- Course Dates
August 29, 2025 6:30 pm –
August 31, 2025 4:00 pm - Observer Pass
August 30, 2025 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Level: All abilities
Fee: £350
An Empowering Approach to Continuing Musicianship Growth and Performing Skills at the Piano
with Alton Chung Ming Chan
Have you ever been intimidated by a composer’s piece and felt reluctant to study or perform it because you just didn’t feel competent or equipped enough to tackle it? For example, a favorite Chopin or Liszt’s Transcendental Etude or a very famous sonata or concerto.
Good news! the purpose of this short piano course is to focus on both the essential technical and musical skills that cannot be easily verbalized or articulated, which either you have not covered in your previous learnings, or simply do not know how to apply systematically. The emphasis is to empower the performers and pedagogues with practical tools for continual growth in musicianship and performing skills at the piano. The course is open to all levels and serious piano pedagogues.
Each learning session will focus on one or more individual topics such as tone productions, techniques, pedaling, phrasing, composers’ intentions, and performance practices. The contents will be organized and presented in a simple and easily understood manner that have not been elucidated anywhere before. Moreover, attendees will be given guidelines on how to approach and learn a new piece beyond their ability successfully, as well as to share the difficulties of pieces they are currently working on.
- Session 1: Tone Productions and Voicings
- Session 2: Technical Movements
- Session 3: Phrasing/Composers’ Intentions
- Session 4: PedalingPerformance Practice
- Session 5: Effective and Efficient Approaches to Learning a New Piece
- Session 6: Open Discussions on Attendees’ Current Studying Pieces
A £70 deposit is required to secure your place on this course. The balance of fees, including accommodation, is due 3 weeks before the course start date.
You can also buy an Observer Pass for this course. The Observer Pass entitles you to attend on SATURDAY from 11am–1pm as an observer only and costs £10. This can be redeemed against a subsequent course booking. Places are limited. More info and terms and conditions here.
Venue: Jackdaws Music Education Trust
Venue Phone: 01373 812383
Address:
Description:
Course Information
Is this Course right for me?
The answer is probably yes as we welcome musicians of all abilities and backgrounds on our courses but if you would like to find out more before you book please read about our course levels, or email or call our office manager Karolyn on 01373 812 383 / music@jackdaws.org and she will be able to offer further guidance.
If you are still unsure then maybe consider one of our “Try before you buy” Observer Passes which enable you to come and see one session in action.
Full Observer places may also be bookable for a whole weekend subject to availability. Call / email the office for more information.
Please see our General Course Information pages for further details and schedule information.
Our Courses are for adult musicians (except where stated) and take place at Jackdaws in Great Elm, near Frome in Somerset. The Course Fee includes all tuition, meals and refreshments at Jackdaws. Courses take place in the main studio, with Steinway piano, and generally follow a masterclass format. There are several practice rooms here, too.
Repertoire
For Voice, Piano & Wind courses; participants are usually requested to prepare 2 – 3 pieces in advance. We will ask you to provide a repertoire list for the tutor (& accompanist) ahead of the course.
For Ensemble courses; direction will be given by the course leaders.
Accommodation
If you require B&B, we can arrange that for you; accommodation fees are payable in addition to the course fee.
Meals and Refreshments
Lunch, Supper and morning/afternoon refreshments will be prepared on site by our dedicated Cooks. If you are vegetarian/vegan, or have a food allergy, you must let us know in advance, so that our cooks can plan the meals for the weekend accordingly. We are ‘allergy aware’, but we rely on participants letting us know if they have specific food allergies. Please also let us know if you carry any emergency medication.
By booking onto a Jackdaws course you agree to abide by our Terms and Conditions and understand the Privacy Policy regarding our handling of your data.