Having had the pleasure and relief of playing for the first time a group of Schubert pieces in Harrogate last month, it was that I to do the complete programme in Modena, Italy as the first of a series.
That day the rain came down in buckets, which did not help my budding sore-throat: of course, I only realized how low my level of energy was once the recital started. Though as I always prepare my students for the battle of the fittest’ by saying that playing a concert is the best cure for any flu; and by having sweated through Schubert’s exposed A minor Sonata I shook myself out of that debilitating state and found myself ‘back in track’ by the time Debussy’s turn came, managing even to deliver the rest of the programme up to quite a good standard, I think! It’d be nice to know if someone present would concur with this opinion...

Following the successful replacement of a colleague last year, for a spot-of-teaching at the Royal Academy of Music, I was called back, but instead of an easily invigorating public Master-Class I chose to try my hand at a long session of “one-to-one” coaching: 4 very talented players were scheduled to play.

Truth be told: I have for ever refrained from belonging to any institution; being obliged to stop a session in the middle of one of Chopin’s Ballades...or Beethoven’s op 110, while having a fantastic time at getting real results, all because time approaches the next slot?! It’s like … well we won’t go into that…

No, I’ll stick to private teaching: time is mine to use as I see fit! Of course, that requires a lot of stamina...especially from the students as most of them would no doubt concur with...

A strong sensation hits me as if my wings were tied: like a caged bird, my freedom taken away!