Piano summer schools are a great way to enjoy an intense learning experience and there are a fair few to choose from around the UK and abroad, too. In my guest post today, concert pianist and teacher Christine Stevenson talks about the Walsall Piano Summer School, where she has been coaching for many years.
Summer School. It’s almost a contradiction in terms, isn’t it – who wants to go to School in Summer?
Well, lots of pianists, it seems! The Summer School for Pianists has been running for many years, and this year it moves to a new location at The Performance Hub on the Walsall Campus of the University of Wolverhampton, from 17th-23rd August 2013.
My association with it goes back a while, arriving very much as ‘the new girl’ – newly-graduated and newly-married – invited to give classes and lessons in a year when the other tutors included Denis Matthews, Phyllis Sellick, Bryce Morrison, Katharina Wolpe and Geoffrey Pratley. ’And you’ll give us a recital as well, won’t you,’ said the then Director, the late Phyllis Mellor, to all the staff. Gulp – so no pressure, with a Who’s Who of the UK’s finest pianist-teachers as colleagues and an audience full of pianists…
The years pass, staff come and go (including me, as I disappeared for a while when my family was young) – but the Summer School for Pianists continues to flourish and evolve under the leadership of the current Director, Wendy Wyatt, attracting a loyal following each year while welcoming newcomers and making them feel very much at home. This year there are seven classes, with tutors James Lisney, Natasa Lipovsek, Karl Luchtmayer, Lauretta Bloomer, Neil Roxburgh, Graham Fitch and me. And yes, we’ll each be giving a recital; our programmes range in repertoire from Rameau and Bach/Liszt to Britten, taking in all the usual composers en route, plus a few rarities from Ries, Alkan and Vaughan Williams.
Students receive usually three slots per week in their allotted class, and there are opportunities to visit other classes. Private lessons with the tutors can be arranged, observers are welcome, and short ‘taster’ visits are possible. There are other musical activities on offer, student concerts, and plenty of socialising. It’s an inspiring and stimulating week for all of us.
There are just three places left in the classes for this year’s course, and ample room for observers – come and join us! Full details can be found on our website:
http://www.pianosummerschool.co.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SummerSchoolForPianists
Twitter: @pfsummerschool.
So we’re not all fingers and thumbs, we’re just happily digital. In every way!
You can read Christine’s blog here.
Publications
Melanie Spanswick has written and published a wide range of courses, anthologies, examination syllabuses, and text books, including Play it again: PIANO (published by Schott Music). This best-selling graded, progressive piano course contains a large selection of repertoire featuring a huge array of styles and genres, with copious practice tips and suggestions for every piece.
For more information, please visit the publications page, here.
Melanie Spanswick 