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🎹 How can neuroscience and a student-centered approach reshape our practice and teaching the piano?

In this episode of The Piano Pod, Practising the Piano – Neuroscience, Technique, Musicality, and Performance Mastery for Pianists, I sit down with Graham Fitch—a pianist, educator, writer, and one of the leading figures in piano pedagogy.

What separates Graham is his extensive research in piano pedagogy and neuroscience, his empirical, results-driven approach, and his compassionate, student-centered teaching philosophy that transforms how pianists learn and perform.

Is Hanon still relevant? What about Czerny? How do neuroscience and modern practice techniques redefine piano pedagogy today?

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why repetition alone won’t lead to mastery—and what actually works
• How neuroscience helps train technique, memory, and musical expression
• Creative strategies for effective practice that go beyond scales and exercises
• Why a student-centered approach leads to better, more engaged learning
• The importance of feedback and reflection in piano training
• How to prepare for performance with confidence and expressive freedom
• A deep dive into traditional and modern piano techniques—including Neuhaus, Hanon, Czerny, and more
• Muscle memory alone isn’t enough—integrate aural and cognitive learning for mastery.

Stay Connected with Graham Fitch

• Practising The Piano
• YouTube Channel

Books & Courses Mentioned:

• 🈹 Subscribe yearly to Practising the Piano Online Academy and enjoy full, unlimited access to all materials—plus, save 30% compared to the monthly plan!
• 🎓 Piano Teachers’ Course UK
• 🎼 Finchcocks
• 📖 What Every Pianist Needs to Know About the Body – Thomas Carson Mark: 🔗 Get it here
• 📖 Tyranny of Tradition in Piano Teaching – Walter Ponce: 🔗 Get it here
• 📖 Rudolph Ganz Exercises Contemporary and Special for Piano: 🔗 Read here
• 📖 Heinrich Neuhaus – The Art of Piano Playing

Stay Connected with The Piano Pod

• Subscribe to TPP on Substack for free or unlock exclusive materials

💬 What are YOUR biggest takeaways from this episode? Drop a comment below, and let’s discuss!