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   Our international ’cello courses have been running for over 20 years. Teachers have included Alexander Baillie, Steve Doane, Pierre Doumenge, Johannes Goritzki, Louise Hopkins, Sue Lowe, Melissa Phelps, Anna Shuttleworth and Moray Welsh. The teaching faculty work with students on a daily basis – everyone has a private lesson or masterclass each day – co-ordinated by the Artistic Director of the programme, Sue Lowe. The aim is to maximize the benefit of the course for each individual student. The masterclass lessons are held in public so that there is much to gain simply by listening to these. The days are busy incorporating private practice and a feature of the courses is that there are opportunities to rehearse with some of the best pianists in the UK- all of whom know and have performed the ’cello repertoire – and to have duo performance lessons with them. Practical workshops on instrument maintenance are given by luthier Thomas Kai Roth and he will advise on the difficult issues around instrument purchase, upgrading, which strings to use etc and he displays his own hand-made cellos (which are copies of old Italian instruments). Ensembles get together and there is opportunity for coaching these, sometimes ‘after hours’. Teaching staff often play recitals in the evenings. Alexander Technique lessons are available at no extra charge and can be programmed into your daily schedule. Whether you are familiar with AT or not we employ AT teachers who are also professionally trained ’cellists. Relaxation and ‘down time’ activities The courses are held in an enjoyable, uncompetitive environment. They sometimes are known as ‘The Gathering of the Clans’ (because one of the founding teachers, the late Joan Dickson, was Scottish) and this is very expressive of the idea of the course as a family of cellists. Of course there is a vivid social life for those who enjoy socialising and need to relax after the day’s work. Younger participants (‘the juniors’) are carefully supervised at all times and the boarding house facilities at Bryanston School (the venue at Easter 2011) are second to none with table games, internet access and TV available. The school’s 25 metre swimming pool and gyms are open for use by course participants, both under professional supervision. |