15191|https://finchcocksstg.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/IMG_2972-1024x682.jpg|large We all want to play more notes more accurately more of the time. David will talk you through some tried and trusted practice techniques to improve accuracy and fluency of your playing. He'll also run a masterclass session focused on performance which will examine ways to bring your music to life by searching for...
15406|https://finchcocksstg.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/dr-mark-polishook-1-1024x732.jpg|large The jazz workshop sessions that we run as part of our upper intermediate courses, got such good reviews that we're delighted to announce that we'll be adding two weekend courses that focus exclusively on jazz and improvisation. Dr Mark Polishook, who hails from NYC, is running both of our jazz courses and knows the...
15189|https://finchcocksstg.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/IMG_2901-1024x682.jpg|large PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP WITH GRAHAM FITCH - SOLD OUT The focus for Graham's course is on developing performance skills, including memorisation, practising towards a performance, aspects of style (Baroque and Classical styles expecially), technique and overcoming nerves and anxiety. In advance of the course, each student is encouraged to practice a few pieces so that,...
This course is designed for people who are between grade 4 and grade 7 in standard. We're very lucky to have Melanie Spanswick as our Course Director for this weekend. Melanie is a composer, performer and writer and has run piano courses throughout Europe, the USA and the Far East. Melanie's sessions will cover some of...
15193|https://finchcocksstg.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/IMG_2999-1024x705.jpg|large PRACTISING THE PIANO WITH GRAHAM FITCH Have you ever sat at the piano, uncertain as to what you should be doing in your practice time? Or wondered why it takes you so long to learn pieces? Would you like to eliminate mistakes and find a level of consistency and greater ease in your playing?...
15200|https://finchcocksstg.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/IMG_3087-1024x575.jpg|large UPPER INTERMEDIATE COURSE WITH ANDREW DUNLOP Our Upper Intermediate course caters for people who are between grades 4 and grade 7, and playing regularly. Our tutor for the weekend, Andrew Dunlop, is an examiner, adjudicator and the Company pianist for the Northern Ballet, having received his Doctorate from the Eastman School of Music in...
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 our first ever 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 perform Chopin's complete works...
The Romantic composers always feature prominently at our piano courses at Finchcocks. So we've designed a course that helps intermediate players access a wealth of beautiful piano repertoire from some of world's most inspiring composers over a three day long weekend course on Friday 5 July to Sunday 7 July. We're incredibly lucky to have...
15201|https://finchcocksstg.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/IMG_3096-1024x682.jpg|large This course is designed for anyone between grade 3 and grade 7, and will be run over a 5 day period. This course is being run by David Hall (FRCO, MA Cantab), who is one of our most popular tutors at Finchcocks, and was recently described by the Sunday Times when they joined us on a...
15201|https://finchcocksstg.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/IMG_3096-1024x682.jpg|large This course is designed for people who have are between grade 4 and grade 7 in standard. It would also suit players who reached a reasonably high standard but haven't played for a few years, and indeed players working their way through the grades and playing regularly. Each day typically starts with a workshop...
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...
This course is designed for people who are between grade 4 and grade 7 in standard. We're very lucky to have Melanie Spanswick as our Course Director for this weekend. Melanie is a composer, performer and writer and has run piano courses throughout Europe, the USA and the Far East. Melanie's sessions will cover some of...
UPPER INTERMEDIATE 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. In advance of the course, each student is encouraged to practice a few pieces so that, over the course...
This course is designed for anyone who just wants a weekend away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It would suit anyone who wants a bit of time away to practise or wants to fall in love with playing the piano again! It would also be ideal for anyone one who has made...
UPPER INTERMEDIATE 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. In advance of the course, each student is encouraged to practice a few pieces so that, over the course...
17627|https://finchcocksstg.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/2019-04-07-Finchcocks-Piano-schoolEd-Ovenden-268-1024x683.jpg|large Join pianist Tom Poster and violinist Elena Urioste for a three day weekend of mindful practising, empowering movement, breathing, and exploring the spirit of camaraderie within music-making. Tom and Elena met in 2013 at a recording session for BBC Radio 3 where they were both members of the New Generation Artist scheme, and have...
UPPER INTERMEDIATE COURSE WITH GRAHAM FITCH The focus for Graham's course is on developing performance skills, including memorisation, practising towards a performance, aspects of style (of any repertoire you choose to bring), technique and overcoming nerves and anxiety. In advance of the course, each student is encouraged to practice a few pieces so that, over...
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...
15201|https://finchcocksstg.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/IMG_3096-1024x682.jpg|large This course is designed for anyone between grade 3 and grade 7, and will be run over a 5 day period. This course is being run by David Hall (FRCO, MA Cantab), who is one of our most popular tutors at Finchcocks, and was recently described by the Sunday Times when they joined us on a...
18917|https://finchcocksstg.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Warren-2-683x1024.jpg|large This course is being run by Warren Mailley Smith, who hit the headlines recently for performing the entire works of Chopin from memory in a series of concerts in London. He appears regularly on Radio 3 and Classic FM, and is one of our most popular tutors at Finchcocks. The formal sessions will include...
This course is designed for people who would like to brush up on their music theory. It will aim to cover the major topics found in the ABRSM grade 5 theory syllabus. But unlike ploughing through a book on your own, our tutor - David Hall (FRCO, MA Cantab) - will show you how music theory can be...
This course is designed for anyone who just wants a weekend away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It would suit anyone who wants a bit of time away to practise or wants to fall in love with playing the piano again! It would also be ideal for anyone one who has made...
Rachmaninoff's fearsome reputation as a composer, has sometimes put his repertoire out of reach of the amateur pianist, but his lyrical late romantic style and mastery of counterpoint make him a firm favourite amongst pianists and listeners alike. The challenging nature of his compositions warrant their own course, so we've organised a weekend course dedicated...
17573|https://finchcocksstg.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/2019-04-07-Finchcocks-Piano-schoolEd-Ovenden-167-Copy-1024x683.jpg|large This course is designed for people who have are between grade 4 and grade 6 in standard. It would also suit players who reached a reasonably high standard but haven't played for a few years, and indeed players working their way through the grades and playing regularly. Each day typically starts with a workshop...
17356|https://finchcocksstg.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Spring-at-Finchcocks-1024x768.jpg|large This spring retreat is designed for anyone who just wants a UK-based weekend away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, emails and the boredom of 2020s lockdowns. Give yourself the gift of some time away to practise and reconnect with your piano playing on this luxury piano retreat: If you made a...
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 dedicated...
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...
15201|https://finchcocksstg.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/IMG_3096-1024x682.jpg|large This course is designed for anyone between grade 3 and grade 7, and will be run over a 5 day period. This course is being run by David Hall (FRCO, MA Cantab), who is one of our most popular tutors at Finchcocks, and was recently described by the Sunday Times when they joined us on a...
18917|https://finchcocksstg.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Warren-2-683x1024.jpg|large This course is being run by Warren Mailley Smith, who hit the headlines recently for performing the entire works of Chopin from memory in a series of concerts in London. He appears regularly on Radio 3 and Classic FM, and is one of our most popular tutors at Finchcocks. The formal sessions will include...
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...
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...
This course is designed for people who would like to brush up on their music theory. It will aim to cover the major topics found in the ABRSM grade 5 theory syllabus. But unlike ploughing through a book on your own, our tutor - David Hall (FRCO, MA Cantab) - will show you how music theory can be...
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...
This course is designed for people who are now confident in the basics of the piano, want to deepen learning before trying an Upper Intermediate course or grade, and who are between or around grades 4 and 6 standard. It's ideal for players keen to return to the piano after a gap of a few...
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...
