Workshop with James Kirby: How to Play Effortlessly

We welcome pianist James Kirby to Aureus Conservatory, where he will be presenting on “How to Play Effortlessly”.

Have you noticed that the greater the pianist, the more effortless their performances appear to be? Among the great masters, Claudio Arrau comes to mind, and among more contemporary pianists, try watching a performance by Boris Berezovsky. In this workshop, James focuses on piano technique with special emphasis on natural and economical body movements, and how to produce a beautiful singing tone. He will also look at pedalling, fingering, voicing, and discuss how to practice technically challenging moments.

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As a soloist and chamber musician James Kirby performs regularly throughout the UK and Europe. His recital work includes appearances at major concert series in France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Holland, the Czech Republic, Bermuda, Hong Kong, China, Singapore and Malaysia and in the UK at Wigmore Hall and the Edinburgh and Aldeburgh festivals.

He has served on the Juries of several international Piano competitions, notably in Romania, Latvia, Russia and Slovenia and gives many masterclasses, both in the UK and overseas, most recently in China and Hong Kong. He is in considerable demand as an adjudicator and is a member of the ABRSM examining panel, which has taken him to Hong Kong, Singapore, China, Indonesia and many European countries.

James is a dedicated teacher and enjoys posts at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, Royal Holloway, University of London and Eton College.