Archive of ‘radio’ category

Teaching the BBC Today programme to play the piano

lala-smlWith audiences (and award panels) going ga-ga for Hollywood musical La La Land, BBC’s flagship news show Today got in touch with Joe to find out how actors prepare for roles that involve playing piano on-screen. Actor Ryan Gosling has spoken of how he had to learn to play for hours, five days a week, to prepare for his role as a jazz pianist in the film. Joe was called in to help journalist Nicola Stanbridge see if she could too could get to grips with a piano co-star.

“When The Today programme’s producer writes to you saying ‘Can you help us?’, you know you must be doing something right,” says Joe.

Listen to the feature:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04p6drs

You can find out more about Joe’s work preparing actors to play convincing musicians in films, here. And to contact Joe about your own coaching, drop him a line here.

Rhapsody in Blue at the Birmingham Symphony Hall

On 25 April 2016 Joe will be revisiting George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, this time with the swing band of his old school King Edward’s School (KES) Birmingham.

“To return to my home town and to perform Rhapsody in Blue in one of the most prestigious venues in the country will be an absolute treat” says Joe.

Unfortunately, since this is a school event to mark the retirement of the current chief master, tickets are not available from the Symphony Hall Box office.

Capital FM’s Dave Berry: “an incredible buzz”

Joe received a nice high-five from Capital FM’s Dave Berry this week – the man at the helm of their always-popular breakfast show.

daveberry“Through Joe’s huge repertoire and easy manner he really does make a room a great place to be and gives an incredible buzz to events I’ve attended”, commented Dave.