Believe in Yourself: You Have Something to Offer the World

By Sam de la Haye

We’ve all had moments where we doubt ourselves and our ability to make a difference, where we feel lost and hopeless about how to get to our dreams!

I remember living in London, and I was working as a care assistant for a girl with a brain injury - I loved my Job, but at 23 years of age, I had a dream… to become a professional singer/pianist/songwriter. And that calling was LOUD LOUD LOUD!!! 

Every morning I felt a pang in my heart like I was living the wrong life - I felt exhausted, drained, depressed and hopeless.

Then one night, whilst on my way home from an open mike,I decided to pull over by the river Thames and look out at the water. It must have been about 2 am, and it was bitterly cold. I stood there for about 20 minutes and wept.

The questions that were running through my head were

How did I get here?

How do I become a singer?

This is impossible, God; why...

How Self-Care Can Help You Become A Great Piano Vocalist

By: Sam de la Haye

I remember learning to sing and play like it was yesterday!

I remember locking myself in the piano rooms for hours upon hours.

Making songs up, exploring what all the keys did, singing my heart out! 

To be honest, that time in the piano rooms was my sanctuary. It was my self-care! As I was being heavily bullied at boarding school with nowhere to run and no one to talk to or understand how I felt.

But the music did….. And it allowed me to shed those tears that I could not show outside those four walls. 

Have you heard the song by Irene Cara, “Out here on my own”

The second verse:

Until the morning sun appears

Making light

Of all my fears,

I dry the tears

I've never shown,

Out here on my own.

I sang this song over and over and over again!

It just got how I felt! 

You see, learning to sing whilst playing the piano can be...

Hands up... Who has had a challenging year???

2022 has been a particularly challenging year for many, especially with the rise of fuel prices, and the holidays can be especially stressful.

As we move into 2023, I want you to remember to take care of yourself and make sure your mental health is in a good place. 

One great way to do this is through music! Now in my previous BLOG, I mentioned that I like to set my new years resolutions in the first week of December. Still, If you have not done it yet, I want to share with you the benefits of music for your mental health, and by simply doing one of these five things in 2023, you can significantly improve your well-being.

Setting resolutions with music can also help you stay focused on your goals while providing an outlet for creative expression.

Here are five great resolutions that use music as a tool for self-care:

1. Listen to one new album every month - We all get stuck in ruts when it comes to listening habits,...

It's two sleeps till Christmas Day, and what better way to spread holiday cheer than learning how to play a classic upbeat carol like "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" on the piano! Whether you're just starting out or have been playing for years, this song is a great way to practice your left-hand technique and work on improving your overall skills. So put on your Santa hat, and let's get started! 

Just click here to download the Chord Sheet.

Step one: Learning the Notes - Especially the left hand

The first step in playing "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" is to learn the left-hand notes. If you want that jolly groove it's vital you have a strong left hand. Now don’t worry even a beginner can pick this up! 

I have created this simple easy peasy video tutorial for beginners so you can play it as fast or slow as you like and keep repeating it till you get it.

Need the Chord sheet? Just click here to download it.

Once you have an idea of...

Hands up….. Who is here LOVES the song “White Christmas”?

It's a classic Christmas song, right?  That's why it has been covered countless times by some of the greatest vocalists and instrumentalists in history. It’s one of my all-time favourites to sing and play, and because it's slow, it's a delight to play! So who wants to learn this classic???

If you're a beginner piano vocalist, don't worry—I'll walk you through it step by step so you can learn to sing and play this romantic and festive tune from start to finish. Let's get started! 

download the FREE Lead sheet that goes along with this video, just click  Here

Part 1: Learning the Melody

The first thing you need to do is familiarise yourself with the melody of “White Christmas”. Now i don’t mean just listening to it once! You have to have this baby on repeat till you know the melody inside out! Start by listening to recordings of the song...