We are digital piano & keyboard specialists, based in Banbury, Oxfordshire. Stay up to date with the latest
news, reviews, tips, and offers by joining our FREE newsletter (unsubscribe at any time).
"...it’s like this peace comes rushing into your soul, and I found that the more eloquently I played it, and the less I structured it, the more that peace was able to come flooding in".
Hi everyone. I’d like to give you some personal insight into 3 of my favourite beautiful piano pieces to play. Watch my video where I play all three pieces below.
The first piece you heard me play in the video, is called ‘Forbidden Colours’, and it’s by a Japanese composer named Ryuichi Sakamoto. You may have heard this piece played in the film ‘Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence’, as that is what it is most famous for, and that’s the original reason the piece was composed.
I first heard this piece on a classical radio station about a year and a half ago, and it instantly caught my attention as I began listening. I fell in love with its beautiful harmony on the treble end of the piano at the beginning of the piece, as well as its perfect blend between contemporary slow jazz and various influences of classical.
Right from that first F#major7 chord at the very start, you can really tell that this piece is something special. I always find that when I play the piece, everything else I’ve got going on in life seems to fade away and I can completely relax and just play. I really hope that as you listen, you find yourself in a similar place.
For me this piece really allows me to emotionally connect to the instrument so effortlessly, and I found that after a while of playing it, I was actually learning how to play it in such a way that I was putting across what I was feeling, through the piece, almost as a way of speaking through the instrument I suppose. Let me show you what I’m talking about…
As the piece begins, it’s like this peace comes rushing into your soul, and I found that the more eloquently I played it, and the less I structured it, the more that peace was able to come flooding in, regardless of who or where you are!
Then as it approaches the next section of the piece, it really helps fill out the lower bass section of the piece that you were originally missing in the beginning, almost like the two ends of the piano are having a conversation with each other.
Then as we enter this ‘jazz’ section of the piece with a key change from C# to F#, I feel it could be interpreted as though a third party were getting involved in this conversation, as the atmosphere completely shifts when this section of the piece begins, and for me this feels as though Sakamoto was trying to connect the two ends with this interesting mid section, at least that’s the way I like to picture it when playing…
…and then it enters this intense building section as if the two ends have been brought within arms length of each other, which then perfectly leads you to one of the last sections of the piece, where the two ends have finally been brought together and it has resulted in this beautiful, melodic explosion, an eruption of emotions all flying out of the keys. This indicates how they have had this sort of conflict as they have had to interact with each other.
This ‘eruption’ moment in the piece lasts a short while, before it all calms down so suddenly again, with a soft moment, giving you a chance to breathe as the intensity eases off. Only to finish off with a fiery harmonic minor ending. I made up the ending myself, as I felt it perfectly describes the ending for the way I have interpreted this lovely piece. I hope you have enjoyed it.
The next piece on my repertoire is called ‘Nuvole Bianche’ by Ludovico Einaudi.
Much like the last piece, this piece has become a part of my self-expression on the piano, and will definitely stay close to my heart for a long time.
It’s repetition, and sense of deep longing throughout the piece, really make it relatable to anyone listening.
I felt that as I played it, I was able to create a space for the listener to connect with the music in their own personal way. Which is exactly what I aim to do with any piece of music, so I hope you find that you are able to do this!
I love this piece, mainly due to its intensity and constant flow of simplicity throughout, which really adds to the depth and emotion hidden within it, only to be unlocked when you truly sit back and listen to the piece from start to finish.
I travelled all the way to Hastings to play this piece on my Grandmother’s beautiful grand piano, which really helped capture the emotion and feel of the piece, and was definitely worth the trip!
As you listen on, towards the end of the piece, you may notice, if you’ve heard the original, that I made some small tweaks to the notation, which then in turn slightly adjusts the feel and atmosphere of the whole piece, this was so I could fully capture everything that I felt was necessary for me to be able to express myself through this piece.
My additional feature becomes most recognisable as you enter the main ‘chorus’ section the second time through, Einaudi is a master at creating those catchy melodic lines through the piano, and his pieces, and so I thought I would emulate that by adding my personal touch to it.
The ending of this piece captures the entire emotion built up throughout so well, and continues to leave it where it started, which is one thing I find particularly amazing about it, is that there is so much depth and volume to it with all its different sections, yet it never fails to lose its rhythm nor its deep emotion, holding onto its original statement right until the very last note.
Watch Chris getting very excited about the new Yamaha CVP809 Clavinova
Lastly, I have decided to play a piece by a lesser-known composer named Amelie, from France, with her piece, ‘Comptine D’un Autre Et’.
This piece has been with me a long time, being one of the first pieces I learnt, when I started teaching myself 2 years ago.
It holds to a very similar atmosphere and feel that the Einaudi piece has, but expresses it in a slightly different way. This is partly due to the different keys they are in, the Einaudi piece is in F minor, and this piece by Amelie is in E minor.
Though they differ in that sense, and some others, they relate very well in terms of the emotional direction throughout the piece and its similar rhythm and flow throughout. I believe this is to capture the same sort of approach that Einaudi had when he wrote ‘Nuvole Bianche’.
The piece starts off in a very ‘upset’ kind of state. Right off the bat, it is telling a story, perhaps a love story, but not the jolly kind, almost as if something tragic had happened in the relationship. You can really tell that as you play the piece, you have to be so delicate with each subtle movement from one chord inversion to the next, to really capture the intense imagery that Amelie must have been going for when she wrote it. I love to create the slow pauses in between its chord change to really add to that feel, as you will hear in the video of me playing the piece.
Gradually, the piece begins to build in its intensity and the atmosphere starts to rise. Until eventually there is this burst of melody which you will hear, the fast triplet section of the piece, and this is where the climb reaches its peak and everything is let out in one moment. I personally love to play this part of the piece, I remember it was one of the best feelings when I learnt how to play it, as I taught myself and had only just started playing at this point, so it was great fun to play. At the same time, learning this piece had also become a new way for me to let out my emotions through the piano, and this was a great starting point for my journey in piano playing!
Once this burst of colour has ended, the piece then does a full repeat on the next octave up, which I really feel adds to the point Amelie is trying to make with this piece, I love being able to feel and go through what the writer must of, and I hope I am able to give off those same feelings to you who are listening!
This has been my insight into my three current favourite piano pieces, I hope it gives you some enjoyment and entertainment throughout your day, wherever you are, I also hope it can give you some time to just sit back and breathe, and soak in some great music! Thanks for listening.
Sign up to our Newsletter
Enter your email address below to receive our free weekly newsletter containing the latest piano,
keyboard and organ demonstration videos, breaking news, special offers, invitations to our live video
events, technical support articles and much more.
Chris Hammond
Manager at ePianos
Chris handles all of our ePianos marketing, and is responsible for the creation and production of the majority of our product videos.
Chris is also one of our top blog writers, having extensive knowledge of keyboard instruments, years of experience in musical instrument retail, and a background in live performance and composition.
For more detailed information regarding delivery and returns, including our 14-day returns policy,
please click here.
Please note: UK mainland DOES NOT include the Channel Islands, or the Scottish
Highlands. Surcharges may apply, so please contact us for more information before purchase.
Additionally, our in-house team, courier delivery, and postal services neither deliver nor collect on Bank
Holidays, so there will be a delay during these periods.
Special Order items
These items are sold on behalf of Yamaha, and are sent to us on a per-order basis, typically within 5-7 working days, unless an ETA is otherwise stated.
We'll contact you the moment your purchase arrives with us to organise delivery, based on your selected option.
Brand new products over 30kg
Example products: Yamaha DGX670, Yamaha P-525, Yamaha YDP-S55, Yamaha Clavinova.
These items must be sent with a heavy-goods courier (typically APC or FedEx). On occasion, depending on which is fastest, we will drop-ship directly from Yamaha to your address via Dachser.
Tracking will be provided by the haulier, with a typical arrival time of 1-2 working days.
*If you have included the optional £180 "Yamaha Premium Service" home delivery & setup option offered on selected products, we will contact you regarding arrangements after purchase.
**The Yamaha CSP Series, Yamaha CVP905 & CVP909, Yamaha CLP875, 885 & 895GP, and Yamaha NU1Xa are all sold on behalf of Yamaha and arrive with us on a per-order basis. As soon as your piano has arrived, we will contact you to organise the appropriate dispatch method. ETA for stock is shown on the product page for those items.
***If you have included the optional £99 home delivery & setup option offered on selected products, we will send your details direct to the installation team, who will contact you within 48 hours to make arrangements.
Used or display products over 30kg
Depending on which option is most appropriate, we will either contact you to discuss a bespoke ePianos delivery surcharge for goods we can’t package for a 3rd party courier, or otherwise dispatch goods via FedEx or APC.
If a courier is used, tracking will be provided by them directly, with a typical arrival time of 1-2 working days.
All products under 30kg
Example products: Yamaha PSR-SX920, Yamaha P-225, Yamaha NP-15.
These items will be sent via courier (typically APC or FedEx). On occasion, depending on which is fastest, we will drop-ship directly from Yamaha to your address via UPS or Parcelforce.
Tracking will be provided by the courier, with a typical arrival time of 1-2 working days.
Smaller items, such as books, discs, etc, will be dispatched via Royal Mail second class.
Downloadable Content
After purchase, you can download the file either from the order confirmation page or the "Downloads" tab in "My Account".
If you have selected the option to receive a pre-loaded USB stick, then this will be dispatched via Royal Mail.
Pre-orders
We will contact you regarding any pre-ordered items, and let you know when they arrive so as to arrange delivery with you at a convenient time.
We offer interest-free and interest-bearing finance options on selected products.
Finance options for new products
2–5 years interest-bearing finance at 19.9% APR (minimum 10% deposit).
A minimum loan amount of £500 after deposit is required.
Finance options for used products
Used items can also be purchased using either of the following options
(minimum loan amount of £250 after deposit):
10 months at 0% APR (minimum 50% deposit)
6 months at 0% APR (minimum 10% deposit)
Representative Example
Cash price: £700
Deposit: £70
Loan amount: £630
APR representative: 19.9%
Interest rate: 19.9% p.a. fixed
36 monthly repayments of: £22.87
Total loan term: 36 months
Total amount payable: £893.32
Available finance options are displayed at checkout. Alternatively,
please get in touch
and we’ll be happy to discuss the options, or email a finance application to you. Find out more by clicking here
Seasonal Hours
Our seasonal opening hours are as follows:
Christmas Eve: 10am to 1.30pm
Christmas Day: Closed
Boxing Day: Closed
New Year's Eve: 10am to 1.30pm
New Year's Day: Closed
Bank Holidays
We are closed on all bank holidays, therefore the processing of sales and deliveries will be delayed.
Tyros Tipsters Bonus Content for Tyros 5
Here's what we offer when you select the option to include our Bonus Content...
We update the firmware so that your Yamaha Tyros 5 is running on the latest version
We load in 600 registrations into the Tyros 5 which give you sound set-ups in your
registration bank buttons for different genres of music
We add 1825 songs into the Tyros 5 Music Finder
Contact Us
We are pleased to be able to offer interest-free finance on selected products through Novuna Personal Finance, for a limited period only.
This offer is available on purchases of:
Brand New Yamaha Genos 2
Brand New & Used Yamaha SX920 (if purchased with bonus content & guide)
Used Yamaha SX900 (if purchased with bonus content & guide)
Used Yamaha Genos 1 (if purchased with bonus content & guide)
Get in touch to request a remote 0% finance application with or without a part-exchange using the form below:
Here's what we offer when you select the option to include our Bonus Content...
Latest Firmware
27 Expansion packs which include 557 voices and 381 backing styles
234 extra styles from Tyros 5
600 registrations
2673 song setups
Video showing where all the key features are
...and when you select the option to include our GenosTipsters Guide
We include our GenosTipsters guide (digital version) worth £99,
featuring over 3 hours of video and 200 pages of written accompaniment.
Disclaimer – a proportion of this content is made available freely by Yamaha,
for those fully competent and confident with using the required software to install it via computer.
Information about this item
For orders of any stock displaying a 7-10 day lead time, we will contact you as soon as the item arrives with us to schedule a delivery with you.
Occasionally, there may be availability issues with our suppliers, in which case we'll get in touch with you to see if you're happy to wait, or if you'd like to cancel the order and receive a full refund.
Information about this item
This is a special order "agency" item, and comes to us directly from Yamaha on a per-order basis.
It typically takes 7-10 days for this item to arrive with us, whereupon we'll contact you to discuss the arrangement of delivery.
Information about this item
For any pre-orders, we will contact you as soon as the item arrives with us to schedule a delivery with you, and update you with an ETA.
Occasionally, there may be availability issues with our suppliers, in which case we'll get in touch with you to see if you're happy to wait, or if you'd like to cancel the order and receive a full refund.
Get up to £250 cashback from Yamaha*
Yamaha is offering customers cashback on selected purchases until January 15th 2026 - here's how it works:
Purchase a qualifying Yamaha instrument before 15.01.26.
Complete the claim form
following this link
and have your proof of purchase and serial number ready.
Once your claim has been validated, you will be sent within 35 working days your cashback reward via bank transfer.
*Cashback amount varies product to product, as indicated.
Available Content for Genos 1
Here's what we include when you select the option to add our Bonus Content...
Latest Firmware
23 extra expansion packs which include 877 voices and 577 backing styles
234 extra styles from Tyros 5
600 registrations
4096 song setups
Video showing where all the key features are
...and when you select the option to include our GenosTipsters Guide
We include our GenosTipsters guide (digital version) worth £99,
featuring over 3 hours of video and 200 pages of written accompaniment.
Disclaimer – a proportion of this content is made available freely by Yamaha,
for those fully competent and confident with using the required software to install it via computer.
Part Exchange
Genos Tipsters Bonus Content for SX900
Here's what we offer when you select the option to include our Bonus Content...
Latest Firmware
14 Expansion Packs inc many extra voices and styles
234 T5 styles
600 registrations
T5 Music Finder
15 Playlists with 2287 song set-ups
Video showing where all the key features are
...and when you select the option to include our GenosTipsters Guide
We include our GenosTipsters guide (digital version) worth £99,
featuring over 3 hours of video and 200 pages of written accompaniment.
Disclaimer – a proportion of this content is made available freely by Yamaha,
for those fully competent and confident with using the required software to install it via computer.
Available Bonus Content for SX920
Here's what we offer when you select the option to include our Bonus Content...
Latest Firmware
25 Expansion packs which include 780 voices and 540 backing styles
234 extra styles from Tyros 5
600 registrations
4256 song setups including 136 ‘Decades’ registrations
Video showing where all the key features are
...and when you select the option to include our GenosTipsters Guide
We include our GenosTipsters guide (digital version) worth £99,
featuring over 3 hours of video and 200 pages of written accompaniment.
Disclaimer – a proportion of this content is made available freely by Yamaha,
for those fully competent and confident with using the required software to install it via computer.
Bonus Content for Korg Pa5X
Here's what we include when you select the option to add our Bonus Content...
Korg Bonus Styles (Taken from the Bonusware downloads on Korg UK website) – 450 styles
Korg Pa2x Internal Styles converted to 5x – 419 styles, all complete with 4 x Keyboard Sets
Korg Pa3x Internal Styles converted to 5x – 486 styles, all complete with 4 x Keyboard Sets
Korg Pa4x Internal Styles converted to 5x – 584 styles, all complete with 4 x Keyboard Sets
Korg Pa800 Internal Styles converted to 5x – 409 styles, all complete with 4 x Keyboard Sets
Korg Musikant 4x Internal Styles converted to 5x – 577 styles, all complete with 4 x Keyboard Sets
ePianos Songbook for Pa5x – A collection of over 200 well-known songs with 4 Keyboard Sets per song, giving in
excess of 800 registrations
Latest Osimo Songbook from Korg
3 x User Sound Packs from Korg
6 x Korg Pa5x User Know How videos covering: "Power Up & Panel", "Selecting Styles", "Selecting Sounds", "My
Setting & Favourites", "Mixer Basics", "Songbook", and "Recording"
How to Locate and Load the Various Software Bundle Components (Video)
Available Bonus Content for Genos 2
Here's what we offer when you select the option to include our Bonus Content:
Latest Firmware
52 expansion packs which include 1,721 voices and 1,148 backing styles
234 extra styles from Tyros 5
816 registrations
4256 song setups including 160 ‘Decades’ registrations
Video showing where all the key features are
Some of the best parts of our Bonus Content option are the 1,721 new extra voices and 1,148 new extra styles
included
across 52 expansion packs. These packs are quite complex to upload and, whilst free to obtain, we pride ourselves on
getting them into your keyboard for you — something many dealers shy away from purely because of the time it takes
to get them uploaded.
...and when you select the option to include our GenosTipsters Guide:
We include our GenosTipsters guide (digital version) worth £99,
featuring over 3 hours of video and 200 pages of written accompaniment.
Disclaimer – a proportion of this content is made available freely by Yamaha,
for those fully competent and confident with using the required software to install it via computer.
Comments: