Our 5 new year resolutions for pianists

As a pianist or musician, you probably have your favourite composers, a favourite era or a genre that you feel most at home in. That's very natural, though it is quite stimulating to try something different from time to time. Therefore, try to regularly play a piece that you would normally never start.

And finding common ground is often easier than you think! Hardcore jazz pianist? From Bach to Prokofiev, there is a lot of harmonic inspiration to be found in classical music. Do you like Debussy? I see no reason why you cannot give Jef Neve's balanced compositions a chance. Moreover, different music sometimes requires a different mindset and a different learning process, which challenges you to break old habits.

It may sound strange, but we'd advise you to move your instrument to a different place in your house! This way you will literally place your piano in a different light, and you will notice things you never noticed before. Because the acoustics will inevitably be different, your piano is guaranteed to sound fresh again.

Many people think about taking up the piano, but have no idea where to start. Give a beginner a push in the right direction and share your passion for the piano. You can give tips, share experiences, recommend a teacher, give a first lesson, give feedback or just motivate them to persevere when it gets difficult. In short, help someone else! You'll be surprised of how rewarding this can be, and how much insight you'll gain.