an old bloke who’s getting around to learning the piano, finally.This week was light on practice thanks to Year 9 camp at Lake Macquarie and the start of exam-marking season, but there was still some playing – including at camp – and some reflections on what it means to practise where people can see you.🎧 YouTube – 5 Minutes on… Moonlight SonataYouTube pointed me to Daniel Barenboim’s 5 minutes on… Beethoven – The “Moonlight” Sonata, part of a 13-video series where he talks about music by Beethoven, Debussy, Mozart, Chopin, Liszt and Brahms, illustrating his ideas at the piano. Barenboim argues that “Moonlight” is often played too dreamily, and links it instead to Mozart’s Don Giovanniand a more funereal, martial character. You may not agree with all his opinions, but they’re thoughtful and well explained.Playlist:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLErHuBsy75wzNtI5pjaDqwyM_C_RdipXn📝 Essay – Practising in PublicNext year I’ll be watching Anna Lapwood teach a masterclass on the Sydney Opera House organ: students practising in public, with an audience. It made me think about my own public practice – playing in junior music classes I’m covering, while students work on written tasks or try keyboards and guitars.Masterclass info:https://www.sydneysymphony.com/concerts/masterclass-with-anna-lapwoodIn science lessons, I’m the expert in the room; at the piano, I’m a learner. Saying “Here’s what I’m working on” gives me permission to make mistakes and gives students permission to be better than me at something. It models lifelong learning and shows that adults are still tackling new skills long after school ends. Learning piano as an adult is low-risk – we’re not after a career change, we’re here because we enjoy both the music and the learning. Practising where others can hear us helps build a culture where everyone keeps thinking, exploring and expanding their world.🎼 Review – The Indispensable Beethoven CollectionAs well as my aspirational Bärenreiter sonatas, I picked up Schirmer’s The Indispensable Beethoven Collection – 12 Famous Piano Pieces as a more practical working score for Piano Sonata No. 14. It includes Für Elise, four sonatas (Moonlight, Pathétique, Op. 49 Nos. 1 and 2), some variations, two sonatinas, and the attributed Adieu to the Piano. There are editorial notes, suggested fingerings (some amended in consultation with Devi), and the 96-page saddle-stitched book sits open nicely on the stand. The engraving is clearly from an older edition, but still quite readable.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 72 - A Bit of a Challenge

  Welcome back to Piano, Finally — the podcast of one bloke who’s learning piano later in life.This week’s episode is all about stepping up to new challenges and enjoying the progress along the way. I’ve been practising more than usual, working on three pieces — including my first “real” classical work: Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata. It’s tricky, but rewarding, and I’m discovering just how much a single piece can transform practice from routine to exciting.🎧 YouTube – Yuja Wang and RachmaninovIn 2023, Yuja Wang performed all four Rachmaninov Piano Concertos and the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini in a single evening at Carnegie Hall — the first time anyone has ever attempted it. Not even Rachmaninov himself did that. The concert was also a scientific study: Yuja, conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin, members of the orchestra, and the audience wore heart rate monitors throughout.Watch the ToneBase overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isuT10uxNZESee the Carnegie Hall analysis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuA9l77ODbsTogether, these two videos offer a fascinating look at the physical and emotional energy behind performance — and maybe an excuse to count piano practice as exercise.📝 Essay – A Bit of a ChallengeAfter nearly two years of learning, I’m now tackling pieces around the Grade One level — not perfect, but recognisable! My goal has always been to play “real” music for others, not just eight bars of Ode to Joy. Choosing something like Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata is ambitious but deeply satisfying. Even a few bars of it sound great, and that joy makes practice fun again.🎼 Review – Easier Classical Piano (Hal Leonard)Found at Mooloolaba Music, this hefty 300-page volume is packed with 174 pieces by 44 composers — from Bach and Beethoven to Tchaikovsky and Burgmüller. It’s beautifully printed, spiral-bound, and a great value for $53. Perfect for players moving toward the intermediate level.Hal LeonardMusic JunctionAmazon AU🎶 ProgressDevi and I are refining three pieces: Wynn-Anne Rossi’s A Wild Chase, Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata, and Trumpet Tune by Jeremiah Clarke (attributed to Henry Purcell). All recorded on the Kawai NV10 using Cubase 15 and Pianoteq 9 with a Shigeru Kawai SK-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 71 - Out West Piano Fest

  G’day, everyone—and welcome back to Piano, Finally, a podcast by an old bloke learning the piano, finally.This week’s episode recaps my trip to the Out West Piano Fest in Bathurst—a weekend of incredible performances, great company, and the best farm food I’ve ever had.🎼 Review – Out West Piano FestHeld on Blackdown Farm and organised by Piano Plus, the festival brings together music, meals, and the scenic countryside over three days. The performances took place in a gallery-shed surrounded by Indigenous art, featuring two Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grands (each valued at $380,000—coffee machine included if you buy one!).The lineup included four pianists—Jeonghwan Kim, Wynona Wang, Rueben Tsang, and Mark Coughlan—along with soprano Rachelle Durkin and violinist Harry Bennetts. From Mozart and Liszt to Chopin, Strauss, and Rachmaninov, each concert offered something new. Highlights included Wynona Wang’s dazzling Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 1and the four pianists tackling Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro overture together.Meals were as memorable as the music, shared at communal tables with fellow festivalgoers, performers, and even a few magazine editors and doctors. A small crowd, big talent, and genuine connection made it a perfect weekend.🎙 Interview – Jay ByrnesI also chatted with producer Jay Byrnes, who explained the logistics behind moving multiple concert grands into a farm shed, coordinating artists, and balancing food, design, and music. It takes months of planning—and a love of chaos—to pull it off. Jay’s enthusiasm for combining music and community makes the festival what it is.🎧 19th International Chopin Competition PlaylistI’ve been watching performances from the Chopin Competition and following Devi’s advice to compare interpretations of the same work. There’s a playlist of finalists performing Chopin’s Polonaise-Fantaisie—you can find it here.🎻 Coming UpNext week I’ll share my wrap-up of the Chopin Competition and return to the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the Opera House for Janáček’s Sinfonietta, Dvořák’s Cello Concerto, and Ravel’s Pictures at an Exhibition.🎹 ProgressWynn-Anne Rossi’s A Wild Chase is now nearly performance-ready, and I’ve started on Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 14 in C♯ minor—the Moonlight Sonata. I’m only a few bars in, but loving it already.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 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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