2008 Wind Chamber Music Courses
A day of inspiring wind chamber music… and a day exploring beautiful places
If you love playing wind chamber music, and you love exploring beautiful areas, this is your chance to combine both in a single weekend. Just pack your instruments and head for the hills to enjoy a day of music-making and a day walking, cycling or driving around these magnificent locations. For the two-day course at Birnam, tag on an extra day if you can!
The courses are carefully graded for advanced and for elementary / intermediate players (see below for full details) - parts will be sent to you in advance for personal practice. Rehearsals are held in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere, and there will be an informal performance (free admission) at the end of each course for partners, family, friends and anyone who is interested.
Who can take part?
COURSES for ELEMENTARY and INTERMEDIATE PLAYERS
Elementary: grades 3-5 / Intermediate grades 6-8
(approximate standards based on Associated Board examination grades)
Here is an opportunity to learn about the essential techniques of ensemble playing (which also apply to orchestral playing), as well as a chance to play specifically-selected ensemble music. The sessions incorporate ensemble technique exercises exploring pulse, rhythm, pitch, tuning, and linking and balancing with other players. The ensemble music includes some easier parts for less experienced players, and some parts may be ‘doubled’ in certain pieces.
COURSES for ADVANCED PLAYERS
Diploma standard – i.e. higher than Associated Board grade 8
These courses are specifically for advanced players of diploma standard or higher, and provide a chance to look in detail at some of the outstanding works (original pieces and good arrangements) in the wind chamber repertoire. You do not need a diploma qualification to take part, but you do need to be an experienced player capable of tackling rhythmically and technically-challenging music. Clarinettists will often need both B flat and A instruments, other instrumentalists may need ‘alternative’ instruments such as piccolo, cor anglais, bass clarinet and contrabassoon, and horn players will need to be able to handle a variety of different transpositions
Required Standards
Elementary: AB* grades 3-5
Reasonable fluency in keys of up to three sharps or flats. In some sessions parts may be doubled for elementary players. Clarinets only require B flat instruments, horn parts will be in F.
Intermediate: AB* grades 6-8
Good fluency in keys of up to five sharps or flats. Parts may include occasional challenging passages technically. Normally only one player to a part. Clarinets normally only require B flat instruments. Horn players may be required to do basic transpositions.
Advanced: Above AB* grade 8 / diploma standard
Fluency in all keys, able to tackle technically and musically demanding works. Clarinettists require B flat and A instruments, alternative instruments (e.g. piccolo, bass clarinet, etc.) may be required (please check for details), and horn players need to be proficient in all the normal transpositions.
* approximate playing standards based on Associated Board (ABRSM) examination grades
- Music sent out 3-4 weeks in advance for you to practice
- Expert professional tuition on the day
- Informal performance at the end of each course
Bookings are on a ‘first come, first served‘ basis. Places on each course are reserved on receipt of an on-line or printed application form. For on-line applications, CLICK HERE. The full course fee is payable within 28 days once your application has been accepted. The course offers tutored sessions, but not meals or accommodation. Course details may be changed without notice. Full details of terms and conditions are displayed on the on-line application form.
Laurence Perkins
Course Director
Music-making in beautiful locations has always held a special attraction for musicians, and this series of courses established by Laurence Perkins in 2004 has been a great success with wind players who share this enthusiasm. As one of Britain’s leading solo and orchestral bassoonists, Laurence’s work includes more than 30 years as Principal Bassoonist in Manchester Camerata, with whom he has given concerts as far afield as Japan, Hong Kong and Australia. His work as a soloist is well-known internationally through his CDs for the Hyperion label, including ‘Bassoon Concertos’ (including Mozart and Weber) which was awarded five stars for performance in the BBC Music Magazine, and ‘The Playful Pachyderm’ - a collection of classic bassoon miniatures with the New London Orchestra conducted by Ronald Corp which received outstanding acclaim in the national press. One of his great loves in life is working with amateur musicians - this includes his work as Director of Wind Chamber Music at Dartington International Summer School, alongside courses throughout the UK and coaching work abroad. In his spare time, he enjoys hill-walking and landscape photography.
LYNDA COFFIN will also be tutoring at the two-day course in Birnam. One of Britain’s top flautists, former principal flute in the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Ulster Orchestra, Lynda is also a highly-popular and much-sought-after teacher. She teaches at Trinity College of Music in London, and is a regular tutor at Dartington International Summer School, Cubertou Wind Chamber Music Course in the south of France, and at other chamber music courses around the UK.