Working with melodic suspensions

Music cannot work a magic spell. It can, however, do wonderful things. In recent issues of BBC Music Magazine, we have explored the benefits to mental health of listening and playing music, not least

Franz Schubert’s Moments Musicaux Op 94 are as captivating and expressive as any of his works, and a good deal more accessible to intermediate players than many. Although published in 1828, Schubert h

This month Richard Barrett demonstrates how changing the order of the notes in a chord can open up a lot of harmonic possibilities

Richard Barrett is on a mission to make you a better blues player – with full audio examples and backing tracks

Improvisation. For many pianists, the very word can feel intimidating. We see a jazz player fly across the keys and assume they are simply making it up. But improvisation is not a random act. It is ro

Patterns, says Clare Hammond. Learning a new piece, especially if you’re committing it to memory, and the clock is against you, is all about finding patterns. ‘If you can find patterns in a piece of m