🎹 Episode 48 – Dancing about architecture

Welcome to Episode 48. This week, I reflect on remixing, musical distractions, and the sneaky ways we convince ourselves we’re making progress.

🎧 Remixing in the Classroom
Year 9 music students had a workshop on remixing, led by two presenters, including musician Nyxen. I got to sit in on parts of the day and was surprised by how much I enjoyed her music and her breakdown of the production process.
Check out Nyxen’s channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NYXENMUSIC
Here’s the track they worked on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4136AwqMjiA

🎹 Denis Zhdanov’s Competition Story
A fun video from Denis Zhdanov about his first piano competition—light, entertaining, and with a nice piece at the end: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOAuDBWLzXI

📺 YouTube Pick – David Bennett Piano
David Bennett’s videos dissect music theory through popular songs. I’ve learned a lot from his breakdowns of chord progressions and modes.
Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@DavidBennettPiano
This week’s pick is especially useful:
“Film and TV Themes that will help you identify intervals” – a great resource for recognising intervals by ear, from Jaws to The Flintstones: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JftZNTUJTJc

🧠 Essay – Dancing about architecture
There’s a quote—often misattributed—about how writing about music is like dancing about architecture. I use it this week to reflect on the trap of watching music content instead of doing music.
I’ve set myself a rule: no YouTube videos or piano reading during the week until I’ve done at least 30 minutes of practice. No more illusions of progress without real playing.

📘 Review – Bill Hilton’s “Exercises, Inventions & Ideas”
As a Patreon supporter, I’ve been working through Bill Hilton’s teaching pack. The first PDF includes a clever dexterity exercise with deliberately tricky fingering, a pedal-focused invention using finger cycling, and a segment on legato/staccato control.
The first video and download in the series is free to all: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8kQ2qn7qCk

🎼 Progress Update

• Türk’s Bagatelle in F is now on maintenance rotation.
• Afternoon Snooze and Blackout Blues are getting close—though I’ve slowed down Afternoon Snooze, because a nap should sound lazy, not brisk.
• Der Vogelfänger bin ich ja is coming together with both hands, very slowly.
• M

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