• Course Dates
    April 24, 2026 6:30 pm –
    April 26, 2026 4:00 pm
  • Observer Pass
    April 25, 2026
    11:00 am - 1:00 pm

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Level: Intermediate
Fee: £360

The Confident Pianist

with Timothy Barratt

Timothy Barratt, a highly experienced teacher, performer, adjudicator and former examiner, believes that enjoyment should be at the heart of making music and hopes that the mutual support of the group will instil greater confidence for all players.

The course will include individual tuition within a group setting and discussion on performance, style, technique and coping with nerves. In addition, an informal fun session of duet and multi-piano repertoire may be included.

All participants are encouraged to bring along two or three favourite pieces to work on. The content would also be suitable for piano teachers who want to improve their approach to exam pieces.

We asked our course leaders to answer a few questions about their course and teaching:

  1. Develop confidence and pleasure in playing through tutor support.
  2. Explore various musical ideas and practice strategies, Expand knowledge and awareness of repertoire and musical styles.
  3. Benefit from the support of fellow participants through interaction and listening.

“I love working with amateur pianists because of their enthusiasm and joy in learning and exploration without career-driven pressures. As a (very mediocre) amateur viola player myself, I appreciate many of the issues involved in learning an instrument in adulthood.”

“My teaching style is holistic – the main emphasis is on understanding and communicating musical ideas and developing the necessary technical means. Positive feedback from the group is always encouraged and background information/discussion takes place throughout the Course.”  

“My hobbies outside of music are gardening (which includes trying to keep my allotment under control…..), walking, reading and cooking.”

Some course feedback:

Really first class and good fun,very hard work,lots to do and learn,Tim has so much energy and enthusiasm.

I felt that Tim possessed the qualities of being both a superb and inspiring musician and a highly capable teacher (the two don’t always go together!) Learning with him was a delightful experience.

I came away from the course enthused to restart my piano playing journey. The Confident Pianist is a course I would recommend without hesitation – I certainly feel more confident and enthused in my playing than before. Timothy was fantastic, and I would definitely go on another of his courses.

Read more about what participants say about Jackdaws Courses.

A £100 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.

Details Price Qty
Attendee - Deposit £100.00 GBP  
Observer Pass £10.00 GBP  

Venue:  

Venue Phone: 01373 812383

Address:
Jackdaws Music Education Trust, Great Elm, Frome, Somerset, BA11 3NY, United Kingdom

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.