Today’s Piano Stars: No.1 Jesse Brown

The Last Post: A Piano Cover for Fallen Heroes

Today's piano podcast is, in timely fashion, an homage to the fallen heroes who gave their lives so that we may have ours. I will be talking briefly about the history and symbolism of perhaps that most famous of bugle calls: The Last Post. Why is this short work so infused with solemnity and meaning in our collective conscious? "At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them."#LastPost#PianoCover#RemembranceSunday#RemembranceDay#ArmisticeDay#MilitaryTribute#FallenHeroes#PianoMusic#Remembrance2025#LastPostCover#MemorialMusic#VeteransTribute#EmotionalPiano#WarMemorial#TributeToHeroes For more information: whaviland.com/podcast Happy piano playing/learning!

Today’s Piano Stars: No.1 Jesse Brown

This podcast episode commences a new series, on contemporary pianists that I consider the absolute best currently recording. And, we had to start with my personal favourite, Canadian artist Jesse Brown! I discovered his music in 2018, and his catalogue has been my steadfast companion ever since. Given that I’ve always received the best recommendations of new music from friends - most often just via hearing their background playlists, and being curious - I thought it might be nice to share my own discovery journery with you. We’ll delve a little into the background of this composer, and also listen to snippets of three special works, analyse their genesis, and certain interesting features. Chosen tracks as follows: Flocks [https://lynkify.in/song/flocks/Ict3Xphf] [2018] Havana 2012 [https://lynkify.in/song/havana-2012/FK7CqpHA] [2019] Reading the Clouds [https://lynkify.in/song/reading-the-clouds/mYhYZ2cA] [2021] For more information: whaviland.com/podcast Happy piano playing/learning!

Pop Songs, Piano Heart: Why Imperfect Takes Make Perfect Music

Okay, I admit: shameless plug for my latest album 'Cutting Room Floor: One Take Solo Piano' which released this week. But, I also felt it an opportunity to discuss elements of refining your recordings - and sometimes, just 'letting it be' is the key. For more information: whaviland.com/podcast Happy piano playing/learning!

Three Personal Benefits of Learning to Play Piano

Initially this show was planned to showcase the many physical and mental gains we may experience, on deciding to study the instrument. However, I soon realized this was not going to make for a particularly original podcast! So, instead, I’ve decided to talk about three very personal benefits that studying the piano has gifted me. I hope this bitesize episode will be an enticement to you, at whatever stage of your life, to consider delving into the fascinating world of the keyboard. 1 Talking to the composer 2 A hidden world of magic and mystery 3 The power of musical self-expression For more information: whaviland.com/podcast Happy piano playing/learning!

The Chords That Should Not Work: Pop's Harmonic Rule Breakers

Following on from last week’s episode, I had in my mind the idea of discussing unusual chord progressions in pop music: modern pioneers that pushed the boundaries of what was permissible to listen to. In this week’s podcast, let’s pick three perfectly eccentric examples of harmonic oddity in popular music classics, analyse their content, and speculate on how they get away with it! Following a brief reminder of David Bowie’s ‘Changes’, we’ll look at the following: Wuthering Heights Kate Bush Lay Lady Lay Bob Dylan Mad About The Boy Noel Coward/Dinah Washington Please write in to the podcast if you have other examples you think merit a mention - there are many - we just picked three here to keep the show short! For more information: whaviland.com/podcast Happy piano playing/learning!