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Listening to Britain

Tennis, painting, espressos . . . where does a professional pianist get her ideas? Susan Tomes on the everyday events that help her understand the music she plays

Published: 19 Mar 2010

Kemble pianos: out of tune with the times

Susan Tomes: The lid has closed on Britain's last piano-makers, defeated by overseas competition and the rise of digital pop. But the real tragedy is that we care so little

Published: 30 Oct 2009

Published: 30 Oct 2009

The World in Six Songs by Daniel Levitin

Susan Tomes finds a categorisation of songs too broad to properly engage with the form

Published: 7 Aug 2009

Just the three of us

Susan Tomes explains why the Florestan Trio are going it alone to tackle Beethoven's majestic Second

Published: 4 Jun 2009

Notes to self

Published: 22 Aug 2008
On a classical note

Published: 2 Aug 2008

Published: 2 Aug 2008

Going under the knife? Ask for a concerto first

Susan Tomes: A doctor in Hawaii finds playing classical piano to his patients prior to surgery has unexpected benefits

Published: 19 Jul 2008

Published: 19 Jul 2008

Deep-sea groovers

Susan Tomes is lured by the ancient, haunting siren calls of the world's largest creatures in David Rothenborg's Thousand Mile Song

Published: 7:15 PM
How research stifles university teaching

Letters: Fortunately most of my career as a salaried professor was spent in the polytechnic sector before we were hit by the research assessment exercise (Letters, June 5)

Published: 7:15 PM

Published: 7:15 PM

Music blog
The BBC ruined the Young Musician of the Year

There's no point treating classical music as if it's trivial, jokey, and easy - playing to a high standard is serious work

Published: 12 May 2008
Music blog
BBC format hits the wrong note

Published: 6 May 2008
The lost chord

Published: 2 May 2008

Music blog
Politics and classical music make uneasy bedfellows

Leon Fleisher's decision to wear a peace symbol when accepting an award at the White House is a rare example of political bravery in the classical music world

Published: 19 Feb 2008
Flexible friends

Susan Tomes: Thanks to mobile phones constant change is here to stay, making pre-planned arrangements and meeting times seem outdated

Published: 17 Feb 2008

Published: 17 Feb 2008
The long shot

Susan Tomes: Reading online provides a short caffeine hit for the mind, whereas novel reading develops valuable habits of concentration and contemplation

Published: 9 Feb 2008

Published: 9 Feb 2008
Music blog
Are standing ovations becoming more common?

The way an audience chooses to demonstrate its appreciation differs from country to country. But our typical English reserve seems to be giving way to more American ebullience

Published: 6 Feb 2008

A cloud of unknowing

Susan Tomes: Why is it that the people who are employed to provide information for the public seem to know so little?

Published: 29 Jan 2008

Published: 29 Jan 2008

Music blog
Alfred Brendel's lost world

As the master pianist announces his retirement, I am saddened to see a new age of inexperience and celebrity taking over classical music

Published: 21 Nov 2007
Music blog
Pianos for public spaces

Anita Roddick tried to imagine what the world would be like if beauty were the central plank of the government's manifesto. What a fantastic idea.

Published: 1 Nov 2007

Music blog
Smiles aren't instrumental in pleasing a crowd

Young players are being nagged to make the audience 'feel welcome'. But surely there are better ways of engaging new listeners than making eyes at them?

Published: 25 Oct 2007

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