5-day Intermediate Summer School with David Hall

Our 5-day summer schools are a well established highlight of the Finchcocks calendar. To ensure a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere, priority is given to those who have attended at least one weekend Finchcocks course previously.

This 5-day piano retreat for intermediate players offers pianists grades around grades 4 to 6, the chance to fully emerse themselves in all that Finchcocks has to offer. The course aims to provide a luxury break away, the chance to practise on our 9 grand pianos without any distraction, challenge guests with new techniques and explore their own playing under the inspiring supervision of our Musical Director David Hall (MA, FRCO, LRSM) and author of There’s more to playing the piano…

Each day will begin with a new, specific warm-up to provide a focus for practice or performance. Like our weekend courses, formal tuition takes place in workshops, performance classes and one-to-one lessons.

This year’s focuses will be:

Top Tips for Practice
Practical strategies for making the most of your time at the piano. We’ll cover how to set goals, structure practice sessions, and use focussed techniques that build confidence, fluency, and enjoyment in your playing.

Bringing Your Music to Life – Part 1
It’s time to play to and learn from each other! This session focuses on phrasing, dynamics, and articulation – the essential tools that give your playing shape and character.

Using the Cycle of Fifths as a Practice Tool
The Cycle of Fifths is more than just a clever theory diagram! Learn how to use this practical framework for understanding keys, mastering scales, navigating harmony – and master your repertoire fully.

Bringing Your Music to Life – Part 2
Experiencing others’ performances can highlight similar obstacles in your own repertoire. Building on Part 1, we’ll delve deeper into your repertoire together and polish it up.

10-Week Plan to Improve Your Reading
Reading fluently unlocks freedom at the piano – and can be great fun in discovering new repertoire! This workshop introduces a step-by-step plan designed to sharpen your sight-reading, strengthen your pattern recognition, and make the process more enjoyable and less daunting.

Making Melodies
Melody is at the heart of musical expression. We’ll look at what makes a melody sing, how to shape lines with elegance, and how to bring out the expressive voice within any piece of music. And then we’ll make up some of our own on the piano!

Repertoire Analysis
Peeling back the layers of a piece reveals its inner workings – from structure and harmony to stylistic detail. In this session, you’ll learn how analysis can clarify technical challenges, illuminate interpretation, and give deeper meaning and confidence to your performance.

Putting It All Together – Style and Texture
A concluding session that brings the week’s ideas into focus. We’ll explore how style, voicing, and texture combine to shape the sound world of a piece, and how you can integrate these elements into a more confident and expressive performance.

David’s daily Listen and Learn activity always gets conversation going round the dining table too – and provides a launch pad to explore new technique and repertoire as well!

As usual, everyone will have access to their own grand piano for the week including our new Steinway, and have plenty of time to practise in our vaulted piano cellar.

We’ll also have a bit of fun! In addition to a private recital in the hall of the main house or on our new open-air stage (weather permitting!), we’ll explore the private gardens at Finchcocks, experience a local wine tasting, be able to go for beautiful Kentish countryside walks to Scotney castle and enjoy a session or two in the family’s new heated swimming pool.

And of course, it goes without saying that you can expect the usual!

Summer School guests will:

• Have the chance to play in and observe multiple performance masterclasses.
• Will receive one-to-one lessons with David.
• 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 for course participants in the main hall of the family home, performed by David.
• 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.

Plus ones are very welcome on our courses, with a room surcharge dependant on whether they are a playing or non-playing guest. Please ask for further details.

This is a UK-based gem of a piano holiday and one that you won’t forget anytime soon! Many guests continue friendships made on these courses, encouraging each other on in the piano playing… and bumping into each other again on future courses!

For booking enquiries, please fill in the form below.