Alan Rusbridger’s book Play It Again about his determination to learn Chopin’s G minor Ballade in a year is likely to spur on many amateur pianists to greater things. A great way to seek inspiration and support, share repertoire and meet other pianists is through a piano course. As regular readers of this blog will know, I am a big fan of my teacher’s weekend courses, which are held twice a year, and are always inspiring and supportive.
Here are details of my teacher’s courses, and others which have been recommended to me by friends, colleagues and teachers:
Penelope Roskell’s Advanced London Piano Course Faculty: Penelope Roskell (Trinity College of Music). Three-day intensive course for advanced amateurs, students, teachers and professional pianists. Limited to 8 students, the course begins each day with exercises to relieve tension, followed by one-to-one tuition for each student (everyone gets to play at least once each day). Coaching on repertoire, technique, performance, anxiety. Particularly useful for those preparing for diplomas, competitions or concerts. Ability: advanced (post-Grade 8 – post-graduate). B&B accommodation available nearby. Dates: 26-28 April 2013 and 11-13 October 2013. Cost: £195 (EPTA and ISM members £185), students £120. Penelope also runs various one-day workshops for pianists and piano teachers throughout the year. Details here.
Hindhead Piano Course For the advanced student, teacher and competent amateur, who wish to further their pianistic knowledge and enjoy four days of intensive study, with master-classes on technique and repertoire, workshops on improvisation, faculty recitals and participants’ concerts, with a special accent on the music of Bach and Mozart this year. Faculty: James Lisney & Simon Nicholls. Ability: Grade 7 to post diploma. Dates: 30th July – 2nd August. Cost £390 performers, £270 observers, residential and non-residential. Further information info@jameslisney.com ***SOME SPACES STILL AVAILABLE***
Piano Summer School, Walsall Formerly Hereford Summer School for Pianists, this popular and long-standing summer school moves to the state-of-the-art Performance Hub at the University of Wolverhampton for 2013. Faculty: Graham Fitch, James Lisney, Karl Lutchmayer, Christine Stevenson, Neil Roxburgh, Natasia Lipovsek, Catherine Edwards. Ability: c.Grade 6 to advanced/post-diploma. Masterclasses, lectures and performances by faculty. Dates: 17-23 August. Cost £595. ***PLEASE NOTE – THE 2013 COURSE IS NOW FULL***
Chethams International Summer School for Pianists One of the biggest and best piano summer schools. Wide range of abilities from intermediate to post-diploma/professional. Courses for children and adults. Faculty includes: Peter Donohoe, Philip Fowke, Leon McCawley, Murray McLachlan, Christopher Elton, Norilo Ogawa, and many more. Dates: 14-20 and 20-26 August 2013.
Jackdaws Music Education Trust, Frome, Somerset. Various courses for pianists, singers and instrumentalists throughout the year. Piano faculty includes: Elena Riu, Margaret Fingerhut, Julian Jacobson, Mark Tanner, Philip Fowke. Residential.
Dartington Summer School courses for pianists, singers and other instrumentalists. All ages and abilities welcome.
Lot Piano Summer courses for pianists set in the picturesque landscape of the Lot Valley, south-west France. Faculty for 2013: James Lisney (week 1), Vanessa Latarche (week 2).
Music at Ambialet Summer school for pianists for advanced and amateur pianists in the magnificent Tarn Valley, France. Faculty includes Paul Roberts and Charles Owen.
Further details of many more courses in the UK, Europe and North America can be found in the February-March issues of ‘Pianist’ magazine.
