Alan Duncan, classically-trained pianist, experienced accompanist and chamber music collaborator.
I enjoy helping pre-college students prepare for performances, recitals and auditions. This involves meticulous preparation of the accompaniment, rehearsing to get everything just right, and a polished performance. With considerable experience in preparing high fidelity audio and video recordings, I’m also happy to work with students in preparing excellent audition submissions. Finally, I do make myself available to tutor music theory in preparation for examinations or simply to brush up on the geeky underpinnings of Western music.
Working with me
- How to make the most of your coaching session - before our rehearsal please read these eight items for getting the most out of our time together.
- Rates and fees
- Rehearsal process - booking a rehearsal, location, etc.
- Recording process - my approach to recording auditions
- My approach to preparation
Recent articles that I have written
The shift from conscious to automatic must be purposeful —
A fluent performance requires that the technical problems be completely embedded in “muscle memory”; but the transition from conscious procedural execution to automatic performance must be approached purposefully.
The continuity rule explained —
Practicing through difficult spots is the key to seamless learning
Getting a passage up to tempo —
When I work with young players, I find that the tempo often varies depending on the difficulty. Here are some ideas about addressing that phenomenon.