Celebrating Somerset’s Creative & Cultural Practitioners - Caroline Wallis-Newport

For our January blog, the focus is on the power of music. Here at Westlands, we host monthly Piano Nights in the Lounge Bar, a free event offering some of the best local piano players the chance to perform. Caroline Wallis-Newport is one of our regular pianists. As we look to the new year, some readers might be considering learning an instrument or listening to and discovering more music. This month's blog is all about the Piano. “The piano is probably your best friend; it never lets you down."

When I sat down with Caroline, she started by saying how grateful she was that Westlands had provided the opportunity for her to play on such a “fantastic piano”. Caroline tells me it’s a very different experience playing on a full-size concert grand piano rather than an upright piano. The Piano Nights have a unique, relaxed atmosphere: it is not like a formal concert, and because everyone likes different styles of music, I get to play a very diverse repertoire. It is such a warm and welcoming atmosphere.”

We jumped right in with a big conversation about how music had influenced her life.

“Life without music is impossible for me to imagine. Music has always been there for me. Listening to music or playing the piano has sustained me throughout my life.”

“It is a beautiful thing; it enriches society, and I believe it is a civilising influence. The piano is probably your best friend, it never lets you down and it is always there for you. I am thankful that my late father, who appreciated music in its many diverse forms, gave me the opportunity to learn the piano as a child. I was eventually offered a place at the Royal College of Music, where I emerged with a music degree and a teaching diploma - the high standards I observed there pushed me to do better.”

Interested in when Caroline started, we spoke about her first memory of learning. “I had my first formal piano lessons in Burnham-on-Sea, where I grew up, at the age of 9 but my initial interest in the piano began when I was around 6 years-old and discovered my grandmother’s old upright piano. Each time we visited her house in Bristol, I was drawn to this instrument. I became fascinated by the sound and the fact that it could produce melodies and chords. I recall standing up at the piano, “improvising” with a chord in the left hand and a melodic fragment in the right hand - I had no idea what I was doing, but these adventures opened up a magical world for me so that when I eventually had piano lessons, I instantly felt at home."

We spoke about piano lessons and the learning process. I asked what advice she would give to anyone thinking about learning. “It doesn't matter how old you are - if you want to play the piano, you should have a go!”

“I have taught pupils from the ages of 4 to 80… It does require dedicated practice to achieve a good level of proficiency but the rewards are immense: acquiring the skill to play the piano, being able to play the music you love and enjoy. My students often say how their general confidence has grown as a result of learning to play. And don't think that you have to come from a musical family - neither of my parents were musicians, in fact, there were no musicians in my family at all.”

“One of the first books I played from as a beginner was called “Scenes at a Farm” by Walter Carroll, lovely descriptive pieces for children, which I have used in my own teaching. The first “famous” pieces I played were probably Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata and the Minuet in G by Paderewski.”

We then spoke about Caroline's favourite pieces to play on the piano. If you're not familiar with some of the pieces she lists but are interested in discovering more about classical music, then I would recommend to YouTube these; “Russian piano music is special, particularly Rachmaninov. I learnt his 2nd piano concerto when I was a teenager - the big theme in the 3rd movement is so haunting.”

“Chopin’s music is always lovely to play, for instance, the Nocturne in D flat major or one of the Polonaises or Waltzes.”

“Bach is always satisfying, the Aria from the Goldberg Variations is incredibly relaxing to play. Another favourite is Debussy's Homage a Rameau. I can lose myself playing any of these pieces.”

When I asked what her favourite key on the piano is, she said, “Probably D flat major, I like the “shape” of it under my fingers.”  Since childhood, she tells me she has experienced synaesthesia: associating musical keys with colours. "For me, D flat major is always white!” We continue talking about the theory of music and she says, “Chord-wise, you can't beat a major or minor 7th, so beloved of Debussy and jazz musicians. These chords have such a sweet sound. If I’m in a dramatic mood, the diminished 7th is very satisfying to play!”

Caroline also likes playing pop and jazz music, songs by Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder and Burt Bacharach. Maybe you will hear a piano version of one of these at our Piano Nights in February when Caroline will next play for us.

I asked Caroline about any life-changing moments she had experienced due to music; one was linked to her father when she performed Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with an orchestra some years ago, her father came to that: it was the last time she saw him alive. It was a piece he had always loved and wanted her to learn. That she was able to do so for him still makes her very proud. Caroline went on to speak about some other life-affirming moments. “The first time I heard Arthur Rubinstein play Chopin's music was a pivotal moment, the playing spoke to me in a very profound way. I still don't think any other pianist comes near him in terms of technical accuracy and musicianship.”

“Watching Martha Argerich play Tchaikovsky's 1st piano concerto is another: a young woman producing such a powerful sound and with such a dazzling technique made a big impression on me, as a music student.”

“The Chinese pianist, Fou T’song gave an incredible recital in Weston-Super-Mare many years ago which I went to with my parents. That memory has stayed with me, for the sheer conviction and bravura in his playing.”

“As a teenager, watching André Previn conduct the LSO in Stravinsky's Rite of Spring and Debussy's La Mer in Bristol is another stand-out moment: I had never heard such dynamic orchestral playing with such a range of musical colours.”

Music really does follow you through your life and is a powerful way to remember the past and connect with the present. One takeaway from this interview is the importance of engaging with music at an early age, but as Caroline says, it's never too late to learn or listen. The health benefits of music are also well-proven. Piano Nights and Acoustic Afternoons are two events that the Arts Engagement & Outreach team launched last year and will continue in 2025. We hope you will join Caroline for our next Piano Night on Wednesday 19th February at 18:30 and/or join us for another one of our events at a date later in the year