Giovanni Vannoni, the Italian pianist, composer and improviser who studied jazz piano at Siena Jazz University and composition at the R. Franci Conservatory in Siena, talks with Dr Robin Harrison FRSA about improvisation and composition as one continuous creative process at the piano. Born with a difficulty in his right hand, he began rewriting other composers' scores as a child, so that studying music itself became a creative act.

Along the way: why classical musicians lost the improvising habit Bach and Chopin took for granted, a three-note blues game that gets beginners improvising from the first lesson, teaching as a duet, Bartók's struggle to notate folk music, and Giovanni's own improvisation on Bach's Sinfonia No. 2 in C minor.

Giovanni's solo-piano album Il Circo (Workin' Label, 2024) is an eight-part suite inspired by circus disciplines. Watch Il Circo live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9b4vdTmqGJM and the performance preview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYypLGY6olY - more at https://giovannivannoni.com

The Maestro Online is the world's only Ofqual-regulated historically informed Piano Improvisation Exam Board. Explore the complete masterclass library: https://www.the-maestro-online.com

Dr Ralph Allwood MBE is one of Britain's best-known choral directors - for 26 years Precentor and Director of Music at Eton College, and founder of the Eton Choral Courses through which generations of young singers found their voice. In this interview we discuss his musical upbringing, a career spent building choirs and confidence, and what he has learned about teaching singers of every level.

Explore Ralph's courses on The Maestro Online, including Conducting with Love and 10 Pro Strategies to Start Your Sight-Singing Journey: https://www.the-maestro-online.com/conducting-with-love-with-ralph-allwood/

The Maestro Online is the world's only Ofqual-regulated historically informed Piano Improvisation Exam Board. Explore the complete masterclass library: https://www.the-maestro-online.com

Douglas Finch is a pianist, composer and one of the most respected improvisation teachers in Britain. In this extended conversation with Dr Robin Harrison FRSA, we trace his whole improvising life: how he began, why improvisation became central to his teaching, and how any classically trained pianist can move from scary first attempts to real fluency - no chord progressions needed.

Explore Douglas's improvisation masterclasses on The Maestro Online, including From Scary to Fluent, Flow in Music, Variation Form, Sonata Form and Mozart Minuets: https://www.the-maestro-online.com/piano-improvisation-masterclass-from-scary-to-fluent-no-chord-progressions-needed/

The Maestro Online is the world's only Ofqual-regulated historically informed Piano Improvisation Exam Board. Explore the complete masterclass library: https://www.the-maestro-online.com