This month the BLOG entry is short and simple.

No matter how experienced or inexperienced you are do make the effort to record yourself playing and listen to the playback. If you've never done it before you may be surprised at what you hear, but don't be put off by anything, no matter how much listening to yourself playing may make you grimace!

Play your recording over and over as much as necessary so you can define the parts which require working on, including how expressively you have played the piece and, of course, your playing technique. Let the recording be your guide to self-improvement. If you happen to have a professionally recorded version of the piece you are working on try playing it a section at a time, comparing it with your own recording and then gradually try to emulate those parts you prefer to your own.

Beginners should keep to simply pieces without attempting to embellish, at least until they are happy with what they hear from their own playback. For best results players ...