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ADHD, Music and Me by Rachel de Cock

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The idea of starting music lessons can be nerve wracking, but if you also have ADHD it can actually be quite scary, to the point that it prevents many from pursuing lessons in the first place. What if I can’t make lessons on time?! What if I experience sensory overload??! What if I can’t meet lesson deadlines???! These are just some of the things that worry students. I’m here to say don’t let anything stop you from following your musical dreams. There are many talented people in the music industry with ADHD. The most important thing is to just have an open conversation with your teacher, discuss your needs and concerns and they should be able to accommodate you and customise the learning experience to suit you. Examples of this might be that if you struggle with time keeping, a teacher may be happy to send you lesson reminders. If sensory overload is an issue, just tell your teacher and they may be able to adjust the teaching studio to make it more comfortable for you. If deadlines are...
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SHOULD I DENOUNCE ALL RUSSIAN MUSIC AND MUSICIANS BECAUSE OF THE UKRAINE WAR?

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For those of you who are short of time, the quick answer is, “No!” Nobody can deny that the world is in a bad place at the moment: wars, genocide, terrorism, recessions, loss of free speech, human rights violations, a potential climate crisis, mass disinformation, derailing of public services, loss of jobs, and much more. People are feeling triggered, polarised, beyond stressed and are living in a near-constant state of fear; and nowhere is this more prevalent than on social media.  A while ago I shared a light-hearted post about peoples’ favourite pianists in a public Facebook piano group. Some members engaged happily and everything was fine until a member from the USA decided to go on a rant about now hating all Russian music and musicians, due to the Ukraine War. I replied that they were being short-sighted because there were many great Russian musicians currently speaking out against the War, and I asked them to take their divisive politics somewhere else. Whoa, big mistake! W...
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Ten Great Reasons To Play A Public Piano Recital (That Are Not About Me!)

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I received my first invitation in absolute ages to play a concert. I haven’t been able to accept for a good few years, mostly due to bad health and operations. But, fighting fit again, it’s time to get back out there and do what I love the most: sharing and performing music. But, honestly, who cares if I play concert or not?: I haven't played properly in over 3 years; I haven't any recordings for stream or purchase; and, since moving from London, I certainly don't have a dedicated fan base of any kind whatsoever. So, why should it matter if I play or not?  Well, it turns out that it does matter, and here are 10 great reasons to play a public concert (that are NOT about me): 1. Keeping a rich tradition alive. 2. Inspiring the young to hopefully follow suit someday, with the message, “It's easy, it's possible, it's a joy!” 3. It’s an opportunity to expose audiences to new repertoire and new ways to present concerts. 4. It provides live entertainment suita...
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Location: Mount Dr, Saltdean, Brighton BN2 8QA, UK
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