I just thought some of you would enjoy this clip. If you know the Marx Brothers you will remember that Chico was a great pianist. But you might be too young to know them. https://youtu.be/Zz1xUbJprCw?si=CzMWLphccOL02Be-

I’m sharing a rare video of Art Tatum actually playing — worth watching simply to absorb what his hands and posture are doing. What always strikes me is how absurdly relaxed he looks. Almost to the point where you catch yourself thinking: “Is he even playing the piano?” And that’s the real lesson. ✨ Good technique looks different on every body We all have different hands, proportions, old habits, little tensions we carry. But one principle always holds: Good technique uses the least energy necessary to get the musical result you want. Tatum is a perfect demonstration — effortless, economical, no wasted motion. 🧩 How to use this in your own practice When you watch the video, notice: - How loose his shoulders are - How quietly the hands return to the keys - How nothing is gripping or bracing unnecessarily Then, when you’re practising: Treat relaxation as a musical element — something you deliberately build in. If that means slowing down a difficult section because you find yourself consciously releasing your left shoulder every time you hit the bass notes… that’s exactly what you should do. You slow the music down until relaxation is part of the version you can play. Only then do you bring the tempo back up. 🎧 Watch the video, take your time, and let Tatum’s ease rub off on you. What do you notice about his playing?

This week’s micro-challenge: Practice at least twice — even 10–15 minutes counts. When you’ve done it, comment “done” to check in and keep the momentum going. Let’s build steady, quiet progress together.

I’ve just added a new guide to the Online Resources Hub — it walks you through how to identify composers and musical periods from a written score. If you’re preparing for ABRSM theory exams, this will help you recognise style, texture, harmony, and period markers much more confidently. It’s designed as a clear, step-by-step process you can use with any unseen score. You’ll find it in the Online Resources Hub now if you’d like to explore it. Benedict

It’s lovely to see so many new people joining us recently — welcome to The Self-Taught Pianist Circle 👋 This space is here to support your curiosity, structure your progress, and give you a calm corner to keep piano learning feeling clear and enjoyable. If you haven’t already, the best place to begin is the onboarding course in the Classroom tab. It walks you through how everything here works and shows you how to set up your online trial lesson when you’re ready. You’re also warmly invited to join the weekly Q&A — it’s an easy, low-pressure way to settle in, ask questions, or simply listen. When you have a moment, feel free to introduce yourself in a new post — just a few lines about your playing, what you enjoy, or what you’re working towards. Glad you’re here. Benedict