Compose
Original music and ideas
I've composed tunes on piano (or guitar) almost as long as I've played - and it's great fun.
Since writing more recently, I thought it would be good to have a page for it.
October 2025 - Piano for the Free to Roam
This latest collection of new piano music draws inspiration from a number of locations in Italy, Denmark and Sweden, composed in 2025. There's a range of styles, from the delicate melodies of "Fontana di Trevi", via the ominous sounds of "Colosseum" to the lighter tones of "Rita Blås Lopper", syncopation of "Freetown Christiania" and optimism of "Malmö Old Lighthouse". Plus, spot the bonus track: an instrumental version of "On Magdalen Green" from 2013 album Simple Life. - read more.
March 2024 - West Highland Way Suite
The six piano tunes were given a new lease of life: developed further and arranged for orchestra, plus two new pieces to complete the orchestral suite - read more.
January 2024 - Streets of Dundee
During the first 24 days of the year I wrote new music inspired by 24 streets in Dundee and featuring orchestral instruments - the first collection of pieces composed specially for orchestra (no piano involved!) - read more.
October 2023 - Piano for the Wild in Spirit
New piano album released, featuring 30 pieces composed in 2022-23 - 6 new pieces inspired by the West Highland Way, plus the 24 written each day of Advent 2022 - read more here.
December 2022
24 keys and a mixture of moods
The challenge: to compose a different tune in a different key each day, with a mixture of moods and exploring darkness and light . . .
October 2022 - Piano for the Young at Heart
Piano album released, featuring 31 pieces from the previous 4 collections (Daily Tunes, What do you wonder?, Hebridean Holiday and Feathered Friends) - read more here.
Summer 2022 - Two new series of piano pieces
Feathered Friends, then Hebridean Holiday - two collections of piano music inspired by birds and a trip to the Outer Hebrides - see the music page for PDFs.
Spring 2022 - What do you wonder?
This series of piano pieces was based on a variety of interesting questions, like "Where does the sun go to bed?" or "When did you last look off into the distance?" - see the music page for PDFs.
Jan 2022 - 24 new tunes in every key!
I took up the challenge to compose a tune in every key throughout January - see Exhibition Pieces for all the music.
There's also a FUN PAGE explaining how they were created.
Dec 2021 - New Inspiration page
I've added a new page to help inspire composing and improvising - it randomly provides a key and mood . . .
June/July 2021 - New Songs
Preparing for a new album, writing a new song each day as I walk our dogs at the park :)
More over on my songs page
May 2021 - Daily Tune Sketches
On a Monday morning in May, an idea for a wee tune came to me - so I wrote it down in a spare few minutes.
This inspired me to have a go at writing one every day of the week (nearly) - see below.
These little sketches will help inspire me to write more new pieces of music - and maybe inspire you too :)
September 2020 - Roots, Branches + Leaves
Six original pieces of music written especially for piano, ranging from beginner to grade 5 level - and inspired by trees. There's the optimistic "Horse chestnut", the gradually blossoming "Slowly growing", the thoughtful "Leaves are falling", the playful pair "Climbing the branches" and "Squirrel!" and finally the robust and swirling piece "If a tree falls in the forest..." More here
August 2020 - Lochs, Hills + Rivers
Six pieces for piano, inspired by exploring some of Scotland's natural beauty. Whether Walking to Loch Brandy, climbing Edinburgh's Salisbury Crags, or looking out Across the Tay. These range from grade 1-5 level. Read more about it
July 2020 - Notes from a Scottish Summer
Seven pieces for piano written during a week of lockdown in July 2020, full of blue notes and jazz chords.Each one has a different feel, from mellow or wistful to fast & snappy, and they are around grade 3-5 level. More on this page