Ballet Piano Podcast

In Conversation with Mavin Khoo

In this episode the team lift the lid on Mavin Khoo, a great in the British dance scene as well as in Asia.  This episode is poignant on many levels and you can hear that Mavin is completely in charge of his feelings, emotions, and view point.  His life and career is completely explored.  It’s a beautiful podcast. This episode is proudly produced and published by PodcastRecording.co.uk

In Conversation with Mavin Khoo (Video)

In this episode the team lift the lid on Mavin Khoo, a great in the British dance scene as well as in Asia.  This episode is poignant on many levels and you can hear that Mavin is completely in charge of his feelings, emotions, and view point.  His life and career is completely explored.  It’s a beautiful podcast. This episode is proudly produced and published by PodcastRecording.co.uk

The Grand Allegro Waltz (Video)

In this episode the team lift the lid on the grand allegro waltz and that particular part of class.  What we play, how we play it, and our ever evolving approach to playing the biggest part of class.  It can be mined field thanks to the advancement of technique and athleticism. This episode is proudly produced and published by PodcastRecording.co.uk

The Grand Allegro Waltz

In this episode the team lift the lid on the grand allegro waltz and that particular part of class.  What we play, how we play it, and our ever evolving approach to playing the biggest part of class.  It can be mined field thanks to the advancement of technique and athleticism. This episode is proudly produced and published by PodcastRecording.co.uk

Ballet Studio Communication

In this episode, the team lift the lid on communication within the ballet studio, and it’s importance.  From eye contact, visual communication, verbal communication, and everything necessary to build a rapport between teacher and pianist.  It is helpful, informative, insightful, and of course hilarious. Proudly produced and published by PodcastRecording.co.uk

Ballet Studio Communication (Video)

In this episode, the team lift the lid on communication within the ballet studio, and it’s importance.  From eye contact, visual communication, verbal communication, and everything necessary to build a rapport between teacher and pianist.  It is helpful, informative, insightful, and of course hilarious. Proudly produced and published by PodcastRecording.co.uk

In Conversation with Philip Feeney (Video)

In this episode the team lift the lid on the life and work of ballet composer Phil Feeney.  With a career spanning decades, Feeney has twenty full length, and fifty short works to his name, and the team explore his process in this pod.  It’s a beautifully sedate episode. This episode is proudly produced and published by PodcastRecording.co.uk

In Conversation with Philip Feeney

In this episode the team lift the lid on the life and work of ballet composer Phil Feeney.  With a career spanning decades, Feeney has twenty full length, and fifty short works to his name, and the team explore his process in this pod.  It’s a beautifully sedate episode. This episode is proudly produced and published by PodcastRecording.co.uk

Ballet Studio Horror Stories (Video)

In this episode the team lift the lid on times in the ballet studio where the job has gone horribly wrong.  A pod full of horror stories, some funny, some serious, all valid.  At the end of the day, we’re all human, and it makes ballet appear a bit more normal.  Prepare to belly laugh! This episode is proudly produced and published by PodcastRecording.co.uk

Ballet Studio Horror Stories

In this episode the team lift the lid on times in the ballet studio where the job has gone horribly wrong.  A pod full of horror stories, some funny, some serious, all valid.  At the end of the day, we’re all human, and it makes ballet appear a bit more normal.  Prepare to belly laugh! This episode is proudly produced and published by PodcastRecording.co.uk

Advice, Tips and Tricks for New Ballet Pianists

In this episode the team lift the lid on life as a new pianist.  They have collated some useful tips and tricks for new pianists starting out based on their own knowledge and experiences.  New pianists can definitely use this episode to fill their ‘tool’ bags with useful hints to get going. The sheet music for Radetzky March can be found here balletpianopodcast.com/radetzkymarch A brief sheet on dancers counts with musical examples can be found here balletpianopodcast.com/dancerscounts Th...

Advice, Tips and Tricks for New Ballet Pianists (Video)

In this episode the team lift the lid on life as a new pianist.  They have collated some useful tips and tricks for new pianists starting out based on their own knowledge and experiences.  New pianists can definitely use this episode to fill their ‘tool’ bags with useful hints to get going. The sheet music for Radetzky March can be found here balletpianopodcast.com/radetzkymarch A brief sheet on dancers counts with musical examples can be found here balletpianopodcast.com/dancerscounts Th...

In Conversation with Gavin Sutherland

In this episode the team lift the lid on the life and career of ballet conductor Gavin Sutherland.  Former music director at English National Ballet he began humbly in north of England and now enjoys international acclaim all over the world. This episode is proudly produced and published by PodcastRecording.co.uk

Advice, Tips and Tricks for New Ballet Teachers (Video)

In this episode the team lift the lid on life as a new professional in the ballet world, specifically for ballet teachers.  The team have collated some of their most useful tips and tricks for new teachers to help them get off on the right foot when it comes to working with live music for the first time. A small reference sheet for musicians about dancers counts can be found at https://www.balletpianopodcast.com/dancerscounts This episode is proudly produced and published by podcastrecordi...

Advice, Tips and Tricks for New Ballet Teachers

In this episode the team lift the lid on life as a new professional in the ballet world, specifically for ballet teachers.  The team have collated some of their most useful tips and tricks for new teachers to help them get off on the right foot when it comes to working with live music for the first time. A small reference sheet for musicians about dancers counts can be found at https://www.balletpianopodcast.com/dancerscounts This episode is proudly produced and published by podcastrecordi...

We’re back for 2024! (Video)

In this episode, the team lift the lid on their lives over the past year and a half, from job changes, career changes, working holidays, cruises, and much, much more.  This episode also shares what you can expect from the season including round table topical discussions, and spotlight ‘In Conversations’.  This episode is proudly produced and published by podcastrecording.co.uk

We’re back for 2024!

In this episode, the team lift the lid on their lives over the past year and a half, from job changes, career changes, working holidays, cruises, and much, much more.  This episode also shares what you can expect from the season including round table topical discussions, and spotlight ‘In Conversations’.  This episode is proudly produced and published by podcastrecording.co.uk

We Went Live

This is the final episode in the current season, and it is the audio recording of the livestream we did on Sunday 10th July.  If you were unable to watch along, you can enjoy this episode and hear everything from that livestream, complete with us pianists playing ballet exercises for you.  You can also watch the livestream on our website, www.balletpianopodcast.com. Before we wrap up the new episodes and take our summer hiatus, we want to say a huge thank you to you, our followers, listeners...

Going Live

This is the final episode in the current season, and it is the audio recording of the livestream we did on Sunday 10th July.  If you were unable to watch along, you can enjoy this episode and hear everything from that livestream, complete with us pianists playing ballet exercises for you.  You can also watch the livestream on our website, www.balletpianopodcast.com. Before we wrap up the new episodes and take our summer hiatus, we want to say a huge thank you to you, our followers, listener...

In Conversation with Gill Civil

This week’s episode is with dance accompanist, Gill Civil.  Her life and career is so off the wall and varied, and in this episode we get to learn all about her work in dance, as we put the spotlight on her. From New Zealand originally, she has worked and lived in Australia, the USA and Canada, starting off her career in a punk rock band, working with Crowded House and Limbs Dance company, and playing for ballet classes throughout Australia, the USA, and Canada. She is also a composer of h...

Our Ten Commandments for Teachers and Dancers

Today’s episode is the second instalment of the TEN COMMANDMENTS, and it’s the turn of the commandments for dancers and teachers as told by us pianists. Again, it’s a very light hearted episode, where wethree pianists corner David Yow, and read him the riot act, HAHA!   It’s filled with some useful do’s and don’ts for teachers and dancers from a ballet pianists perspective, that we think would make life easier for both, and make the ballet class run smoothly and harmoniously. We are not t...

The Ten Commandments for Teachers and Dancers

バレエピアノポッドキャスト　-ライブ中継- トレイラー2

ポッドキャスト、史上初のライブ中継開催決定！ 2020年7月10日イギリス時間15:00(日本時間23:00) こちらのYouTubeリンクからサインアップできます。 https://youtu.be/adKRaxq4Pjg  メンバーのいつもの笑いの絶えない会話をライブで中継します。今回はライブという事で、リスナーからの質問に生で回答したり、今までを振り返ったり、ピアノ生演奏もあり！それに加えてメンバーそれぞれにサプライズ企画も用意していたり。。。ぜひぜひご参加下さい。メンバー一同、皆様にお会いできるのを楽しみにしています！

Ballet Piano Podcast - Going Live - Trailer 2

On 10th July 2020 at 15:00 BST, the podcast team will be doing our first ever live stream. Sign up https://youtu.be/adKRaxq4Pjg to watch us do what we do and join in the laughs. We'll be answering some of your questions, reflecting on the podcast journey so far, playing the piano and there'll be surprises in store for each team member! See you there. 

Our Ten Commandments for Ballet Pianists

This week’s new episode is a funny one with all the team members, and we’re talking about some do’s and don’ts of the ballet studio in an episode we’re calling THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.  It’s a very light hearted episode with some sincere sentiment, that we feel would make the studio more harmonious, if followed. This episode is the first of two commandment episodes, and in this episode, David Yow takes the floor and leads us in his ‘ready to go’ tips for ballet pianists from the teacher’s pers...

The Ten Commandments for Ballet Pianists

This week’s new episode is a funny one with all the team members, and we’re talking about some do’s and don’ts of the ballet studio in an episode we’re calling THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.  It’s a very light hearted episode with some sincere sentiment, that we feel would make the studio more harmonious, if followed. This episode is the first of two commandment episodes, and in this episode, David Yow takes the floor and leads us in his ‘ready to go’ tips for ballet pianists from the teacher’s pers...

Ballet Piano Podcast - Going Live - Trailer 1

On 10th July 2020 at 15:00 BST, the podcast team will be doing our first ever live stream. Sign up https://youtu.be/adKRaxq4Pjg to watch us do what we do and join in the laughs. We'll be answering some of your questions, reflecting on the podcast journey so far, playing the piano and there'll be surprises in store for each team member! See you there. 

Ballet Piano Podcast - Going Live

On 10th July 2020 at 15:00 BST, the podcast team will be doing our first ever live stream. Sign up https://youtu.be/adKRaxq4Pjg to watch us do what we do and join in the laughs. We'll be answering some of your questions, reflecting on the podcast journey so far, playing the piano and there'll be surprises in store for each team member! See you there. 

In Conversation with Andrea Marcelletti

Thursday can only mean one thing, and it’s a brand new Ballet Piano Podcast.  This week it comes in the form of an In Conversation with a current dancer of Sarasota Ballet, Andrea Marcelletti. Andrea we feel, is rather a special dancer with a more detailed appreciation for music than most, and in this episode, we talk about his life and career in ballet so far, and where his appreciation for music came from. Loving referred to as ‘ the assistant’, Andrea as a student was always one step ah...

Happy Endings

We have a fantastically funny episode for you today, with a rather tongue-in-cheek title.  In previous episodes, we have talked about introductions and what we need to get the exercise going, but what about our needs for the exercise coming to an end? In this episode, we talk a bit about the structure of exercises so that pianists can identify when the end is coming, and we talk in depth about the things to look out for from the dancers and teachers, so you can finish playing when the exerc...

In Conversation with Lorien Slaughter

It’s In Conversation week again, and we have a special guest who we think is very important within the dance world.  it’s physiotherapist, Lorien Slaughter. Lori was a former dancer having trained at The Royal Ballet School, and in this episode we talk to him about his journey form stage, to dancers’ clinic, and how he uses his dance science knowledge and experience to help him in his other job as a ballet teaching. Lori also talks in depth about the various aspects of dance science and ph...

Ballet Studio Etiquette

This week’s new episode is a funny one, but with serious undertones.  And it’s all about studio etiquette, the do’s and don’ts of the ballet studio. Traditionally speaking, ballet is a physical art form, and a discipline, and over the centuries, how dancers, teachers, and pianists behave in the studio has evolved. We discuss in this episode what we think are the most important aspects of studio etiquette that enhance the art form, both at training and professional level. It’s quite a funn...

Studio Etiquette

This week’s new episode is a funny one, but with serious undertones.  And it’s all about studio etiquette, the do’s and don’ts of the ballet studio. Traditionally speaking, ballet is a physical art form, and a discipline, and over the centuries, how dancers, teachers, and pianists behave in the studio has evolved. We discuss in this episode what we think are the most important aspects of studio etiquette that enhance the art form, both at training and professional level. It’s quite a funn...

In Conversation with John Sweeney

We have a fantastic new episode for you this week, another ‘In Conversation’.  We were lucky enough to get together with dance pianist and silent film composer, living legend John Sweeney. John has the most amazing career in dance accompaniment and silent movies, and we well and truly put the spotlight on him to find out about his life and career, from a person, who on the surface is rather understated. John is also famed for his extremely varied and sophisticated improvising and that is t...

Playing for Ballet Assessments

The whole team are back this week with the addition of baby Hazel, to talk about preparing for, and playing for ballet assessments.  It’s quite a niche topic within our industry, but it’s quite important and this episode is particularly insightful. How does David choose the steps?  How does he structure the class?  How does he best exhibit the dancers in their best light?  How do the pianists decide what music they are going to play?  How is the assessment finalised and rehearsed?  What hap...

Playing For Ballet Assessments

The whole team are back this week with the addition of baby Hazel, to talk about preparing for, and playing for ballet assessments.  It’s quite a niche topic within our industry, but it’s quite important and this episode is particularly insightful. How does David choose the steps?  How does he structure the class?  How does he best exhibit the dancers in their best light?  How do the pianists decide what music they are going to play?  How is the assessment finalised and rehearsed?  What hap...

In Conversation with Rose Alice

We have another fantastic episode for you this week, an ‘In Conversation’ with enigmatic, charismatic, and all round creative human, Rose Alice, the Artistic Director of International Arts Collective. With an extreme physical ability and technique, she has captivated audiences all over the world from Europe, to China, and the USA. We hope you enjoy this episode with the spotlight firmly on Rose, who always keeps it real, and who talks candidly about her serious highs and lows as an artist,...

First Date Nerves – Playing For A New Ballet Teacher

Have you ever been on a first date and experienced the sort of nerves you get when you meet someone for the first time?  Well as a ballet pianist, and ballet teacher, working with someone you’ve never met before can feel just like that.  And that’s what this episode is all about. We discuss what it’s like to work with someone new for the first time.  The sorts of things you might anticipate in a new colleague, the sorts of things you bring to a new partnership, and the little idiosyncrasies...

First Date Nerves

Have you ever been on a first date and experienced the sort of nerves you get when you meet someone for the first time?  Well as a ballet pianist, and ballet teacher, working with someone you’ve never met before can feel just like that.  And that’s what this episode is all about. We discuss what it’s like to work with someone new for the first time.  The sorts of things you might anticipate in a new colleague, the sorts of things you bring to a new partnership, and the little idiosyncrasies...

Playing for Men in Ballet Class

Another week, and another brilliant episode for you!  This episode is in response to a message that came in from a follower on the Instagram account, and she wanted to know about how we play for men specifically, and how David chooses music for his classes, and what he likes to hear from music in his men’s classes. We discuss as a general consensus that we would play a bit stronger, bigger with more space in the music to allow for the men to jump a bit higher, and execute more pirouettes, a...

Playing For Men

Another week, and another brilliant episode for you!  This episode is in response to a message that came in from a follower on the Instagram account, and she wanted to know about how we play for men specifically, and how David chooses music for his classes, and what he likes to hear from music in his men’s classes. We discuss as a general consensus that we would play a bit stronger, bigger with more space in the music to allow for the men to jump a bit higher, and execute more pirouettes, a...

In Conversation with Chris Hampson

We bring you another gem of an episode this week, an “In Conversation” with the Artistic Director and CEO of Scottish Ballet, Christopher Hampson.  Recorded in November 2020 during the pandemic, and on Zoom, this interview is pertinent to that time and climate, but we hope you enjoy it nonetheless. We celebrate the life and career of Christopher Hampson, from fairly routine training at the Royal Ballet School, to landing a dancing job at English National Ballet, to freelance choreography an...

Q and A 2022

We asked you to provide some questions of ballet and music topics that you wanted answering, and we did!  We also ask questions of each other, things about ballet and music we wanted to know from each other’s perspective, and it is very revealing and insightful. As is often the case on the Ballet Piano Podcast, you can expect lots of laughter, and bickering from the Hobsons, but it’s all in good fun and light humour.  We answer your questions as honestly as possible, to the best of our know...

Q and A

We asked you to provide some questions of ballet and music topics that you wanted answering, and we did!  We also ask questions of each other, things about ballet and music we wanted to know from each other’s perspective, and it is very revealing and insightful. As is often the case on the Ballet Piano Podcast, you can expect lots of laughter, and bickering from the Hobsons, but it’s all in good fun and light humour.  We answer your questions as honestly as possible, to the best of our know...

In Conversation with James Barton

Have we a got a fantastic episode for you this week?!  A brilliant ‘In Conversation’ with James Barton, originally recorded in October 2020.  James has had, (and is still having) the most wonderful career having started as a Junior Associate of the Royal Ballet School, trained at Elmhurst school, and graduated into Birmingham Royal Ballet, performing on the west end stage, and then becoming ballet master at Scottish Ballet, he has done it all. James has worked some of the best people in th...

When Tunes Work, and Don’t In Ballet Class

Thursday can only mean one thing…a brand new episode!  And this week, it’s all about when tunes go wrong.  Call this a horror stories episode if you will! We have quite an in depth discussion about choosing music you think is going to work for your exercise, but turns out when you play it, it is way off and you have to think on your feet about how you’re going to get out of it. As pianists, sometimes we choose something we think is right, but the teacher wants something much quicker or slo...

When Tunes Work, and Don't!

Thursday can only mean one thing…a brand new episode!  And this week, it’s all about when tunes go wrong.  Call this a horror stories episode if you will! We have quite an in depth discussion about choosing music you think is going to work for your exercise, but turns out when you play it, it is way off and you have to think on your feet about how you’re going to get out of it. As pianists, sometimes we choose something we think is right, but the teacher wants something much quicker or slo...

In Conversation with Karen MacIver

It’s that time of the week again where we bring you a brand new episode, and this week it’s another ‘In Conversation’.  It’s the turn of living legend, Karen MacIver. We talk to Karen about her life and career in ballet, silent movies, composing, and her authorship of two books about her approach to accompanying dance. It’s a very interesting episode with so much knowledge, insight, and thought provoking words from Karen about her theory behind accompanying the ‘moving image’.  We feel ver...

In Conversation - Karen Maciver

It’s that time of the week again where we bring you a brand new episode, and this week it’s another ‘In Conversation’.  It’s the turn of living legend, Karen MacIver. We talk to Karen about her life and career in ballet, silent movies, composing, and her authorship of two books about her approach to accompanying dance. It’s a very interesting episode with so much knowledge, insight, and thought provoking words from Karen about her theory behind accompanying the ‘moving image’.  We feel ver...

Musical Trickery – Moving the Bar Lines

We bring you a technical episode this week, and it’s all about counting music where the strong beat is not where you expect it to be. Some tunes do not start on the first beat of the bar, and as a result counting them for dancers can be tricky.  And so, in this episode we discuss how we overcome this and metaphorically move the bar lines in the music, and play in such a way that makes it easier to hear the strong beat of the melody as the strong beat of the bar. It’s quite a weird concept ...