<p>YANG Shiyu</p><p>This pianist has a fine technical security, with fleet fingers and a good sound.  I found that his playing needs much more imagination and variety in general, and a sense that he ?°owns?± the music himself ¨C not just being a responsible and good student.  He should be encouraged to think for himself and to come up with ideas for his playing that-even if they are not particularly appropriate or tasteful-come from an inner conviction.</p><p>The Op.10 No.5 Etude was solid and accurate, but not particularly nimble or effervescent.  If one is to play any of these etudes, one needs not only good fingers, but an inspired artistic sense of the piece. Pedalling was not subtle and helpful in creating character.</p><p>Nocturne Op.9 No.2: The playing is sincere and honest, but needs so much more in the way of range in intensity (even in the shortest melodic motive), in articulation, in harmonic colour.  But most of all there must be a sense of spontaneity ¨C real emotional last-minute decision making, which comes from practicing different ways of approaching the material.  Everything seemed almost stale musically.</p><p>Ginastera: Altogether very fluent and articulate.  All the technical elements were in place ¨C now the idea is to let go and give some real fire and looseness to the performance.  They are dances, after all!</p>