Having Graham Fitch on our staff, it seemed too good an opportunity to miss scheduling a weekend of Baroque and Bach!

Graham studied harpsichord as a second instrument with Ruth Dyson at the Royal College of Music, and was runner-up in the intercollegiate harpsichord competition, The Raymond Russell Prize in 1981. Thereafter he was awarded a Belgian government scholarship to study in Kenneth Gilbert’s classes at the Museum Vleeshuis in Antwerp, and undertook further postgraduate harpsichord studies with Shirley Mathews at the Peabody Institute. There came a time when Graham had to make the choice between piano and harpsichord, and the piano won. However, Graham maintains a lively interest in the harpsichord and in baroque music, and offers the baroque module for The Piano Teachers’ Course UK.

This weekend course at Finchcocks is not designed for specialist harpsichord players, but for pianists who are keen to discover more about baroque style and to try out their pieces on a harpsichord. The focus for Graham’s course is on aspects of style (Baroque and early Classical styles especially), developing performance skills, including memorisation, practising towards a performance, technique and overcoming nerves and anxiety.

In advance of the course, each student is encouraged to practice a few pieces so that, over the course of the weekend session, they begin to feel happy performing in front of the group.

This course is designed for upper intermediate and advanced pianists.

Each day typically starts with a workshop in the Finchcocks on our Steinway in the recital room. In the afternoons, there is time for private practice on one of our beautiful acoustic grand pianos and normally there is time for some individual tuition.

Later in the afternoon, we convene for a masterclass, which involves a little bit of (very relaxed) performance in front of your classmates. Graham will also provide his top tips on conquering performance nerves and how to prepare your repertoire for a performance. Graham is an authority on efficient and effective practice, and his three “S”s of practice: slowly, separately and sections will be explained and demonstrated.

At 7pm on Saturday we have our pre-dinner talk or recital in the main house, which is a chance to relax with a glass of wine and be inspired, before a delicious dinner cooked up by our chef.

For booking enquiries, please contact Jenny on 01580 428080 or fill in the form below.