Polishing Performance weekend for Advanced pianists with Florian Mitrea – WAITING LIST

Advanced pianists will be thrilled to have the opportunity to spend a weekend Polishing Performance with extremely popular Finchcocks tutor, Florian Mitrea. Below, Florian describes his plan for group sessions, helping guests to clarify, polish and gain performance experience and confidence in works they are preparing.

This course is aimed at those beyond grade 8, preparing for – or at – diploma standard, or higher.

“This weekend course provides us with a condensed look at aspects explored on my 5-day Advanced courses. It also provides the opportunity to experiment with these – either in a performance class setting or the informal “piano club” – a goal to finding your own fresh voice with the music that you are playing.

I will always listen to your own response to each piece and match my artistic suggestions with possible technical means to achieve them, not in a prescriptive way, but rather in a manner that will give you options, which you can then explore during your practice and reach a final interpretative decision. With the already well-established format that includes performance classes, as well as interactive workshops and individual lessons, I am looking forward to spending the weekend with you talking music all day long, sharing what makes us all so passionate about it.”

Formal tuition takes place in interactive workshops, performance classes and one-to-one lessons. Workshop topics will include:

• Posture and Performance – a crash-course in movement at the piano
  This is all about reviewing the basic premises of our piano playing – refreshening ideas about we sit at the piano, what the optimal height position of the piano stool might be, and using upper body posture and strength to enhance our performance. We will be analysing how the different joints of the hands and the arms are contributing significantly to a satisfying feeling of freedom at the piano, while also avoiding injuries and strains. You will be taking in turns trying out some very simple movement exercises, and, most significantly, be prepared to wriggle your knees (you will quickly learn why this is very important)!
• Being in the flow
  Getting into the optimal physical and mental state for performance is a life-long process, but there are ways in which we can learn to achieve this more quickly, maybe even on-demand. This will be a deep exploration of what our preparation at the piano involves, the multi-faceted aspects of our practising, and how it all leads to the wonderful feeling of complete identification with the pieces that we are playing and our own personal sound at the piano.

As usual, everyone will have access to their own grand piano for the weekend – including our new Steinway – and have plenty of time to practise in our vaulted piano cellar. There are enough pianos for everyone, with no need to book in a particular practice session slot.

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

Guests will:

• Have the chance to play in and observe two performance masterclasses.
• Will receive one-to-one lessons with Florian.
• Enjoy access to play on our 9 grand pianos anytime between 7am and 8pm.
• Experience a salon-style concert performed by Florian exclusively for guests.
• Have the chance to take part in a recital on the Bosendorfer in the main hall of the family home.
• 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 unique, luxury UK-based piano gem and an experience that you won’t forget anytime soon. Many guests continue friendships made on these courses, encouraging each other on in the piano playing on Whatsapp, organising private piano meet ups further down the line… and bumping into each other again on future courses!

For booking enquiries, please fill in the form below.