Letter

The Piano Has Been Thinking

Stories and reflections on teaching, performance, songs, and life as a musician.

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Listen!

Listen!

Dear Reader - Plans plans plans gigs plans gigs plans plans… The Big Thing We may be on a break from Theme Nights at the moment, but that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing happening. Very much looking forward to a sold.

Milestones

Milestones

Dear Reader - It was a week of season endings and celebrations… The Big Thing Our debut season of Open Mic events for the Theme Night Academy finished last night, and as always it provided plenty of memorable moments..

Where are you Now?!

Where are you Now?!

Dear Reader - things are starting to get moving again…I hope you’re not too far away over the coming weeks! The Big Thing The Theme Nights may be taking a break for the moment, but our Theme Nights YouTube channel has.

Making and fooling…

Making and fooling…

Dear Reader - Happy April! The Big Thing Courtesy of Gabe Anderson - for anyone who is into making stuff… Three phases…I’m not sure they always go in order and there’s plenty of overlap along the way… Making.

Around the world!

Around the world!

Dear Reader - we were taken around the world by members of our Theme Night Academy this weekend - from Babylon to Brazil, from Tennessee to Tunisia and finally back home to the Hills of Donegal and the Isle of.

Rockin’ The Boat

Rockin’ The Boat

Dear Reader - firstly a reminder that Teenage Theme Night #34 takes place in the Model this coming Friday Saturday and Sunday. I’m not exaggerating when I say that this looks like it will be the best one yet! Still.

The Graduates…

The Graduates…

Dear Reader - Lots of really exciting Theme Night Academy events taking place in the next few weeks - so today’s letter is a celebration of some of the musicians who have graduated from this programme over the last 10.

Funk folk and film…

Funk folk and film…

Dear Reader - lots of music recommendations for you today. As per today’s title. But first… The Big Thing It was lovely to meet parents and students for the first time in Wesley House in Dublin on Sunday. You never.

Where else but Liverpool?

Where else but Liverpool?

Dear Reader - I was in Liverpool last weekend, and even sacrificed my Saturday night out because I had a Beatles bus tour booked for early on Sunday morning… The Big Thing And I loved it. I’m not generally a tour.

Parts and Charts…

Parts and Charts…

Dear Reader - first of all we’re going back in time a bit today… The Big Thing I loved this. From Theme Night Academy graduate Joe Gorman. And now that things are a bit quieter I’m reading it again. Possibly my.

Something Beautiful

Something Beautiful

Dear Reader - What a beautiful week. From start to finish… These guys (Clada) brought incredible energy to our first two shows last week. We had a magic couple of hours with them on Thursday afternoon recording this….

Red Moon Rising!

Red Moon Rising!

Dear Reader - The only Theme Night of 2025 starts tomorrow… The Big Thing And we’re at the stage of preparations where I find it difficult to get any perspective on the show. In show week you must trust in the vision.

Shock tactics!

Shock tactics!

Dear Reader - Delighted to present our first Theme Nights release of 2025 - and as @thehuntersburrow7453 commented on YouTube last night - 'I feel like I've found some secret treasure'. The Big Thing You may have seen.

Heaven…

Heaven…

And my heart beats so that I can hardly speak… Dear Reader - this was the feeling I had at a gig last Friday night anyway. But also… The Big Thing What a way to start the week yesterday as Kevin Egan handed over the.

To win just once…

To win just once…

Dear Reader - is it ever enough?! The Big Thing It was an exciting day in Dublin yesterday as we set up shop for lessons in a new Dublin venue. Wesley House is a beautiful spot near the canal in Leeson Park - close to.

The most wonderful time of the year…

The most wonderful time of the year…

Dear Reader - I do love a bit of January… The Big Thing 5 fingers, 5 pianos, 5 locations! Learn to play piano by ear with our 8-level structured and progressive learning curriculum. Now enrolling for a new term of.

Lots of new and lots of fun...

Lots of new and lots of fun...

Dear Reader - Firstly thanks for reading all year.! Once again this letter’s readership has grown in 2024 and it’s great for me to see that so many of you enjoy it from week to week. I’d like to wish you all the very.

One more year…

One more year…

Dear Reader - I hope you’re managing your way through the madness… The Big Thing It’s the first time since I started writing these letters almost 4 years ago that Christmas Eve has fallen on a Tuesday. So why not.