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Angeline Bell

Composer, pianist and piano teacher

United Kingdom

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About

Angeline Bell is a Malaysian piano teacher and composer in Crawley, UK. She started composing piano music in March 2022 while isolating with the coronavirus. Editions Musica Ferrum took an interest and published My Lyrical Notebook, My Quirky Notebook and My Garden Notebook, which has been nominated for Best Contemporary Repertoire or Series by the Art of Piano Education Awards 2024. Angeline has also signed record deals with Digitality Records, Blue Spiral Records and ARC Music (part of Naxos). Her music can be heard on Spotify and other platforms. Angeline started learning piano at the age of six and passed her Associate of Trinity College London diploma at the age of sixteen. She obtained her degree in Music at the University of East Anglia and would travel to the Royal Academy of Music to study piano with Ruth Harte. After completing her Postgraduate Certificate of Education, she taught music in a secondary school before setting up Bell Piano School at her home.

https://angelinebellmusic.com/home

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Interview

What does music mean to you personally?

I hear music in my head constantly, so it is the very fabric of my being. I am a full-time piano teacher and a church pianist and organist. It is both my profession, my hobby and my service to others.

Do you agree that music is all about fantasy?

Music starts in the mind of the composer, then it is passed on to the performer, then passed on again to the listener. So what started off in fantasy land, becomes a reality when it is recorded or transcribed.

If you were not a professional musician, what would you have been?

I imagine I would be a children’s story writer or maybe an artist.

The classical music audience is getting old, are you worried about the future?

Most of my piano students are young children, so I hope I have passed on my love of classical music to them. They like film music too, so surely that can be classified as classical music. They also enjoy playing my compositions which can be categorised as neoclassical.

What do you envision the role of music to be in the 21st century? Do you see that there is a transformation of this role?

Piano music is listened to by millions on Spotify for relaxation and studying. I doubt this will change.

Do you think that the musician today needs to be more creative? What is the role of creativity in the musical process for you?

I think musicians today are already very creative. I try to compose original and interesting sounding pieces like Alien Mushrooms, Leaking Tent and Seagull Attack.

Do you think we as musicians can do something to attract the younger generation to music concerts? How would you do this?

Performing music used in video games and films would be one way of attracting youngsters to the concert hall.

Tell us about your creative process. What is your favorite piece (written by you) and how did you start working on it?

One of my favourite pieces is Sloth Ballet. I imagined a sloth wearing a tutu and dancing very slowly. Then the melody came to me. I am inspired by the wonders of nature and places of beauty.

Can you give some advice for young people who want to discover classical music for themselves?

YouTube and TikTok seem to be where my students discover new music nowadays. Unfortunately, the audio quality is often poor. I would advise them to subscribe to a streaming service for higher quality audio.

Do you think about the audience when composing?

I try not to, as I would prefer to be true to myself. When I try to please others, I end up pleasing no one.

What projects are coming up? Do you experiment in your projects?

My Seaside Notebook, My Forest Notebook and Echoes of the Orient have been planned. I experiment with new harmonies and rhythms in each new composition. I try to keep each piece fresh with a surprise in it somewhere.