The Secret of Rhythmic Playing

18 Apr 2026 @ 15:00 BST (GMT +01:00)

Rhythm is not just counting - it is what gives music direction and meaning.

In this workshop, Fred Karpoff shares the core rhythmic principle he absorbed from working with Leon Fleisher — a principle central to Fleisher’s teaching. Fleisher called it “the secret of rhythmic playing”, and once understood, it changes how you hear, shape and project music.

Through detailed demonstrations from Beethoven, Schumann, Schubert, Brahms, Debussy, Gershwin and Capers, we’ll explore:

• How rhythmic structure shapes phrasing
• Why musical freedom grows out of rhythmic integrity
• How to avoid common distortions that weaken musical impact
• How rhythm gives music direction and a natural sense of flow

This is not about metronomic rigidity. It is about connecting to the deep rhythmic current that gives music life.

Who It’s For

• Pianists at intermediate to advanced levels
• Teachers seeking clearer language for teaching rhythm
• Musicians who feel their playing lacks cohesion or inevitability
• Anyone curious about what great artists mean when they say, “The rhythm must be right”

If you’ve ever felt that your playing sounds beautiful but not entirely convincing, this workshop is for you!

What You’ll Gain

• A clear conceptual framework for rhythmic stability and freedom
• Practical tools you can apply immediately to your repertoire
• Greater clarity in phrasing and structural shaping
• A deeper understanding of how rhythm generates musical impact

You will leave with a principle you can test in your own playing — one that simplifies rather than complicates your musical thinking.

Ticket price

Tickets cost £40 (£28 for Online Academy subscribers) and also include access to the workshop recording and resources afterwards.

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About your presenter

Fred Karpoff is an award-winning pianist and educator with decades of experience performing, teaching, and mentoring pianists around the world. His approach emerged through both artistry and adversity—recovering from injury, reimagining technique, and committing to a whole-body philosophy of movement and sound.

Fred’s signature three-dimensional technique integrates body, mind, and music to foster expressive mastery. As the creator of Entrada Piano and winner of the Frances Clark Keyboard Pedagogy Award, he has helped thousands of pianists transform their playing by uniting technical freedom with musical intention.

What people say about Fred’s work:

“I’m so appreciative of the insights I’ve gained through Fred’s approach—both as a player and a teacher. My technique has improved and refined, and I now have tools that serve me and my students alike. This work provides a unique and valuable service to the piano community.” — Veda Journagan

“I could never adequately express what a positive difference Fred's training has made in my teaching. I use it with both beginning and advanced students—it even helps train the beginning piano hand and makes difficult passages more approachable. I only wish I had been exposed to this much earlier in my teaching career.” — Lynette Cook

“My teacher introduced me to Fred’s work. As I gained understanding on achieving proper technique, my playing immediately improved—and, more importantly, I started having fun again. I continue to use these concepts to supplement my lessons, and my teacher values them as a shared framework to explore new challenges.” — John Griffin

“Fred’s demonstrations are both empowering and deeply supportive. His approach offers a technical system that allows my musical instincts to be expressed with ease. I love hearing and seeing what it does for my students.” — Heather Waldrop

“Before I discovered Fred’s approach, I was playing through serious pain and making no progress. His clear, thorough explanations and demonstrations completely transformed my playing. I heartily recommend his work to everyone!” — Paavo Jumppanen

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