Breaking the Mold: How U.K. Innovators Are Redefining Classical Music
Welcome to The Piano Pod's Monthly Newsletter February 2025 Edition!
Welcome to February on The Piano Pod. This month, I'm excited to feature two remarkable voices from the U.K. who are breaking the mold in classical music.
First up is Graham Fitch—a transformative educator, pianist, and creator of practisingthepiano.com whose innovative approach to practice is reshaping how we engage with our art. Joining him, Ophelia Gordon, a leading Kapustin interpreter, merges classical precision with the creative freedom of jazz, forging a truly groundbreaking musical identity.
Stay tuned for these inspiring conversations, and discover how our February Sponsor of the Month, New York Piano Group, fosters a vibrant community for pianists. 👉Interested in sponsoring or know an organization that should be featured in our episode ads? Simply reply to this email to get involved.
Let’s celebrate the evolving world of music together this February!
🥳 Very Recently Released
Season 5 Episode 11: "Practising the Piano – Neuroscience, Technique, Musicality, and Performance Mastery for Pianists,” feat. Graham Fitch
What does it really mean to practice the piano with true intention and mastery?
I'm thrilled to share a conversation that deeply resonated with me. In this episode, I sat down with Graham Fitch—an educator, pianist, and transformative voice in piano pedagogy whose work seamlessly blends classic traditions with modern scientific breakthroughs.
Graham is the mastermind behind practisingthepiano.com, a platform celebrated by pianists and students worldwide for its innovative, encouraging, and accessible approach to practice. His work has inspired countless musicians and reshaped how teachers and learners engage with the piano.
In this episode, we dive into:
How mere repetition falls short—and what truly cultivates mastery
The ways neuroscience insights can fine-tune technique, strengthen memory, and elevate musical expression
The advantages of a student-centered approach for deeper, more effective learning
The indispensable role of feedback and reflection in sharpening your piano skills
Strategies for building performance confidence and expressive freedom
A comprehensive look at both traditional and modern techniques—from Hanon and Czerny to Neuhaus and beyond
Why muscle memory alone isn’t enough, and how integrating aural and cognitive learning is key to true mastery
For many, Graham Fitch’s philosophy is more than just about perfecting technique—it’s a catalyst for forming a profound connection with music. His insights empower pianists and educators around the globe to move beyond mindless drills toward a more intentional, creative, and joyful practice.
📗 Read my personal reflection on this episode on my Substack page HERE.
Hit the play button below to dive into this episode 👇👇
🍎 Available as Audio Podcast 🟢
This episode is also available in audio format on your go-to podcasting platform. Please tap the cover art below👇 to start listening!
🔔 Upcoming Episode
Season 5 Episode 12: "Blurred Boundaries: Classical Meets Jazz – How Kapustin’s Genre-Defying Works Shaped Ophelia Gordon’s Artistic Identity,” feat. Ophelia Gordon
Can a composer truly belong to both the jazz and classical worlds?
This provocative question frames our conversation with the extraordinary Ophelia Gordon—a concert pianist, recording artist, and one of the world's foremost interpreters of Nikolai Kapustin’s music.
Ophelia's journey is a compelling blend of tradition and innovation. Raised in a jazz-loving household yet rigorously trained in classical piano, she has mastered merging these seemingly disparate genres. Her discovery of Kapustin’s work was a turning point—a revelation that his music while challenging to classify within conventional boundaries, offers the structured precision of classical composition with the improvisational freedom of jazz.
Inside the Episode:
Trusting Yourself: Learn how Ophelia's personal journey of self-discovery and authenticity led her to break free from established musical norms.
Kapustin’s Legacy: Explore the fascinating debate—Is his music jazz, classical, or a bold hybrid that defies simple categorization?
Improvisation & Freedom: Discover how she breathes spontaneity into meticulously notated scores, creating a unique interplay of structure and freedom.
Innovative Interpretation: Hear about her inventive approach to crafting jazz-style lead sheets for Kapustin’s etudes, inviting fresh creative perspectives into established works.
New Horizons: Get an exclusive preview of her upcoming album, Between the Lines, set for release in Fall 2025, which delves deep into her interpretation of Kapustin’s masterpieces.
Join us for this captivating conversation on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at 8:00 PM ET. Set the reminder by tapping the play button below 👇👇
🍎 Available as Audio Podcast 🟢
An audio version of this episode will be released simultaneously with the YouTube premiere on your go-to podcast platform. Please tap the cover art to subscribe to The Piano Pod on Apple Podcast 👇👇
If you are a paid Substack subscriber, you'll receive early access to this episode in audio format right here on our platform. Not a subscriber yet? Click here to join our elite community and unlock exclusive content today!
I invite you to share your thoughts—do you see Kapustin’s music as more jazz, more classical, or a harmonious fusion of both? Let’s get the conversation started in the comment section below!
🎉MEET OUR FEBRUARY SPONSOR: New York Piano Group
🎥 Video Recording: Blair Boone-Migura
📣 Discover Your Piano Community with New York Piano Group!
Our February Sponsor, New York Piano Group, has united passionate pianists since 2010 through 100+ events—workshops, concerts, masterclasses, and online meetups. Their generous support helps us feature community power in The Piano Pod’s December episodes.
Ready to connect, perform, and grow? Enjoy exclusive performance opportunities, discounted event tickets, and the chance to organize your own events.
Join the New York Piano Group today and be part of a vibrant network of inspiring pianists 👇👇
SEASON 5 RECAP
If you missed any of this season’s transformative and inspiring episodes, catch up by tapping the cover art below 👇👇 to access our YouTube playlist.
As we wrap up this month’s edition, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to each of you in The Piano Pod community. Your unwavering support—whether by tuning in, sharing your thoughts, or suggesting new ideas—fuels our journey and makes every conversation a celebration of music’s transformative power.
This month, we explored groundbreaking insights with Graham Fitch and Ophelia Gordon, two voices from the U.K. who are redefining classical music through innovation and creativity. Their stories remind us that music has the unique ability to connect us, inspire change, and unite us in ways that transcend boundaries.
Thank you for being an essential part of this community. Let’s continue to create with purpose, connect with authenticity, and keep the passion for music alive. Here’s to another month of discovery, growth, and the joy of shared inspiration!
Yukimi Song
Creator/Executive Producer of The Piano Pod