Finchcocks is keen to join in the global celebrations of the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth. In this course dedicated to the music of Beethoven, Graham Fitch will guide you in exploring the physical, emotional and intellectual challenges of the music, paying particular attention to the interpretation of the numerous markings for dynamics and articulation...
Liszt and Rachmaninoff were two pianist-composers of extraordinary reputation. Their performances quickly became the stuff of legends and both left a body of compositions that have captured the imaginations of audiences and pianists ever since. Whilst both composers revelled in pianistic brilliance, their works present different challenges to those brave enough to play them. The...
UPPER INTERMEDIATE-ADVANCED WEEKEND COURSE WITH GRAHAM FITCH The focus for Graham's course is on developing performance skills, including memorisation, practising towards a performance, aspects of style (Baroque and Classical styles especially), technique and overcoming nerves and anxiety. This course is designed for people who have reached (or are working towards) a grade 8 standard. It...
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...
21298|https://finchcocksstg.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Florian-10-1024x681.jpg|large 5 DAY AUTUMN COURSE WITH FLORIAN MITREA In this course, Florian Mitrea will teach the pianists to produce their most beautiful sound by marrying technique with expressivity: "I will always match my artistic suggestions with possible technical means to achieve them, not in a prescriptive way, but rather in a manner that will give...
This course is designed for classically trained pianists (intermediate - advanced) who would love to delve into or brush up on their jazz skills! David Hall (FRCO, MA Cantab) will help you combine solid piano technique, aural skills and jazz music theory to help you explore a sound world perhaps different to the one you...
Chopin's lyrical and elegant Nocturnes and Preludes are firm favourites with our intermediate and advanced players, and so we're very excited to announce the return of our very popular first composer-specific weekend. We're incredibly lucky to have secured the services of Warren Mailley-Smith for this course. In 2016, Warren became the first British pianist to...
Fancy a UK based, luxury weekend away in a grade 1 listed country manor, surrounded by 9 grand pianos? Our piano retreat is designed for anyone who just wants a weekend away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It would suit those who want a bit of time away to practise, or to...
Preparing for a diploma can feel like a large mountain to climb, and a lonely one as a pianist! Many of our advanced pianist guests are keen amateurs setting themselves a performance goal of a diploma to work towards. This weekend course is dedicated especially to those needing some extra tools to help them along...
This course, run by Finchcocks Musical Director David Hall, is ideal for anybody who wants to develop their keyboard skills of harmonisation, composition and improvisation in a classical style It is a mixed ability course, aimed at the intermediate to advanced pianist. Grade 5 theory standard would also be helpful. Rather than the usual performance...
Our Upper Intermediate - Advanced weekend course is designed for pianists grades 6-8+. Whether you're a grade 8 player in need of a confidence boost, a former advanced player who has gotten a little rusty, or an accomplished upper intermediate player looking for a challenge, this is the one for you! Tutor for the weekend...
Beethoven's 250th birthday celebrations last year were a bit of a washout, so we're keeping the party going! In this course dedicated to the music of Beethoven, Graham Fitch will guide you in exploring the physical, emotional and intellectual challenges of the music, paying particular attention to the interpretation of the numerous markings for dynamics...
We are thrilled to be hosting concert pianist and keynote speaker Professor William Westney, as part of his visit to the UK, in this year's programme. This weekend course, for upper intermediate to advanced level pianists, focuses on musical communication, physical enjoyment, and addressing technical challenges in a healthy way. Principles from Dr. Westney’s best-selling...
In this course, with Professor of Piano Penelope Roskell, pianists will have the opportunity to receive expert guidance on their current repertoire, both from a technical and an artistic point of view. Penelope is the UK's foremost specialist in healthy piano playing, and she will share with the group how to put many of the...
We are delighted to be offering a course with brilliantly talented keyboard player and Early Keyboard Consultant to the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and Royal Welsh Colleges, Steven Devine. During this weekend course Keyboard Music from the Baroque, Steven Devine will explore this incredibly fertile period of keyboard music, looking at style, technique, repertoire and instruments. Although...
Our 5-day summer schools are a well established highlight of the Finchcocks calendar. To ensure a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere, places are open to those who have attended at least one weekend Finchcocks course previously. This 5-day piano retreat for advanced players offers pianists grade 8, diploma and beyond, the chance to fully emerse themselves...
Back by very popular demand, this will be our fourth Chopin weekend here at Finchcocks with Warren Mailley-Smith. Chopin's lyrical and elegant Nocturnes and Preludes are firm favourites with our intermediate and advanced players, and so we're very excited to announce the return of our very popular first composer-specific weekend. We're incredibly lucky to have...
23070|https://finchcocksstg.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Nemiah-2-1024x768.jpg|large The piano music of the French impressionists has a special place in the development of any pianist’s repertoire. The music of Debussy, Satie and Ravel in particular calls for very special control of tone, texture, colour and use of pedal. The amazing scope of musical pictures painted by these composers calls for a course...
Beyond Stage Fright – Tackling performance nerves is designed for upper intermediate to advanced players, those working towards grade 8 standard or a performance diploma. It is also suitable for piano teachers. Running the weekend is the incredibly knowledgeable, encouraging and warm Charlotte Tomlinson. A specialist, international speaker on the topic, and a pianist herself,...
This weekend course is designed for pianists who are playing at or above grade 8 standard, working towards a diploma or beyond. It is also suitable for music graduates and piano teachers who would like a refresher boost of inspiration! Run by the ever popular Graham Fitch, these courses sell out quickly. As well as...
This course is designed for classically trained pianists (intermediate - advanced) who would love to delve into or brush up on their jazz skills! David Hall (FRCO, MA Cantab) will help you combine solid piano technique, aural skills and jazz music theory to help you explore a sound world perhaps different to the one you...
Fancy a UK based, luxury weekend away in a grade 1 listed country manor, surrounded by 9 grand pianos? Our piano retreat is designed for anyone who just wants a weekend away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It would suit those who want a bit of time away to practise, or to...
We are very excited to welcome British classical concert pianist and composer Beatrice Nicholas for a weekend of musical exploration, inspiration and discussion on the theme of Black Renaissance Music for piano. Beatrice enjoys an international career as a solo concert pianist, performing works by Bach through to the present day, with notable performances at...
We are delighted to be offering a course with brilliantly talented keyboard player and Early Keyboard Consultant to the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and Royal Welsh Colleges, Steven Devine. During this weekend course Keyboard Music from the Baroque, Steven Devine will explore this incredibly fertile period of keyboard music, looking at style, technique, repertoire and instruments. Although...
We thought it was high time our upper intermediate players had the opportunity to study with the wonderful Graham Fitch for five whole days! This summer piano retreat offers pianists grade 6 - approaching 8 the chance to fully emerse themselves in all that Finchcocks has to offer. The course aims to provide a luxury...
Our 5-day summer schools sold out in record time this year! So, by popular demand, we've added one more! And this one is different. This is our most relaxed 5-day course ever and a pianist's dream Finchcocks stay: a 5-day 5-star Piano Holiday! This extended piano retreat offers the chance to spend mornings at the...
Fancy a UK based, luxury weekend away in a grade 1 listed country manor, surrounded by grand pianos? Our piano retreat is designed for anyone who just wants a weekend away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It would suit those who want a bit of time away to practise, or to fall...
We're really excited to be welcoming piano educator Andrew Eales to lead his first course at Finchcocks and start 2025 off with an interactive dive into his highly acclaimed practice guide How to practise. On How to practise by Andrew Eales "The essential, pocket-sized companion for every musician. Accessible and authoritative, How to Practise Music is...
Developed by the esteemed 19th century pianist Ignaz Moscheles and pedagogue François-Joseph Fétis, Méthode des Méthodes is one of the most ambitious of the 19th century music methods. The Etudes, by composers as famous as Chopin, Mendelssohn and Liszt, also include less familiar names such as Eduard Wolff, Amadée Mereaux and Julius Benedict, and provide...
28112|https://www.finchcocks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Spring-Finchcocks-1024x769.jpg|large 2025 offers Advanced pianists three very different 5-day courses to choose from. The first is dedicated to those preparing for a special performance, providing a concentrated boost for those attending - to study, practise, polish and improve performance skills and experience. And at the helm leading the process is the hugely popular and inspiring...
We are thrilled to welcome multi-award winning jazz pianist Nikki Iles to Finchcocks for a weekend devoted to jazz piano. “A formidable UK jazz presence ...” “Iles is one of the most refreshing figures to have emerged in the UK scene in recent times" The Guardian (John Fordham) “Formidably creative.... “The Heroine of British Jazz...
This course, run by Finchcocks Musical Director David Hall, is ideal for anybody who wants to go beyond grade 5 theory to further develop their keyboard skills of interpretation, improvisation, harmonisation and transposition. It would best suit the Upper Intermediate pianist who has good understanding of grade 5 music theory upto Advanced players. David will...
The keyboard music of Mozart is seen as a model of perfection; the sleek lines of the melodies and exquisite harmonies ideally suited to the modern grand piano. However, Mozart’s own instruments and those around him offer a dramatically different sound world and thanks to researches in performance styles, our understanding of how Mozart’s music...
24557|https://www.finchcocks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Dave-at-the-Bosendorfer-1024x683.jpg|large A weekend dedicated to enjoying sight-reading which, for the busy or practice-challenged pianist, requires no preparation at all! Why do we always talk about aural tests and sight-reading tests? Finchcocks musical director David Hall advocates a systematic approach to sight-reading that does not involve weekly high-pressure tests. He believes that sight-reading should feel more like curling up...
We are thrilled to be welcoming back concert pianist and keynote speaker Professor William Westney, as part of his visit to the UK, to 2025's programme - this time extended to three days! His previous visits have been extremely special for all involved so we can't wait for more. This 3-day course, for upper intermediate...
