A Musician's Alphabet

Have you ever wondered whether musicians notice the audience or are influenced by them? Wanted to know how performers might learn particularly difficult pieces? Thought about the terms 'old' and 'young' in reference to music? Using the letters of the alphabet as her starting point, Susan Tomes presents a series of lively reflections on performing music, and on the classical music world. Drawing on her international experience as a solo pianist and chamber musician, she offers intriguing insights into rehearsal and practice, coping with nerves, and on the relationship between musicians and their audience. The book also contains thought-provoking meditations on the role of classical music in society, and the most rewarding attitudes to performance. This pocket-sized musical 'A to Z' is an invaluable guide and is a must for anyone interested in what makes musicians tick.

Susan Tomes is an acclaimed pianist specialising in chamber music and long popular with audiences as the pianist of Domus and of the Florestan Trio. Her book Beyond the Notes (Boydell and Brewer) was published in 2004 to great critical acclaim. She writes from time to time for The Guardian and for several music magazines, and broadcasts regularly on BBC Radio 3.