About

The Cross-Eyed Pianist is Frances Wilson – pianist, writer and music lover

“an important voice in the piano world”

Peter Donohoe CBE, concert pianist & international competition juror

“providing a perspective on music from the eyes and ears of a real musician”

Mahan Esfahani, harpsichordist

Established in 2010, The Cross-Eyed Pianist has become “an important voice in the piano world” (Peter Donohoe, international concert pianist) and enjoys a wide global readership with c25,000 visitors to the site per month. Regularly updated with varied content, The Cross-Eyed Pianist is now one of the UK’s leading blogs on classical music, with a special focus on pianists and the piano.

“Thank you for the enthusiasm you bring to music”

Leon Bosch, double bassist & conductor

In addition to writing and editing this blog, Frances Wilson is a regular writer for InterludeHK and has written for Classical Music, International Piano, Pianist and The Schubertian (journal of the Schubert Institute of the UK). She has been a content creator for classical music streaming site IDAGIO, and for six years was a London concerts reviewer for Bachtrack. She has written teaching notes for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and Trinity College London, and more recently has been commissioned to programme notes for the Barbican Centre.

“…..very grateful for all that YOU do for the industry; you are so supportive of both established professionals as well as younger artists starting out”

Alisdair Hogarth, concert pianist

Frances has appeared on BBC Radio 3’s Music Matters, to discuss the role of music criticism today and the effect of the internet on music journalism and writing, and on several classical music podcasts, including the Thoroughly Good Classical Music Podcast, The David Taylor Podcast and Things Musicians Don’t Talk About podcast

“….her level of music writing is eons beyond most professional critique…”

Mahan Esfahani, harpischordist

Frances is happy to consider concerts, CD launches, CDs, books and other music-related material for review. Please contact her in advance using the Contact page and refrain from sending unsolicited material.

Frances is an advanced amateur pianist who returned to the piano after a gap of some 25 years, achieving Licentiate and Associate Diplomas (both with Distinction) in Piano Performance in her late 40s. She has studied with a number of acclaimed teachers, including Penelope Roskell and Graham Fitch, and participated in masterclasses, workshops and courses with, amongst others, Stephen Savage, Murray McLachlan and Charlotte Tomlinson. Frances lives in south-west Dorset with her husband, two Burmese cats, and a 1913 C.Bechstein grand piano known affectionately as “Bechy”
fran+pic

(photo: James Eppy)

This site is free to access and ad-free, and takes many hours to research, write, and maintain. If you find joy and value in what I do, why not
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8 Comments

  3. I so very much enjoy reading your posts. So inspiring, your posts, and makes me want to do two things: return to teaching again and relocate to a place as wonderful as London. Of course that will not happen. Currently just teaching my own children (3 girls) and I need to do better with my own teaching. Reading your blog from Papua, Indonesia (the other half of the New Guinea island). Keep up the good work and keep inspiring. Thanks.

  5. Your blog is always interesting and is giving me much pleasure while away from home. I can see and hear you which is a great comfort.

  6. What a great blog! Our Oxfam here in Blandford is indeed a great shop. Thanks for the articulate and entertaining style. Do you mind if I use your “Anatomy of a piece” in lessons?

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