Composer Interviews

Tautrinker – this stage name is not only a translation of the surname of Austrian-born Michael Zlanabitnig but also reflects his visionary approach to music education. Inspired by the music he listened to during his childhood, Tautrinker was drawn to the piano from a young age where he began to explore improvisation and composition.

His aim with his innovative Piano Mantras series, is to build a musical bridge between the world of classical music that is modern, accessible and intuitive. Following the first volume, "Imagine Beethoven", in which he reimagined the powerful music of Ludwig van Beethoven, Tautrinker devotes himself to the immortal melodies of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in the latest volume, "Magic Mozart".

This article explores how these short piano miniatures make playing the piano even more enjoyable, whilst also offering an entirely new approach to the greatest masterpieces in music history.

For over 30 years, Chris Haigh has ventured deep into the fiddle scene, exploring its rich traditions and unique and obscure niches. From discovering folk music through a 1970s hit, to mastering an astonishing range of styles such as traditional folk and bluegrass, Indian jazz fusion, and Scandinavian avant garde, Chris's journey has been anything but ordinary.

In this interview, Chris shares stories of unexpected gigs, offers insights into improvisation, and touches on his latest book, "Beginning Folk Fiddle", a comprehensive method that introduces a beginner-friendly introduction to the world of folk fiddle. Dive in to learn more about Chris's fascinating career and the musical moments that have shaped him!

Violin Junior is a new creative violin method for primary-age children. The books are fun and engaging with beautiful illustrations, a wide range of musical styles, lots of rhythm, composition and improvisation games and a thorough musical and technical approach that provides children with a strong foundation to their playing whilst encouraging their creativity.

It feels safe to say many of us play our instruments much less than we did when we were younger, how do people find the time within adult life? Here we have an interview style blog from Melanie Spanswick looking at relearning and revisiting the piano as an adult. Linking to her series Play it Again, Melanie talks about how music can fit into our adult lives and how this series can help you along your way.

For Jazz Appreciation Month we have talked to our best-selling author Tim Richards about jazz education and learning jazz music. Here we have an interview style blog with his responses to questions discussing jazz music, why you should learn jazz and how to get started learning more.

In celebration of International Women's Day, we have an interview style blog from Melanie Spanswick. Within this blog Melanie covers how she began composing, where she starts with a new composition, and takes us through her processes when working on a project.