Essential Piano Technique with Penelope Roskell – upper intermediates and their teachers!
Penelope is the UK’s foremost specialist in healthy piano playing, and she will share with the group how to put many of the ideas from her comprehensive “piano bible” The Complete Pianist into practice – as well as the thought process and strategy behind her popular piano education series Essential Piano Technique (of which the upper intermediate books in the range are soon to be published!).
Bring along any pieces that you would like help with, both musically and technically, as well as any general questions you have about piano playing. There will be some emphasis on ensuring that you feel physically at ease at the piano, so that you can play without tension or potential injury in the future.
The weekend promises to be musically intensive as well as friendly, supportive and welcoming to everyone.
Each day typically starts with a workshop on the Finchcocks Steinway in the recital room. These are followed by private practice on one of our beautiful acoustic grand pianos whilst Penelope gives one-to-one tuition to guests. The afternoons begin with a performance class (a bit like an open lesson) followed by more chance for priviate consolidation!
On this particular course, Saturday and Sunday also both begin with some gentle warm ups (outside, weather permitting) to prepare particpants physically and mentally for the workshops ahead*.
- Intermediate technique
- Intermediate musicianship
Both provide guests with the perfect opportunity to bring pieces they are working on for expert guidance.
*Comfortable clothing and footwear is recommended for this.
On the Saturday evening, we have an extra special performance from concert pianist Jong-Gyung Park for you! This is your chance to sit back and be inspired in the main hall of the family home and listen to an astonishing pianist play for you on the Bosendorfer. Jong-Gyung will play a selection of some of her current repertoire, giving some historical context along the way.
Here she is performing with Anthony Zerpa-Falcón in our recital room!
Over the course of the weekend, guests will:
- Have the chance to play in and observe two performance masterclasses.
- Will receive a one-to-one lesson with Penelope.
- Enjoy access to play on our 9 grand pianos anytime between 7am and 8pm. (There are enough pianos to go round that everyone can play a piano at any given time.)
- Experience a private recital-talk of inspiring intermediate pieces in the main hall of the family home, performed by Penelope.
- Join and socialise with a group 8 fellow piano enthusiasts during lunch and dinner.
- Dine in style with lunches and three course dinners prepared by our fabulous chef.
- Experience the Finchcocks bubble, hailed as a “paradise for pianists” by BBC Music Magazine and stay in a grade 1 listed country manor.
For booking enquiries, please fill in the form below.