Once again I am standing in airport queue waiting for hours to be ‘processed’ and assessed for security risks. As I stand slightly shifting from leg to leg to avoid getting too stiff from inactivity, all kinds of thoughts begin to go through my mind. Is there an art of queueing? Are certain nations better at queueing than others? Is … Read More
Feed the Brain Music
Do you ever encounter something you knew all along and then read it in an article and suddenly it all makes sense? This happened to me recently when reading a back copy of International Arts Manager magazine, titled Study in children’s music training has enormous implications. The article carries forward the ongoing debate about the importance of music education in schools, a subject very close to … Read More
I have seen and touched the sound
As I walk a gravel pathway or across a wooden bridge the crunchy sound of stones and the boots on the wooden planks vibrate up through my body. It makes me wonder if you are feeling and touching sound or are you in too much of a hurry? Feeling and touching sound is my domain. Because of my profound deafness my … Read More
Reblogging a Blog
This week I am cheating! I am reblogging a blog! Well not quite, I did provide some of the raw data for the following blog on behalf of Audio Network Australia. Jess Ossington transformed my responses to her questions into a very readable article and I wanted to share some of their article with you. Real Instruments, Real Stories What if I … Read More
A Civilised Charm
As the sun melts the snow in the surrounding Cambridgeshire countryside I thought I would see what the internet has to offer regarding the history of Lichfield. In 1776 Dr Samuel Johnson took his friend Boswell to Lichfield to show him “genuine civilised life in an English provincial town”. The description still rings true today, for although Lichfield has grown considerably, it … Read More
Red Letter Day
I have just used the term Red Letter Day on my Facebook account to announce the fact that my new style website goes live today. After I pressed send I realised that I did not truly know why we use the term. So I looked it up and found to my surprise that it has a very interesting history. According to … Read More
How to Build a Great Venue
As I prepare to perform Bela Bartók’s Concerto for two pianos and percussion with my esteemed colleagues Janet Fulton, Noriko Ogawa and Philip Smith I am reminded of the time when I performed this piece with Sir Georg Solti. This video clip is a documentary of a very early performance of the Bartók with Sir Georg, older video’s like this … Read More
‘Just Listen’ in 3D!
Happy New Year, January for me is often an extremely busy Month. However I also appreciate the return to normality and the quiet after the Christmas celebrations. If I have the chance I like to try and take time, before the business of touring begins, to get my head around the schedule for the forthcoming year. I have been told … Read More
Mummy, I want a drum for Christmas
When your child asks for a drum for Christmas – rather than run a mile! Consider this, Prim by Icelandic composer Askell Másson Image: My first snare drum and practice pad
Letter to Santa
When I was a child I wanted a musical instrument for Christmas. Now I am an adult I would like every child to have the opportunity to play and hopefully enjoy music regardless of culture, ability, crede or social circumstances. Have a look at all the things I get up to on my YouTube channel. So please Santa do your best despite the … Read More