Hania Rani Interview in Japan during 2025 Tour Hania Rani, is a composer, pianist, and singer from Gdańsk, Poland. As part of her 2025 world tour, Hania performed across both Japan and Australia. While in Japan, Hania spoke with our Kawai Japan team about her unique sound, her interest in upright

Keeping Students Motivated and Engaged with Piano As we embark on another promising year of music education, it is valuable to reflect on the reasons why some students discontinue their lessons, and explore strategies to enhance their engagement and long-term commitment. Understanding the factors behind student drop-out is crucial for creating

Yumeka Nakagawa Interview Music is not for competing, but it is for the audience to enjoy. Japanese pianist Yumeka Nakagawa was born and raised in Germany. Since winning both the Clara Haskil International Piano Competition in 2021 and the Robert Schumann International Piano Competition in 2019, she has built up her

Inversion, Invention, and Realization Music, with its transformative power, has the unique ability to create a universe of sound that touches the soul and illuminates human meaning, expression, and understanding. Great pianists strive to create what my late teacher, Russell Sherman, called the “ineffable and inimitable” sound that- “sustains and infuses the

What ‘School of Piano playing’ are you? Have you ever done a deep dive into your ‘pianistic heritage’ or wondered where your style, technique, or performance practices come from?  We investigate the most notable piano traditions. Which of these resonates with you the most?  The world of piano playing is marked

Shigeru Kawai SK-EX instrument pack released for Pianoteq software Shigeru Kawai SK-EX instrument pack released for Pianoteq software Kawai Japan is pleased to announce that the stunning sound of the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand piano has been added to the acclaimed Pianoteq software, developed by French company Modartt S.A.S. Developed

5th Shigeru Kawai International Piano Competition Since the first competition, we have been delighted to host over 1,000 pianists from more than 20 countries and regions participating in this competition. The Shigeru Kawai International Piano Competition has grown in popularity and is now a significant global event. This success is entirely

Best Piano Warm Up Exercise to Improve Technique Want to warm up your fingers like a professional pianist?  I’m excited to share this amazing finger exercise that can be played by pianists of nearly every level – this is my favourite warm up that helps build speed, dexterity, and finger independence.

1 Hour A Day – Incorporating listening to music to improve academic development. Every child deserves the chance to discover the enchanting world of music. Music education nurtures creativity, enhances cognitive development, alleviates stress, boosts confidence, fosters connections, and brings joy. Some parents may feel that learning pieces on an instrument

Insight from Natasha Vlassenko and Oleg Stepanov on Overcoming Musical Plateaus Meet our guest contributors Natasha Vlassenko, a celebrated pianist born in Moscow, honed her craft at the Central Music School before studying at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory under the tutelage of Professor Jacob Flier. She later pursued postgraduate studies with

7 Steps for Overcoming Musical Plateaus In the journey of mastering a musical piece, both students and teachers frequently encounter what is known as a plateau – a stage where despite continued effort, there seems to be no noticeable improvement. This can be particularly frustrating when preparing for performances or exams.

What is Piano Day? Piano Day is a worldwide celebration of the piano that takes place on the 88th day of each year – 88 being the number of keys on a piano. Piano Day was founded by a group of like-minded people who are passionate about the piano and piano

8 Focused Practice Strategies for Music Students (and Everyone Else) Sang Woo Kang, DMA, developed a unique eight-step program for his increasingly distracted students—and the results are music to his ears.   About the Author: Sang Woo Kang, DMA  Professor of Music, Providence College, Rhode Island, USA  Teaching Faculty, Brown University, Rhode Island,

12 Different Types of Effective Piano Practice Strategies – Tips for piano practice Reinvigorating Practice: Insights for Educators and Students Transitioning back to disciplined routines after a holiday break is a familiar challenge within the educational sphere, particularly among music educators. This lapse in routine can result in students losing touch

Kawai’s PianoRemote App Guide Kawai’s PianoRemote is our purpose built, multifunction app, which allows owners of supported Kawai digital and hybrid pianos to select a wide variety of piano and other instruments sounds. PianoRemote also gives you the ability to adjust numerous Virtual Technician parameters, and listen to a wide range

When did humans start making music? In 2009, archaeologists excavating the Hohle Fels cave in south-west Germany uncovered a flute made from a griffon vulture’s wing-bone.  This delicate artifact is the oldest known musical instrument ever discovered and tells us that people have been making music for over 40,000 years (before

How to beat piano performance nerves Andrew Rumsey is our resident AMEB examiner, professional concert pianist, and education specialist. Andrew has played on some of the most prestigious stages in the world (including the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York) and has a wealth of performance experience to

Kawai Australia’s role at The Sydney International Piano Competition Kawai Australia has been collaborating with The Sydney International Piano Competition for many years, as early as the 3rd competition in 1985, helping to ensure that the very best Shigeru Kawai concert grand pianos are provided for use in the competition. The piano used

Make Music day is a celebration of music making. Wherever you are, whoever you are, whatever music you play. Australia celebrates Make Music Day, the international day of music making, on the 21st of June each year. Make Music Day started in France, and was originally called “Fete de la msuique”. 

 Kawai 88 Keys Festival The festival is comprised of four concerts across two days, Saturday 27th of May, and Sunday 28th of May. These festival performances will showcases virtuosic pianists, opening on Saturday with Elena Kats-Chernin and Tamara-Anna Cislowska performing an intimate selection of Elena’s works on two Shigeru Kawai grand