The new academic year is my favourite time of year! I love the sense of new beginnings, as you plan out your goals and set new targets for your playing and studies. I’m so excited to hear about my student’s new challenges; new school year, new college, new job, starting University - I’m so happy for them. This sense of a new start is enhanced by the fact that Autumn is my favourite time of year. There’s a zest and a fizz in the atmosphere! I love this time of year!

Practice Schedules - Sharon Bill Music Matters Vlog

Get To the Point (Graphite Pencil Demonstration for Music Notation) - Sharon Bill Music Matters Vlog

The metronome is a great aid to practice - but it can be a mixed blessing. Opinions differ on how helpful practicing to a metronome really is. From my own experience I can’t imagine never using the metronome - but it can cause a bit of a tantrum now and then. The metronome tells no lies and doesn’t wait a millisecond for you! I’ve had some metronome nightmares in my time - but I still endorse it and think it a valuable practice aid… in its place…

Gift or Grit? - Sharon Bill Music Matters Vlog

Procrastination is a musician’s worst enemy - and yet we all put off our music practice. Why? It’s not necessarily because we are being lazy (though, no doubt that is sometimes the problem). Sometimes its simply that we are daunted and overwhelmed at the prospect of what lies ahead. We know we’ve a long list of scales to get through and we know ‘that tricky section’ needs sorting… and so we give up before we’ve started. Breaking that barrier is easy if you try the 'five minute rule’ - commit to just five minutes, and then you can be done. I guarantee that you will nearly always find you’re engrossed and will achieve far more than just five minutes. However, if you’re really busy and five minutes is really all you can manage - at least you’ve done something.

My YouTube Channel is all about sharing the love of music and sharing what knowledge I have. After many years teaching music I don’t pretend to know it all, but I do have much that I want to share with you, to foster a love of learning music and create an atmosphere of encouragement and learning. However, learning to record and getting over my nerves has taken some practice. It’s good to step outside of your comfort zone - this is how we grow. I’ve learned much along the way and I want to thank you for your encouragement and support, and also for all of the hard work that you do in your studies. Onwards and upwards!

It’s great to finally get a haircut after months of lockdown, but I know that many are still yearning for a manicure and a visit to the nail salon. I’m not usually keen for a trip to a hair salon but I do feel a little hard done to that, as a pianist, I can’t have nicely manicured and painted nails. Depending which instrument you play your manicure can end up quite strange. This is the one sacrifice to music that I do resent just a little bit.